Rules Archives

2008 RULES ARCHIVES

Previous Rules Questions/Tips from 2008

June 17, 2008

The player has NOT played a wrong ball if he makes a stroke at

	his original ball that is lying out of bounds.
	his original ball that has been lifted from the putting green and set aside.
	a stray ball that he lifts and drops in a bunker under the Ball Unplayable Rule.
	his partner's ball in play.

The correct answer is C - Definition of "Wrong Ball"

June 2, 2008

Which one of the following is a "ball in play"?

	A ball that has been addressed on the teeing ground before the first stroke with that ball.
	A ball that has been holed.
	A ball that has been dropped under penalty of stroke and distance, but not yet played.
	A ball that has been lifted from the putting green.

The correct answer is C - Definition of "Ball in Play"

A player can always put a ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1a). Once a ball is dropped under stroke and distance, that ball becomes the ball in play and the original ball is deemed lost regardless of its position.

May 27, 2008

Which one of the following is a nearest point of relief as defined in the Rules of Golf?

	The reference point determined only when taking relief from an immovable obstruction, an abnormal ground condition or a wrong putting green.
	The point nearest to where the ball lies where, if the ball were so positioned, it would be in a playable lie.
	The point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or lateral water hazard
	The point determined for reference purposes after deeming the original ball unplayable.

The correct answer is A - Definition of "Nearest Point of Relief"

The "nearest point of relief" is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3).

Answers C & D refer to the reference point for determining where to take a drop when putting a ball back into play with a penalty stroke for a ball that is in a water hazard or unplayable lie.

Answer B presumes that anytime you take "relief" the ball will be in a playable lie. That is not necessarily always the case. The nearest point of relief for a ball on a cart path could actually be in a hedge or tall, gnarly grass. Remember to always determine the area in which you would be taking a drop before touching your ball! If you lift your ball and then determine that your nearest point of relief will more than likely put you in an unplayable lie, and you decide you don't want to take relief, you can replace the ball - however, you will incur a penalty stroke for lifting/touching a ball in play. You can only lift or touch a ball in play when proceeding under a Rule; if you change your mind and decide not to proceed under the Rule, you have negated your right to lift or touch the ball and incur a 1 stroke penalty.

May 18, 2008

A player's ball lies in bounds up against a white stake marking out of bounds. Since the stake interferes
with the player's area of intended swing, he removes the stake. His fellow-competitor tells him that he is not
allowed to move a boundary stake, so the player immediately replaces the stake before playing his next shot.
What is the ruling?

	No penalty.
	1 stroke penalty.
	2 stroke penalty.
	The player is disqualified.

The correct answer is C - Decision 13-2/25: 2 stroke penalty.

The player was in breach of Rule 13-2 the moment he moved the stake and there was nothing he could do to avoid the penalty. The replacement of the stake before the next stroke was irrelevant.

May 12, 2008

The phrase "known or virtually certain" has been incorporated into the Rules of Golf in 2008 in an
attempt to clarify when a player may take relief for a ball lost in a water hazard (Rule 26-1), for a ball that may
have been moved by an outside agency (Rule 18-1) or for a ball that has not been found and may be
lost in an obstruction (Rule 24-3) or an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1c).

Which scenario below most accurately depicts a situation in which the location of the ball is known or virtually certain?

	A player hits his tee shot over a small rise (blind shot) down the center of the fairway. The landing area is fairly soft due to recent heavy rains. As the player walks forward to find his ball, he sees a fox scampering away from the approximate area from where his ball lay. He cannot find his ball.
	A player hits his tee shot approximately 295 yards towards a pond that is surrounded by tall grass and bordered on one side by heavy woods. He sees the ball splash.
	A player hits a high shot into a thickly needled pine tree. The tree borders the fairway and there is an extensive area of fescue surrounding the pine tree. He does not see the ball come down.
	A player hits a blind tee shot toward the right side of the fairway which is bordered by a large pond. The area surrounding the pond is closely mown. As he approaches the area, the group ahead is still waiting to hit their next shots to the green and one of them informs the player that he saw a ball land in the middle of the pond.

