Tom writes:
Jarrod - If player A hit the first drive, the provisional ball (potentially stroke 3) would be hit by player B as penalty strokes do not affect the order of play.

2/4/2010 1:40:14 PM

Tom writes:
Ian Pajcic - I hope I am visulizing your question correctly and I am assuming that the water hazard is a lateral water hazard (red stakes). The water hazard line would be touching the OB line whether or not it is painted on the ground. So the point where the ball crossed from the OB line would be where it crossed into the lateral water hazard and that would be the player's reference point. The player would have several options nder penalty of one stroke. 1)The player could return to the tee and put a ball in play from there. 2)The player could drop on a line from the flagstick through the point where the ball entered the hazard without restriction as to how far back on that line he could drop and I assume this would put the player OB so he could not use this option. 3) Drop a ball within 2 club lengths of where the ball last crossed into the hazard and I assume that this would put the player OB so he could not use this option. 4) Drop within 2 club lengths from a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard that is equidistant from the hole. So, without seeing the shape of the hazard if the player meets the equidistant from the hole criteria it would appear to be a legitimate drop.

2/4/2010 10:35:36 AM

Tom writes:
Gary Kiela - If an old cup is in your line you may repair like you would a ball mark. Rule 16-1c covers the repair of ball marks and old hole plugs.

2/1/2010 11:52:37 AM

Tom writes:
Doug - There is one major piece of information that you do not state in your question. That is, a ball is considered holed when "it is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole." So, if the ball is holed by the above definition there is no problem. There are not any restrictions on how you take the ball out of the hole other than in golf ettiquette you should do it in a way that there would be the least chance of damage to the hole. If the ball is not below the lip of the hole then the player would be required to place the ball on the lip of the cup and hole out. There is no penalty, but there would be another stroke involved. This is covered on Rule 17-4.

1/27/2010 10:46:14 AM

Doug Rosenow writes:
A friend of mine was playing a match when he chipped in from off the green. He then walked to the pin and yanked it up with the ball popping out. His opponent called a penalty. What is the correct ruling?

1/19/2010 4:09:26 PM

David Cohn writes:
Teckla- The first golfer would incur a two stroke penalty from playing from a wrong place but would not need to correct his error because it was not a serious breach of the rules. The second player would not incur a penalty if he realized the error and played from the correct place.

1/14/2010 3:40:16 PM

Tom writes:
The answer to your question can be found under Rule 19-5 (Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped - by Another Ball). The Rule states; "If a player's ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by another ball in motion after a stroke, the player must play his ball as it lies. There is no penalty, unless" . . . the strokes were on the putting green. So in your question there would be no penalties and the players would play the ball where they come to rest.

1/14/2010 2:26:50 PM

Tom writes:
David - From how you explain this situation it would be fact whether or not the ball was moved as a result of a player or caddie causing it to move. You say that no player or caddie is aware that they caused the ball to move. Therefore it would be concluded that the ball move by itself (wind, gravity, etc.). As a result the ball would be played from where it lies and there would be not penalties involved.

1/13/2010 9:16:51 PM

Tom writes:
Jim - If you mark your ball on the green, replace it, remove the marker and the ball is at rest; if you walk away and your ball moves you would play the ball from the new position with no penalty. If it rolled into the hole it would be considered holed.

1/9/2010 4:23:40 PM

Tom writes:
Neil - You are correct that as long as the ball is at rest below the level of the lip of the cup it is considered holed. I think what the pro is doing trying to remove the ball without without removing the flagstick is not to do any damage to the hole. This is a question of etiquette. If they were to yank the flagstick out it may do damage to the hole and affect the play of the other competitors.

12/30/2009 5:23:47 PM

David Cohn writes:
Risa- No, you would not get relief from a boundary fence that indicate Out of Bounds. Under the definition of Out of Bounds, "Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed."

