October 3, 2005

A player's tee shot comes to rest just within the margins of a lateral water hazard, but not in the water.  The player makes a stroke at the ball and it dribbles down the bank into the water and cannot be played.  He drops another ball on the bank in the lateral water hazard where he last played.  He decides not to play again from that lie and drops a different, new ball within two club-lengths of the spot where his original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard and plays from there.  How many penalty strokes has the player incurred?

	1
	2
	3
	4

The correct answer is B - Rule 26-2, Decision 26-2/1.  The player incurred 2 penalty strokes.  If a ball  played from within a water hazard comes to rest in the same water hazard or another water hazard after the stroke, the player may:

•  proceed under Rule 26-1a and drop a ball back at the original spot in the water hazard (under penalty of 1 stroke).  If, after dropping in the hazard, the player elects not to play the dropped ball, he may:

  • with reference to this hazard, proceed under Rule 26-1b (keeping the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped), or if applicable Rule 26-1c, (drop a ball within two club-lengths of  and not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard) adding the additional penalty of one stroke prescribed by that Rule or

  • add an additional penalty of one stroke and play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the last stroke outside the water hazard was made.

September 19, 2005

In Stroke Play, a player hits his tee shot on a par 3 and it ends up 6 inches from the hole.  When it is his turn to putt, he strokes the ball, it rolls to the cup, does a 180° turn comes back the the player, strikes the player's putter and rebounds back into the hole.  What is the player's score for the hole?

	2
	3
	4
	5

The correct answer is C - The player's score for the hole was a 4.  He made two strokes at the ball - tee shot and putt and received a 2 stroke penalty when his ball in motion struck his own equipment (Rule 19-2b).  The ball is considered holed.  This is not considered a "double hit" because the ball traveled somewhere before being deflected by the player's putter.

September 9, 2005

A player hits his tee shot towards the right where out-of-bounds exists.  A volunteer spotter who is standing in the area signals to the player that the ball went out-of-bounds.  The player tees up another ball without announcing it as a provisional and hits this second ball down the middle.  When he walks up to the spotter, he finds his original ball well inside the boundaries of the golf course.  What is the ruling?

	The second ball off the tee is the ball in play with penalty of stroke and distance.
	The second ball off the tee is the ball in play with no penalty since the player was given misinformation.
	Because the player was given misinformation, the player has the option of choosing which ball to play.
	The first ball off the tee is the ball  in play since it was not out-of-bounds.

The correct answer is A - See Definitions of "Ball in Play" and "Lost Ball".  Since the player did not announce his second ball off the tee as a "provisional ball",  then the second ball became the ball in play under stroke and distance, regardless of the fact that the spotter signaled that the original ball was out-of-bounds when it actually was in-bounds.  Had the player announced that he would play a provisional ball off the tee, he would have been spared the penalty and would have been able to play the first ball that was actually located in-bounds.  See also Decision 27/17.

Whenever you hit a ball into an area where it could be lost or out-of-bounds, you should ALWAYS play a provisional ball and remember to ANNOUNCE that it is a provisional.   It helps to speed up play because if in fact the original ball is lost or out-of-bounds, you don't have to go all the way back to the spot from where you last played the original ball.  But remember to ANNOUNCE that it is a provisional; otherwise it becomes the ball in play under stroke and distance.  Playing a provisional will never get you into trouble.  And if nothing else, look at it as a free swing! 

August 29, 2005

A player teed his ball within the teeing ground.  He made a stroke at the ball but missed it.  He addressed the ball again and accidentally knocked the ball off the tee.  What is the ruling?

	No penalty - play the ball as it lies.
	No penalty - replace the ball on the tee.
	1 stroke penalty - play the ball as it lies.
	1 stroke penalty - replace the ball on the tee.

The correct answer is D - Rule 18-2b and Decision 11-3/1.  Once the player made a stroke at the ball, even though he failed to make contact, the ball was in play and Rule 11-3 no longer applied.  When the player accidentally moved his ball in play after he addressed it, he incurred a penalty stroke and was obliged to replace the ball (Rule 18-2b).