The correct answer is D - Decision 26-1/1 Meaning of "Known or Virtually Certain":

"... If a ball has been struck towards a water hazard and has not been found, the term “known or virtually certain” indicates the level of confidence that the ball is in the water hazard that is required for the player to proceed under Rule 26-1. A player may not assume that his ball is in a water hazard simply because there is a possibility that the ball may be in the hazard. If it is not known that the ball is in the water hazard, in order for the player to proceed under Rule 26-1 there must be almost no doubt that the ball is in the hazard. Otherwise, a ball that cannot be found must be considered lost outside the hazard and the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

All available evidence must be taken into account in determining whether knowledge or virtual certainty exists, including any testimony and the physical conditions in the area around the water hazard. For example, if a water hazard is surrounded by a fairway on which a ball could hardly be lost, there exists a greater certainty that the ball is in the hazard than there would be if there were deep rough in the area. Observing a ball splash in a water hazard would not necessarily provide knowledge or virtual certainty as to the location of the ball as sometimes such a ball may skip out of a hazard.

The same principle would apply for a ball that may have been moved by an outside agency (Rule 18-1) or a ball that has not been found and may be in an obstruction (Rule 24-3) or an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1c). (Revised) ..."

Therefore:

Scenario A: The fact that the player saw a fox scampering away from the area where he hit is ball is not sufficient evidence that the ball was moved by an outside agency. Since there had been recent heavy rains, the ball could have plugged in the fairway. If the player cannot find his ball, he must proceed under Rule 27-1 (Ball Lost).
Scenario B: Just because the player saw his ball splash 295 yards away is not sufficient evidence that his ball is in the water hazard. The ball could have skipped out into the tall grass or the woods. In order for the player to take relief from the water hazard, he must find his ball in the hazard. If he cannot, he must proceed under Rule 27-1.
Scenario C: The player cannot claim that his ball is in the tree even though he didn't see it come down. He must be able to see and identify his ball in the tree in order to proceed under the Unplayable Ball Rule. The ball could have come down and be laying somewhere in the fescue. The player's only option if he cannot find/identify the ball is to proceed under Rule 27-1.
Scenario D: Even though the player did not see his ball land from the tee, in this situation, the player can safely assume that his ball is in the hazard - the circumstances dictate that it is known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard:
- the area surrounding the pond is closely mown where a ball could hardly be lost and
- a spectator (player in preceding group) saw the ball land and come to rest in the middle of the pond

The biggest thing to remember when trying to grasp the concept of known or virtually certain is a simple phrase:

If the ball can be anywhere else, then you have to assume it is!

In other words, if a ball might be in a hazard (or abnormal ground condition or obstruction) but it could also be somewhere/anywhere else, then you have to assume that it is indeed somewhere else and your only option is to proceed under Rule 27-1!

May 5, 2008

John's tee shot ends up in bounds close to an out of bounds line which is marked by white stakes.
An abandoned spring house lies out of bounds so close to the boundary that
John has no swing if he plays the shot right-handed (he is a right-handed golfer).
Which of the following options is John NOT allowed to do?

	John may play the shot left -handed even though it means he has to stand out of bounds.
	John may take relief under Rule 24-2 without penalty because the spring house in an immovable obstruction and not part of the boundary itself.
	John may declare the ball unplayable and take relief under Rule 28 dropping a ball within 2 club-lengths of the spot where the ball lies, but not nearer the hole, under penalty of 1 stroke.
	John may abandon the ball and play another ball from the tee under penalty of stroke and distance.

The correct answer is B - Definition of Obstructions. By definition, the abandoned spring house, even though it is an artificial object that is not part of the boundary fence is not an obstruction when it lies out of bounds and John may not take relief without penalty from it.

An “obstruction” is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:

a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;

b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and

c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.