12/7/2009 1:55:14 PM

John writes:
Tom Grabow - The answer to your handicapping question can only be explained by reviewing the definitions of a Handicap Index and a Course Handicap. A Handicap Index is a number taken to one decimal place (e.g., 10.4) that indicates a player's potential ability on a course of standard difficulty and is used for conversion to a Course Handicap. A Handicap Index is a portable number which a player takes with him or her from course to course or tee to tee and is derived from the last twenty scores in a player's record. A Course Handicap is a whole number indicating the number of handicap strokes a player receives from a specific set of tees at the course being played to adjust the player's scoring ability to the level of a scratch or zero handicap golfer. A Course Handicap is determined by applying the player's Handicap Index to a Course Handicap Slope Table. For example, a player with a Handicap Index of 10.4 playing the back tees (136 Slope) at Fire Ridge has a Course Handicap of 13. If the same player plays from the middle or White tees at Fire Ridge (128 Slope)his Course Handicap is 12. Regarding the tournament you played in at Fire Ridge, as long as the two players you competed against had their Handicap Indexes converted to a Course Handicap using the Slope from the White tees, the handicap adjustments were correct. The fact that the majority of their scores in their handicap record were posted from the Blue tees and not from White tees is irrelevant. When men and women compete against each other or when players of the same gender compete against each other from different tees (e.g. someone plays the Blue tees while another player or players play from the White tees) a different adjustment needs to take place. The player playing from the more difficult set of tees needs to add the difference of the Course Ratings to his or her Course Handicap. For example, if a 10.4 plays from the back tees at Fire Ridge, his Course Handicap is a 13. The player he his competing against also happens to be a 10.4, but this player chooses to play from the White tees which gives him a Course Handicap of 12. Since the 13 is playing from a set of tees that has a Course Rating of 74.5 and the 12 is playing from a set of tees that has a Course Rating of 71.5, the 13 adds the difference of the two Course Ratings (3) to the difference in their Course Handicaps (3 + 1 = 4). The player playing from the more difficult tees (Blue tees) in this example will receive 4 handicap strokes from the player playing from the White tees.

12/2/2009 4:57:00 PM

Tom Grabow writes:
On our fourth hole we have a cart path that run's along the west side of the hole. The club has painted a red line on the outside of that cart path. Which the rules director from the greater Milw Open says is wrong as the line should be on the inside of the cart path. Either way my uestion which we have different agreement about about is this. My ball land on the outside of the cart path on short cut grass about 2 feet wide. My feet to hit the shot are both on the cart path. Long grass is the neareth relieve on the outside of the cart path. During this years gmo qualifiying at our course the rules commitee allowed players to drop on the inside of the cart path after taking their 1st 2 club relief and still being on the cart path with their ball. he then allowed a 2nd drop of two club lenghts which placed the golfer on the inside of the cart path and outside of the red hazard line. What I believe to be a true ruling as the handicap chairman of Fireridge is all balls in a red stakes hazard cannot be moved or touched and must be played as they lay. Even if your feet are still on the cart path. Tom Grabow

11/29/2009 6:35:01 PM

MARK FRIEDMAN writes:
Is it legal to putt while there is another ball in the hole?

11/23/2009 12:51:33 PM

Tom writes:
Doc- I am not sure I fully understand your question. If your ball is against a rake in a bunker on a steep slope and the ball rolls when the rake is moved you are required to replace the ball. This is covered in Rule 20-3d and it states: Ball Fails to Come to Rest on Spot - If a ball when placed fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. If it still fails to come to rest on that spot: (i) except in a hazard, it must be placed at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole and not in a hazard; (ii) in a hazard, it must be placed in the hazard at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole. When replacing you are looking for a spot with a similar lie. I have never come on a situation that there was not an area where there was not a similar lie available to place the ball. In the situation that you are asking about you would not be able to rake the foot print and in theory if that was the nearest spot where the ball would come to rest you would be required to play from that spot.

11/16/2009 8:25:24 AM

Doc writes:
When a ball is to be placed in a bunker after lifting and it will not stay in place (steep slope). You then place it at the closest place where the ball will not roll down.The ball was held in place by a rake or other movable obstruction and the ball is on a smooth place on the sand. When the rake is removed the ball rolls down. There is a deep indentation in the sand very close to the place where the ball was against the rake. Because of the indentation (say a footprint that was not raked) the ball will remain stationary. The question is -- The ball now has a much different situation. Are you required to place the ball in that indentation as it is the closest place where the ball will remain stationary? If so do you get to recreate the lie of the original position which would require raking the sand?