If the player had accidentally knocked the ball off the tee after addressing it but before he had whiffed, he would have avoided the penalty stroke, because in that situation, the ball was not yet in play.

August 11, 2005

A player elects to take relief from a cart path and marks and lifts his ball.  When he realizes that his nearest point of relief is in tall, thick grass, he decides not to take relief, replaces the ball and plays the ball from the cart path.  What is the ruling?

	No penalty.
	1 stroke.
	2 strokes.
	3 strokes.

The correct answer is B - Rule 18-2a and Decision 18-2a/12.  The player was entitled to lift the ball to take relief under Rule 24-2 (Immovable Obstruction).  However, by subsequently deciding not to take relief, his right to lift the ball was negated and he incurred a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for having lifted his ball in play.

So, whenever you think you might want to take relief from a situation under Rule 24 (Obstructions) or Rule 25 (Abnormal Ground Conditions) be sure to find out where your nearest point of relief is before lifting your ball.  You may have to drop in a worse condition.  "Relief" doesn't not always mean "good relief"!  Once you lift the ball, you are obligated to take that relief without penalty.  However, if you change your mind and decide you want to play the ball where it originally lay, you will incur a penalty stroke for having lifted your ball in play.  You are only entitled to lift your ball if you are proceeding under an applicable Rule.  If you change your mind, your right to lift that ball becomes null and void!

July 26, 2005

In Stroke Play, a player's ball accidentally strikes his caddie, who is 
standing in bounds and comes to rest out of bounds.
What is the ruling?

	No penalty and the player drops a ball at the spot where he originally played the shot from.
	No penalty and the player drops a ball at the spot where the caddie was standing.
	2 stroke penalty and the player drops a ball at the spot where the caddie was standing.
	2 stroke penalty plus stroke and distance penalty.

The correct answer is D - Decision 19-2/2 - The player incurs a 2 stroke penalty under Rule 19-2 as his ball was deflected by his own caddie and since the ball now lies out of bounds, he must proceed under Rule 27-1, incurring another penalty stroke.

July 18, 2005

In a Stroke Play event, Bill, while searching for his tee shot in the rough, accidentally drove over his ball with the golf cart.  What is the ruling? 

	No penalty.
	1 stroke and the ball is played as it lies.
	1 stroke and the ball is replaced.
	1stroke and the ball is dropped.

The correct answer is C - Rule 18-2a ii. - Bill incurs a 1 stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.  Now, since the golf cart ran over the ball, it is more than likely that the original lie of the ball has been altered.  If that is the case, then Bill would be required to place the ball in the nearest most similar lie within one club-length of the original lie as required by Rule 20-3b.

The exception under Rule 18-2a which states that if a player accidentally causes his ball to move in searching for a ball applies only if the ball is moved when searching in a hazard covered by loose impediments or sand, for a ball in an abnormal ground condition or for a ball believed to be in a water hazard.

Therefore, the exception does not apply in this situation since the rough is not an abnormal ground condition.

If Bill had accidentally kicked his ball while searching for it and moved it several inches from the spot where it originally lay, then he would have been required to drop the ball instead of replace it since the spot where the ball originally lay was not determinable.   In the situation with the golf cart, the ball was still in the original spot, but the golf cart pushed the ball into the ground and altered the original lie and that is why Bill was required to replace the ball rather than drop it.

July 6, 2005

In a stroke play event, John was unable to find his ball after a brief search and put another ball into play (Ball B) under Rule 27-1 (stroke & distance).  His original ball was then found within 5 minutes after the search for it began.  John picked up Ball B and continued to play out the round with his original ball.  What is the ruling?

	No penalty.
	2 strokes.
	3 strokes.
	4 strokes.
	Disqualification.

The correct answer is E - Rule 15-3; Decision 15/5 - John is disqualified!  (The key words here - "continued to play out the round " !!)

This was a tricky question and there are several parts to it - let's dissect it.......