An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise, it is an immovable obstruction.

April 27, 2008

Henry hits his ball towards a lateral water hazard with thick trees on one side of the water and out of bounds
on the other side. It is neither known nor virtually certain that Henry's ball is in the water hazard
but he goes ahead and drops a ball under rule 26-1b. Before he plays the dropped ball,
his original ball is found outside the water hazard within the five minute search period.
What is the ruling?

	The dropped ball is in play and Henry must abandon the original ball and add 1 penalty stroke under 26-1b.
	The dropped ball is in play but Henry must re-drop it using the point where his original ball lies as the reference point for taking relief under Rule 26.
	Since Henry found his original ball outside the hazard within 5 minutes, he must abandon the dropped ball and continue play with the original ball - no penalty.
	Henry has the option of playing either the original ball or playing the ball he dropped under Rule 26-1b.

The correct answer is C - Rule 26-1; Decision 26-1/3.7. This situation is a little bit different than last weeks scenario. Last week, it was known or virtually certain that George's ball was in the water hazard. Therefore, when George dropped the ball under Rule 26-1b, he was proceeding under an applicable Rule and the dropped ball became the ball in play and he was required to abandon the original ball.

In this week's situation, Henry hit his ball towards the water hazard but since no one saw the ball go into the water hazard (it was neither known nor virtually certain that Henry's ball was in the water hazard), he could not assume that his ball ended up in the hazard. Since there were thick woods on one side of the hazard and out of bounds on the other side, it was quite possible that his ball ended up in either one of those areas and not the water hazard. In this situation, if Henry does not find his ball in the hazard, he has to treat it as a lost ball. When he dropped a ball under Rule 26-1b, Henry incorrectly put a substituted ball into play under an inapplicable Rule. Since Henry did not make a stroke at the incorrectly substituted ball, be was entitled to correct his error under Rule 20-6 by abandoning the dropped ball and continuing play with the original ball.

******************

If Henry had failed to correct the improper procedure and he played the dropped ball he would have proceeded under an inapplicable Rule and incurred a penalty. Since the only Rule he could have proceeded under was Rule 27-1 (ball lost or out of bounds), he would have incurred a one stroke penalty under Rule 27-1. Since Rule 27-1 requires the player to put a ball into play from the place where the original ball was last played from, by dropping the ball under the water hazard Rule, Henry also played from a wrong place and incurred the general penalty for breach of Rule 27-1 (2 additional strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play). Furthermore, if the place where Henry played from gave him a significant advantage, he would be guilty of a serious breach and subject to disqualification if he did not correct this error.

April 7, 2008

George hits his ball towards a water hazard. It is known or virtually certain that his ball is in the water hazard,
and he drops a ball 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 he drops his ball). Before he plays the dropped ball, his original ball
is found outside the hazard within the 5 minute search period. What is the ruling?

	The dropped ball is in play and George must abandon the original ball and add 1 penalty stroke under 26-1b.
	The dropped ball is in play but George must re-drop it using the point where his original ball lies as the reference point for taking relief under Rule 26.
	Since George found his original ball outside the hazard within 5 minutes, he must abandon the dropped ball and continue play with the original ball - no penalty.
	George has the option of playing either the original ball or playing the ball he dropped under Rule 26-1b.

The correct answer is A - Rule 26-1; Decision 26-1/3.5. As it was known or virtually certain that the ball was in the water hazard when the player put the substituted ball into play, that ball was correctly substituted and George may not play the original ball.

If a ball has been struck towards a water hazard and has not been found, the term "known or virtually certain" indicates the level of confidence that the ball is in the water hazard that is required for the player to proceed under Rule 26-1. It is an attempt to clarify and tighten up the meaning of the old phrase of "reasonable evidence". A player may not assume that his ball is in a water hazard simply because there is a possibility that it might be. If it is not known that the ball is in the water hazard, in order for the player to proceed under 26-1, there must be no doubt that the ball is in the hazard. Otherwise, a ball that cannot be found must be considered lost outside the hazard and the player must proceed under Rule 27-1. The fact that George did find his ball within 5 minutes outside the hazard is irrelevant because we were told that it was known or virtually certain that his ball was indeed in the hazard. Therefore, George proceeded correctly when he dropped a ball under Rule 26-1b and that new (substituted) ball became the ball in play and his original ball became a stray ball.