11/9/2009 9:14:26 AM

David Dennison writes:
Two Balls come to rest side by side and almost touching in a sandtrap. If either player was to play their ball they would move (or hit) the other ball. How should this situation be played?

10/31/2009 7:19:08 PM

Troy Johnson writes:
I have hit my ball into a sloped bunker. The ball comes to rest on a rake left on the sloped part of the bunker. If the rake is moved the ball will roll to the middle of the bunker. Now what is the correct proceedure. I had the same thing happen 4 yrs ago but I believe the rule has changed since then.

10/29/2009 8:41:16 PM

Tom writes:
Jufil Sato - If any part of the ball touches the course (in bounds) the ball is in bounds. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate out of bounds, the stakes identify out of bounds and the lines define out of bounds.

10/28/2009 4:15:49 PM

Tom writes:
Hill - Your question is addressed in Decision 31-4/1 A and B are partners in four-ball stroke play. A's tee shot at a par-3 entirely over water comes to rest in the water hazard. As B's tee shot comes to rest on the putting green, A elects not to play a ball under Rule 26-1 and proceeds to the green. B four putts and scores 5 for the hole. May A return to the tee and put another ball into play under Rule 26-1? A. Yes. However, he may be subject to penalty under Rule 6-7 for unduly delaying play. So I think in the situation you decide the player going back to take his drop would definitely be penallized under Rule 6-7 for unduly delaying play.

10/28/2009 1:03:47 PM

hill writes:
our foursome was playing a two man best ball match player A hit his third shot into the water hazard and decided not to take a drop. His partner took five shots to reach the green, at this point player A decided to go back and take his drop. Is this leagal under the rules ? If so,when did he lose the right to drop.

10/21/2009 1:22:09 PM

joe taycher writes:
can a person pick 2 clubs from bag,then lay one of them on ground and set feet along shaft of grounded club...seeminly using it as a target line?

10/21/2009 10:57:24 AM

David Cohn writes:
Don – From the definition of “out of bounds,” “A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.” The margin of the boundary is defined by the inside edge of a line used to mark out of bounds or the inside part of a boundary fence or out of bounds stakes.

10/19/2009 8:57:21 AM

nancy staahl writes:
We played in a horserace tonight and a player declared a ball unplayable in the sand trap...the ball was next to the left four inch lip. What can they do if they declare it unplayable? Does the ball have to be placed in the sand trap or can it be place next to the spot in the sand trap in the rough? Thank you, Nancy

10/17/2009 10:53:45 PM

Les Palzewicz writes:
A drive is hit into a lateral water hazard but hits the ground in the hazard before it goes into the water. Can the ball be dropped on ground in the hazard to play the next shot? The ball never was over any land except the hazard.

10/16/2009 9:56:50 PM

Aaron writes:
My approach to the green lands on the green then rolls down the the side of the green down an imbankment into the water. What are my options? Thanks, Aaron

9/28/2009 4:35:10 PM

Tom writes:
Brian Mckinley - Decision 25/19.5 cliarifies a footprint of a bird. It states:Footprint of Burrowing Animal, Reptile or Bird Q. Is the footprint of a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird a "hole, cast or runway" within the meaning of these terms in the Definition of "Abnormal Ground Conditions"? A. No. A footprint is an irregularity of surface from which there is no relief without penalty. Secondly, the proper procedure for abnormal ground conditions is covered in Rule 25-1b(ii) and it states: In a Bunker: If the ball is in a bunker, the player must lift the ball and drop it either: (a) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause(i) above, except that the nearest point of relief must be in the bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker or, if complete relief is impossible, as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, on a part of the course in the bunker that affords maximum available relief from the condition; or (b) Under penalty of one stroke , outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped. So, in your question, the player should not have taken free relief and if he was intitled to free relief he should have dropped the ball.