The original ball was lost when John played another ball (Ball B) under Rule 27-1 (see definition of "Lost Ball").  It doesn't matter that the original ball was found within the 5 minutes allowed to search for it - once John played Ball B, it then became the ball in play.  So, when John lifted Ball B, he incurred a penalty of 1 stroke under Rule 18-2a (ball at rest , in play, moved by player).  When John made a stroke with his original ball, after it was out of play, he played a wrong ball (see Definitions of "Ball in Play" and "Wrong Ball") and incurred an additional penalty of 2 strokes in Stroke Play (Rule 15-3).  Since John continued the round with his original ball (a wrong ball) and did not correct his error before teeing off from the next teeing ground, he was disqualified (Rule 15-3b).

If John had discovered the error of his ways and corrected his mistake before teeing off the next tee, his total penalty strokes for that hole would have been 4:

• 1 stroke for a lost ball (stroke & distance)

• 1 stroke for lifting his ball in play

• 2 strokes for playing a wrong ball

If John had been playing a Match Play event, he would have incurred a 1 stroke penalty for a lost ball (stroke & distance) and a 1 stroke penalty for lifting his ball in play - neither of which would have mattered, because he lost the hole the minute he played his original ball (wrong ball).  He would not have been disqualified since the hole was over once he hit the wrong ball and lost the hole.

June 17, 2005

Which of the following is not permissible to use to mark the position of a ball on the putting green?

	Placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind the ball.
	A existing mark or blemish on the putting green.
	Using a tee.
	Scratching a line on the putting green.

The correct answer is B - Decision 20-1/16 - Under Rule 20-1, it is necessary to physically mark the position of the ball.  Reference to an existing mark on the ground does not constitute marking the position of the ball.  For example, it is not permissible to mark the position with reference to a blemish on the putting green.

Examples of methods of marking the position of the ball which are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows:

• placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind the ball;

• using a tee;

• using a loose impediment;

• scratching a line, provided the putting green is not tested (Rule 16-1d) and a line for putting is not indicated (Rule 8-2b).  As this practice may cause damage to the putting green, it is discouraged.

June 6, 2005

In a stroke play competition, A, B, & C were drawn by the Committee to play together starting at 9:00 am.  A and B were present at the appointed time.  C arrived at 9:02 am after A and B had played from the teeing ground, but just in time to play in the correct order.  What is the ruling?

	No penalty since C arrived in time to tee off before the group left the tee.
	1 stroke penalty.
	2 stroke penalty.
	Disqualification.

The correct answer is D - Decision 6-3a/2 - C is disqualified for failure to start at the time laid down by the committee (Rule 6-3a) unless circumstances warrant waiving the penalty under Rule 33-7.  Even though C arrived in time to tee off in the correct order, he was still late for the tee time, which was 9:00 am.  All players in the pairing must be present  and ready to play at the prescribed tee time.

May 23, 2005

In Stroke Play, the player's tee shot comes to rest on a grass bank toward the back of a greenside bunker.  He takes his stance in the bunker to play the next stroke, which comes to rest in the same bunker, some 10 yards nearer the hole.  He rakes the area where he took his stance, proceeds to where his ball came to rest, and plays his ball onto the green from that point.  He holes the putt and plays from the next tee.  What is the player's score for the hole?

	4
	5
	6
	Disqualification

The correct answer is C - Rule 13-4b, and Exception 2 under Rule 13-4 - The player's score was a 6:

1 stroke for the tee shot.
1 stroke for the shot from the grass bank of the greenside bunker.
1 stroke for the shot out of the bunker.
1 stroke for the putt.
2 stroke penalty for raking the bunker prior to playing the shot out of the bunker.

The player's 2nd shot was played from the grass bank of the bunker.  Therefore,  he was not allowed to rake the area where he took his stance prior to playing the 3rd shot out of the bunker.  This is considered "testing the condition of the hazard" - Rule 13-4b.

 However, had the player's tee shot landed in the bunker and he then played his 2nd shot from the bunker landing 10 yards further ahead in the same bunker, the player would not have been penalized for testing the conditions of the bunker by raking the sand (see Exception 2 under Rule 13-4).