February 22, 2008

Peter hits his ball into the edge of a water hazard and the ball plugs. He knows that he gets no relief from an
embedded ball in the water hazard and he thinks he can get his club on the ball so he plays it out of
the embedded lie. He hits a great shot, the ball comes out just short of the green, but when he gets to
the ball, Peter discovers that the ball he hit out of the hazard was not his.
What is the ruling?

	There is no penalty for playing a wrong ball out of a hazard.
	1 stroke penalty in both match play and stroke play.
	Loss of hole in match play or 2 stroke penalty in stroke play and the player must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules.
	Loss of hole in match play or 2 stroke penalty in stroke play and the player may continue play with the wrong ball.

The correct answer is C - Rule 15-3. This is another of the many Rules changes for 2008.

Up until 2008, there was no penalty for playing a wrong ball out of a hazard. The reason behind this was because the player was not allowed to touch his ball in a hazard. Under the new Rules changes for 2008, a player is now allowed to identify his ball in a hazard (Rule 12-2) and if he fails to do so and plays the wrong ball out of the hazard, he will incur a loss of hole in Match Play or a 2 stroke penalty in Stroke Play. In Stroke Play, the player will be required to correct his mistake by playing the correct ball or by proceeding under the Rules. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground, or, in the case of the last hole of the round, fails to declare his intention to correct his mistake before leaving the putting green, he is disqualified.

As of January 1, 2008, a player is now allowed to identify his ball anywhere on the golf course. If the player has reason to believe that a ball at rest might be his, and it is necessary to lift the ball to identify it, he may lift the ball (even in a hazard) without penalty to do so. The key to this however is that if the player can identify the ball without lifting it he must! Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to either his opponent or his marker or fellow-competitor, and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and identify it, provided he gives his opponent, maker or fellow-competitor the opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement.

January 6, 2008

George is playing in his Club Championship. On the 9th hole, he finds his tee shot in a greenside bunker,
right up against the steep lip of the bunker. He takes a mighty swing and the ball pops up,
hits the lip and ricochets back and hits George in the chest.
What is the penalty if any?

	No penalty.
	1 stroke penalty in both match play and stroke play.
	Loss of hole in match play or 2 stroke penalty in stroke play.
	Disqualification.

The correct answer is B - Rule 19-2. Did we trick you on this one? This is one of the many Rules changes for 2008. Every four years, the Royal and Ancient and the USGA publish changes, modifications, and/or updates to the Rules of Golf. 2008 is a Rules change year. The changes generally fall into two broad categories - 1) Those that improve the clarity of the Rules, and 2) those that reduce the penalties in certain circumstances to ensure that they are proportionate. This week's Rule falls into the latter category.

Up until 2008, if a ball in motion was accidentally deflected or stopped by the player, his partner or either of their caddies or their equipment, the result would have been a loss of hole in match play or a 2 stroke penalty in stroke play. However, if the player, his partner, either of their caddies or their equipment happened to move the ball at rest, the penalty was only 1 stroke in both match and stroke play. This never really seemed equitable - why should one situation result in a more severe penalty when essentially the same thing is happening? So to make the penalties proportionate, the penalty for accidentally stopping or deflecting a ball in motion was reduced so that it is now in line with the penalty for moving a ball at rest. So, Rule 19-2 has been amended to reduce the penalty in both match play and stroke play to 1 stroke and the ball must be played as it lies, except when it comes to rest in or on the player's, his partner's or either of their caddies' clothes or equipment, in which case the ball must be dropped (through the green or in a hazard), or placed (on the putting green), as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or ....