9/23/2009 6:49:15 AM

Tom writes:
Brian McKinley - There are two decisions that will answer your question. Decision 18/7 states: Explanation of "Any Ball He Has Played" Q. The Definition of "Equipment" excludes "any ball he (the player) has played at the hole being played." What does this mean? A. The phrase means any ball the player has played at the hole being played except during any period when it has been lifted and has not been put back into play. Accordingly, the ball in play, a provisional ball, a second ball played under Rule 3-3 or Rule 20-7c and a ball being used for practice are not equipment. The second decision that pertains to your question is 19-5/5 and it states: Provisional Ball Struck by Original Ball Q. A player's original ball strikes and moves his provisional ball. What is the ruling? A. Rule 19-5 does not apply because the provisional ball was not in play. Rule 19-2 does not apply because the provisional ball is not the equipment of the player — see Decision 18/7. In equity, (Rule 1-4), and by analogy to Rule 19-5a, the player shall play the ball as it lies and no penalty is incurred except that, in stroke play, if both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, the player incurs a penalty of two strokes. So in your question there would be no penalty and your ball would be palyed from where it lies after striking the provisional ball.

9/22/2009 3:35:20 PM

brian mckinley writes:
my approach shot went wide and i thought it might be lost in the weeds so i hit a provisional onto the green. found the original and hit it onto the green where it struck the provisional ball. have i incurred a penalty for my ball in play striking another piece of my equipment? should i have removed the provisional from the green (60 yards away) before playing the original?

9/20/2009 9:12:17 PM

Tom writes:
Charlie Brunau - If you declare your ball unplayable it is true you have 3 options under Rule 28 (Unplayable Ball). The Rule states: If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke: a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole. So, in your question, you could go back to where you had hit your previous shot. If you had not found the ball you would have proceeded under Rule 27 and the only option would to play from where you played your previous stroke incurring a 1 stroke penalty.

9/20/2009 6:33:56 AM

Tom writes:
Ben - Decision 16-1b/3 addresses this situation. It states: Ball Lifted from Putting Green; Ball Replaced While Another Ball in Motion Subsequently Deflects Ball Q. A's ball comes to rest on the putting green 20 feet from the hole. He marks the position of and lifts his ball so that B, whose ball is also on the putting green, but farther from the hole, can play first. While B's ball is in motion, A replaces his ball. B's ball strikes A's ball. What is the ruling? A. If A's action was unintentional, i.e., not for the purpose of deflecting B's ball, Rule 19-5a applies. There is no penalty to either player since A had lifted his ball and it was not lying on the putting green immediately prior to B's stroke. A must replace his ball, and B must play his ball as it lies. If A's actions were for the purpose of deflecting B's ball, A is in breach of Rule 1-2 (Exerting Influence on Ball). In equity (Rule 1-4), B must replay his stroke, without penalty — see Note under Rule 19-1. So, in your question, assuming this was an unintentional act the player that putted his ball is required to replace his ball and replay it and the player that put his ball back on the green would play the ball from where it came to rest. Neither player would be penalized.

9/20/2009 5:44:36 AM

Jerry Barr writes:
I recently played in a tournament where lift, clean and place was in effect. My question is, are we to record these scores as part of our handicap figuring?

9/18/2009 1:24:12 PM

Ben writes:
During a recent round during our Club Championship, a player marked his ball on the green. Another player outside of the player who marked his or her ball proceeded to hit his putt. While the ball was in motion the first player, who marked his ball put his ball down and removed his mark. The ball in motion hit the ball that was placed during the putt. What is the penalty, and who receives the penalty?

9/18/2009 10:48:59 AM

Tom writes:
Deejay - It is a fact whether or not a person teed off outside the teeing area. In your question, you indicate that one player in the group states that the player teed off outside the teeing ground and the player and the other members of the pairing do not confirm that the player was outside the teeing ground. Since it cannot be confirmed the ruling should be for the player. This would be similar to a tie going in the runners favor in baseball.

9/18/2009 3:01:19 AM

Deejay writes:
In a Ryder Cup format tournament, a member of our foursome was accused of teeing off ahead of the tee markers. She could neither confirm nor deny this and the other players could not either. After finishing the hole, all players agreed she should not re-tee and we continued playing After finishing the round, the accuser marched into the clubhouse and reported the incident. What should have happened.?

9/16/2009 1:57:52 PM

Tom writes:
Paul - If I understand your question, your ball was on top of an abandoned ball. This ball would be considered a movable obstruction and this is covered in Rule 24-1b. That Rule states: If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, but not nearer the hole. So, in this case, you should have dropped rather than placed.