May 16, 2005

A competitor's ball came to rest in a water hazard close to a hazard stake.  He played the ball, avoiding the stake, and then realized he was entitled to remove the stake as it was a movable obstruction.  He then invoked Rule 3-3, electing to score with the second ball.  He dropped another ball in the hazard and played it.  He holed out with both balls.  Not counting any penalty strokes, he scored a 6 with the first ball and 8 with the second.  His score for the hole was:

	6
	8
	10
	Disqualification

The correct answer is A - Rule 3-3, Decision 3-3/6 - The situation which caused the doubt arose when the competitor's ball was in the hazard and the stake interfered with his swing.  It was at this point, that he should have invoked Rule 3-3.  Since the competitor took further action, i.e. played the original ball, after the situation which caused the doubt had arisen, he was no longer entitled to invoke Rule 3-3.  Therefore, the score with the original ball must count - see last paragraph of Rule 3-3b.

However,  the competitor incurs no penalty for having played the second ball.

May 9, 2005

A player lifts his ball after declaring it unplayable and then discovers that the ball was lying in Ground Under Repair.  What is the proper procedure?

	The player must proceed under Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable) and incurs a 1 stroke penalty since he declared that his ball was unplayable.
	The player must proceed under  Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable) and incurs a 2 stroke penalty since he declared that his ball was unplayable.
	Provided the player has not put a ball into play under Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable), he is not prevented by that Rule from taking relief without penalty under Rule 25 (Ground Under Repair).
	The player may proceed under either option without penalty.

The correct answer is C - Decision 28/13 - Provided the player has not put a ball into play under Rule 28, he is not precluded by that Rule from taking relief, without penalty, under the ground under repair Rule (Rule 25).  However, the key words here are provided he has not put a ball into play under Rule 28.  As long as the player has not dropped a ball after declaring it unplayable, he may proceed under the Ground Under Repair Rule without penalty.  If the player declares his ball unplayable, lifts it and then drops it in accordance with Rule 28,  that ball is now in play, and he cannot get relief without penalty under Rule 25 (ground under repair).   Rule 20-4 states "If the player's ball in play has been lifted, it is again in play when dropped or placed.

April 27, 2005

A and B hit their tee shots into the same area.  Both balls were found but, because A and B were playing identical balls and neither had put an identification mark on his ball, they could not determine which ball was A's and which was B's.  What is the ruling?

	Both balls are deemed to be lost since there are no identification marks on the balls.
	No penalty since both balls are in close proximity and the players saw the balls land at that spot.
	1 Stroke penalty for each player for failing to put an identification mark on the ball.
	2 Stroke penalty for each player for failing to put an identification mark on the ball.

The correct answer is A - Decision 27/10 - Since neither player could identify a ball as his, both balls were deemed to be lost - see Definition of "Lost Ball."

This incident demonstrates the advisability of the player putting some type of identification mark on his ball - see Rules 6-5 and 12-2.

 Although no where in the Rules is it stated that you must put an identification mark on your ball, in reality, if you can't identify the ball as yours, then you are faced with the penalty of a "lost ball in plain sight!" - stroke and distance.  Don't let this happen to you!

February 4, 2005

John and Bill, fellow competitors, are paired together in a Stroke Play event.  John, trying to avoid the water that lines the left side of the fairway, pushes his tee shot right and ends up behind a tree.  He  has no choice but to punch out into the fairway.  He calls over to Bill and asks Bill how far the tree is to the edge of the water across the fairway.  What is the ruling?

	John incurs a 1 stroke penalty for breach of Rule 8 - asking for advice.
	John incurs a 2 stroke penalty for breach of Rule 8 - asking for advice.
	John loses the hole for breach of Rule 8 - asking for advice.
	No penalty.

The correct answer is D - Decision 8-1/2 - No penalty.

A player may ask anyone to inform him of the distance of any permanent object to any other permanent object.  This information is public information, even though it isn't "written" down anywhere.  In this case, both the tree and the lake are permanent objects.  Another example would be asking for the distance of a sprinkler head to the green, even though there is no marking on the sprinkler head.  

However, if John had asked Bill how far John's ball was from the edge of the lake, then John would have received a two stroke penalty for asking Bill for advice.  John's ball is not a permanent object (it moves around the golf course!).  Bill would not receive any penalty as long as he did not give John the information requested.  If Bill had given John the yardage of the ball to the edge of the lake, then Bill  would also receive a two stroke penalty.