9/15/2009 12:00:07 PM

Shingo writes:
I hit the green in regulation and mark my ball on the putting green and view my downhill birdie putt. I re-place my ball and lift my mark. I step away and survey the putt from the other side. Before even addressing my ball, the ball rolls downhill and into the cup. How should I proceed?

9/14/2009 12:22:42 PM

Mike Landry writes:
A player takes a drop from an unplayable lie. He is allowed two club lengths from where the ball came to rest. When the ball was dropped it rolled outside of the two club length point but did not roll closer to the hole. Is this ball in play or is a re-drop required. The player was informed by his playing partners that the ball had to come to rest inside of the two club lengths from its original position and he placed it on the spot where it hit from the drop. Is he penalized for doing so?

9/9/2009 1:30:38 PM

Tom writes:
Ranjit - You are correct in your assesment that Rule 25-2 states that an embedded ball can only be lifted in a closely mown area. Most all clubs, tours and events in the United States use a local rule that allows a ball embedded in its own pitch mark "through the green" to be lifted. The local rule can be found in appendix I. It states: "Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. Exceptions: 1. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if the ball is embedded in sand in an area that is not closely mown. 2. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule. Through the green is defined as the whole area of the course except: a. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played; and b. All hazards on the course.

9/8/2009 9:42:32 AM

Tom writes:
Bob Steichen - From what you tell me the player's second shot was at a wrong ball. In stroke play that is a 2-stroke penalty and it must be corrected. If the player does not correct the situation before teeing off the next hole he is disqualified. Strokes made with the wrong ball do not count. So in your case the player went back (correcting the wrong ball situation) and hit his 3rd shot from the tee as his original ball was lost. I am assuming the 6 means he hit 3 from the tee and had 3 more shots to complete the hole giving him a 6 with that ball. He incurred a 2-stroke penalty for hitting a wrong ball, so his score would be 8.

9/8/2009 9:16:20 AM

Tom writes:
Jeff Dorward - Yes there is a decision that covers a similar situation. It is Decision 19/2: Player's Ball Deflected by Stroke of Player in Another Group Q. A hit his ball over onto another fairway where, before it came to rest, it was struck by X in the course of striking his own ball. X's ball went 20 yards. A's ball could not be found. What is the ruling? A. Each player was an outside agency in relation to the other. Under Rule 19-1, A would have been obliged to play his ball as it lay, without penalty, if it had been found. Since it was not found, A must proceed under Rule 27-1, incurring a penalty of stroke and distance. X must play his ball as it lies, without penalty. In your situation both players play the ball from where they end up and there are not penalties involved.

9/8/2009 9:00:53 AM

Ranjit writes:
Rule 25-2 states that an embedded ball in a "closely mown area" can be picked up and dropped without penalty. What about if the ball is in tall grass but is clearly seen to be embedded in earth.

9/7/2009 3:09:48 AM

Bob Steichen writes:
Player hits ball into left rough among trees and while riding to area says there it is and hits ball into low hanging evergreen. After 6 total strokes, marks ball on green and discovers this his not his ball. we go back to second shot in evergreen and no ball to be found. He then decides that his second shot that he made was on the incorrect ball. We attempt to find his original with no luck. He goes back to retee and hit his 3rd shot for his 1st ball. After making a 6 on his 2nd ball, what is his score for the hole?

9/6/2009 7:55:31 AM

Jeff Dorward writes:
Heard an amazing story yesterday...my friend, while in the process of making a swing, simultaneously hit a ball in motion from an adjacent fairway along with his own ball..is there a rules provision that would cover this "outside agency" interfering with his stroke?

9/3/2009 10:19:07 AM

Hank writes:
If I gave myself a higher score and signed my card at the end, but later found that the score should have been lower, is that a DQ?

9/3/2009 8:00:41 AM

louis A conte writes:
out of bounds fence. Ball comes to rest next to out of bounds fence. I cannot make a swing. Is there a penalty for moving ball for relief?

9/2/2009 3:14:28 PM

Tom writes:
Jim Olds - Your question would not be answered in the Rules of Golf as the Rules state stroke and match play should not be played at the same time because of the differences in the rules from one form of play to another. Understanding that golfers do play these two forms as you do in your league; I think the best way of looking at your situation is that you are involved 10 indiviual events in your league. Each hole (9 in total) is played as a match for one point and the total score for 9-holes is played as stroke play and this would be the tenth event. Because the player did not finish the first hole he would lose the match play point on that hole and the point for the 9-hole stroke play, but he would be able to play the other 8 indiviual holes in the match play format.

9/1/2009 2:06:04 PM

jim olds writes:
In our after work league each player can earn 10 possible points against his opponent: 1 for each hole (match play) and 1 for 9 hole low net (stroke play). On the first hole a player hits two tee balls out of bounds and proceeds to play the hole out from the point where both balls left the coure. He concedes the hole and the stroke play point. He and his opponent play the remaining 8 holes. Has the player forfeited all 10 points by not having a ball in play on the first hole, or does the scoring continue as usual for the remaining 8 holes of the match?

8/27/2009 3:27:15 PM

Tom writes:
Charlie Rider - From what you tell me you are correct. Rule 27-2b states; "b. When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play: The player may play a provisional ball until he reaches the place where the original ball is likely to be. If he makes a stroke with the provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, the original ball is lost and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play." So from what you state in your question you proceeded correctly following the Rules of Golf by playing your provisional up to the point where you thought your original was and ,therefore, your original ball was the ball in play.

8/26/2009 4:25:07 PM

Tom writes:
Steve Bohlman - The answer is covered in Decision 13-2/22; Q. A player's ball lies near a tree or bush. The player takes a practice swing near his ball and knocks down leaves in the area of his intended swing. Is this a breach of Rule 13-2? A. The answer depends on whether the area of the intended swing is improved. In some cases, the knocking down of a number of leaves would not improve the area of the intended swing as the player still has to swing through a number of remaining leaves when making his stroke. In such circumstances, there would be no breach of the Rules. In other cases, the knocking down of one leaf might improve the area of the intended swing, in which case there would be a breach of Rule 13-2. If a player has improved the area of his intended swing by knocking down a leaf or a number of leaves, he cannot avoid penalty under Rule 13-2 by subsequently changing the area of his swing when he actually makes the stroke. So, the answer is that it dapends and there would be some judgement involved. If you knocked down leaves and branches during your backswing and continued the swing there would not be a penalty.

8/26/2009 2:48:44 PM

Tom writes:
Jay Loop - Under the definition of equipment the definition states, "When a golf cart is shared by two or more players, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of one of the players sharing the cart. If the cart is being moved by one of the players (or the partner of one of the players) sharing it, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be that player's equipment. Otherwise, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of the player sharing the cart whose ball (or whose partner's ball) is involved." So from this definition if you hit the cart with your ball it is a one strong penalty and you play the ball from where it lies (Rule 19-2). If the ball is a fellow-competitor's there is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies (19-1). If it is an opponents ball (match play), "the player may, before another stroke is made by either side, cancel the stroke and play a ball, without penalty, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5) or he may play the ball as it lies. However, if the player elects not to cancel the stroke and the ball has come to rest in or on the opponent's or his caddie's clothes or equipment, the ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or on the article, but not nearer the hole." (Rule 19-3)

8/26/2009 2:23:34 PM

Charlie Rider writes:
Hello, I hit a poor tee shot into the top of trees that fronted an area with long grass. Fearing I would not find my ball, I declared a would hit a provisional, and squarely hit the same tree, causing the provisional to come back towards me. Since I was not yet at the point where my first shot was likely to be, I hit the provisional a second time. I then walked up to the trees and long grass and found my first ball. I played it, picked up the provisional and finished the hole with the original. I assumed no problem but retelling the story I was informed once i played the provisional a second time, it became the ball in play. Thanks.

8/25/2009 9:52:16 AM

Steve Bohlman writes:
Is it a penalty if I (a) contact a tree branch or brush with my practice stroke or (b) during the backswing of my actual stroke?

8/24/2009 10:41:51 PM

Jay Loop writes:
Ball hits the golf cart what's the rule

8/23/2009 4:40:00 PM

Tom writes:
Jeff Farrey - Depending on the format of play the USGA suggests percentages of handicaps for certain types of events. If you would go to the USGA web site, www.usga.org and then go to the Handicapping area, then Handicap Manual. In section 9-4 (Handicap Allowances) you can review the USGA suggestions for handicaps for the various types of play.

8/21/2009 9:32:25 AM

Jeff Farrey writes:
A group of us, all with WSGA handicaps, have a friendly little 72 hole competition in the fall. Recently, one member of our group joined a private club, and he is trying to tell us his club uses 80% of handicaps for their tournaments. Now, he and another friend are lobbying for this 80% rule, as we are calling it. Any idea why this is done? Isn't the handicap system set up to even out the field? Help! Thank you, Jeff

8/20/2009 8:42:38 PM

Tom writes:
Mary Ann Kelly - The answer to your question depends on whether you are playing match play or stoke play. In match play it would be loss of hole. In stroke play it would be a 2-stroke penalty. So if the player was lying 2 on the green, there would be a stroke for the initial putt, then a stroke when he hit the moving ball and then a 2-stroke penalty. So in that case the score for the hole would be 6.

8/20/2009 4:25:45 PM

Tom writes:
John Jancar - This situation is not directly covered under the Rules of Golf. The Committee would be the group that should handle situations such as this on a Local Rules or Conditions of Competion sheet. If this were a WSGA tournament and half of the bunker was playable and the half was being worked on, we would make the half being worked on noted as gound under repair (GUR). In your case you would get relif from the GUR for the shot that hit the lip and ended up in that position. As long as the ball could be dropped in the bunker without being closer to the hole there would be no penalty. If you could not drop the ball in the bunker without being closer to the hole, under penaly of one stroke the ball could be dropped outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit as to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.

8/20/2009 2:38:02 PM

Mary Ann Kelly writes:
While playing a player is putting out. The player misses the put and before the ball stops the player reaches over the cup and stikes the ball into the cup. What is the ruling and how is it scored?

8/19/2009 2:55:05 PM

John Jancar writes:
I was playing a cup match the other day and a parks worker was working in a sand trap with a bobcat. I hit my shot into the bunker in an area that he was not turning the sand over with the bobcat. I subsequently hit my sand shot into the lip of the bunker and this shot rolled back into the area that he was working on or digging up the sand. Was I allowed a free drop due to ground under repair for my 2nd sand shot?

8/19/2009 8:01:36 AM

Tom writes:
Rick Paszkiewicz - Let me answer your question in two parts. Paper or debri? A movable obstruction can be removed without penalty in a bunker. An obstruction is defined as a man made object. In your question, paper is certainly man made and could be removed without penaltly as is a cigarette butt, soda can, etc. By debri I am not sure what you mean. Loose impediment (defined as natural objects, such as leaves, twigs, stones, etc.) cannot be removed without penalty. If by debri you include loose impediments then these cannot be removed without penalty. With that said the Rules of Golf do allow for a local rule that allows stones to be removed in a bunker without penalty if this local rule is adopted. The local rule if used considers stones in bunkers as movable obstructions and thus can be removed without penalty. It is up to the Tournament Committe of an event or the club to decide if they want to use this local rule.

8/18/2009 10:30:38 AM

Tom writes:
Steven Clemment - Your situation is covered under Rule 19-5. You indicate that the golf balls are both off the green, therefore, the ball that was at rest is replaced and the ball that hit the other player's ball is played as it lies. Neither player incurs a penalty.

8/18/2009 9:54:29 AM

Rick Paszkiewicz writes:
Can you remove stones that are near your ball in the sand trap? What about paper or debri?

8/17/2009 1:39:30 PM

steven Clemment writes:
Player a puts ball on green ball rolls off green and stops on fringe. player b putts ball on green rolls off green onto fringe and hits player As ball is there a penalty for hitting a ball while on the green ?

8/16/2009 2:19:22 PM

Tom writes:
Corinne Pivar - First I would like to thank you for being a member of the WSGA. You have many question to answer and some have a philosophical answer. First, if your group feels that a handicap is the only service offered and derived by the WSGA, there certainly are other alternatives and it sounds like your group found one. They seem to be happy with the USGA Slope handicap system as you relate the numbers that they calculate are close to the ones given you by the WSGA so they must be using course and slope ratings. The course rating and slope ratings are produced by WSGA staff members and used by your group are done by paid staff of the WSGA. If more groups would not use the WSGA system eventually there would not be accurate course and slpoe ratings and the system could no longer be used because the WSGA could not survive. Some of the basic premises of the USGA Slope System found in the USGA Handicap Manual are: "Two basic premises underlie the USGA Handicap System, namely that each player will try to make the best score at every hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review. The player and the player's Handicap Committee have joint responsibility for adhering to these premises." Leagues can do what ever they want, but as stated above the USGA Slope System is based on those premises. Any deviation from these basic premises will probably affect the accuracy of the handicap. The USGA handicap manual does state if a player has more than one handicap, the lowest handicap must be used in competitions.

8/14/2009 6:23:27 PM

Corinne Pivar writes:
Statement was made at membership general meeting about two years (to save money for members) ago for our ladies league to use a private software which is done every week by one member on her computer) to keep track of members hdcps using ONLY LEAGUE DAY GAMES for the season to establish hdcps. However, some players, because they use their hdcps in other states ALSO pay hdcp seasonal fee to enter their scores in the wsga website. Question: which hdcp should be used for members' championship games? CAN make a difference in strokes. I'm assuming players who paid to use wsga hdcp system are entering ALL their games played on home course. Private software does seem accurate in just checking/comparing my own hdcp with my wsga results. However, (here complaints) can local women's league rule that we use ONLY LEAGUE GAMES for hdcping? Does not reflect players TRUE plaing abilities I've noticed and heard complaints from some members. Thank you, Corinne Pivar #618744

8/14/2009 10:04:00 AM

David Cohn- writes:
Kevin T- From Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable): If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke: a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole. As you can see, following the line of flight is not one of the three options under Rule 28, so he would be unable to play from that spot.

8/11/2009 3:58:34 PM

Kevin T writes:
Weird one: My buddy drives the ball, there is a 4 foot rock bed going across the fairway (100yrs out). His ball hits a rock and shoots 75 yards Left into a thick mass of tall skinny trees. He wants to take an unplayable Lie. I know he could go back and re-tee, but he wanted to take the ball line of flight from rocks. Place the ball on edge of fairway from the trees (2 club lenghts) His ball was not out of bounds, NO red stakes. What could he do in this situation?

8/11/2009 10:03:29 AM

Scott writes:
While playing in a tournament there was a dispute about a particular shot. Player drives his ball from the tee and flairs it right. It travels over a hazard, which in this was tall grass, that was marked with a red line defining the hazard and then proceeds to hit a house and ends up in someones backyard out of bounds. What is the penalty in this case. Keep in mind the ball flew the whole way without touching anything until it hit the house.

8/10/2009 3:08:36 PM

David Cohn writes:
Charlie- Since the water hazard on that hole was marked with a yellow line (water hazard) and not a red line (lateral water hazard), Harrington had only two options other than playing the ball as it lay in the water. The first was to return to the point at which point the original ball was last played. For him, this would have been behind the green and in the rough. The second was to drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball was to be dropped, with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped. In his case, the only place he could drop under this option was the fairway side of the hazard since dropping on that line would keep the point at which he last crossed the hazard between his drop and the hole.

8/10/2009 10:30:47 AM

Charlie Brunau writes:
On the 16th hole, in the final round on Sunday at Firestone, Padraig Harrington hit his 4th shot across the green into the pond. Since his 3rd shot had already successfully crossed the pond, why was he not allowed to drop on the green side of the pond...taking one stroke and dropping in a spot not nearer to the hole? Instead, he went to the fairway side of the pond and dropped 80-100 yards back of the pond.

8/9/2009 8:59:57 PM

Chris Kerry writes:
Due to lack of communication, two golfers chip onto the green at the same time, and their balls colide while both are rolling on the green. (1) Is there a penality? (2) Where are the balls played from? (3) What are the odds of this happening? If it matters, this occured in medal play.

8/8/2009 8:25:40 PM

Dennis cahill writes:
I hit a ball over the green on a par three and it goes into a pond which is yellow-staked. Where is the proper drop point, or must I re-hit from the original spot with a two stroke penalty?

8/7/2009 9:58:03 AM

PaT Ohlendorf writes:
Is there anywhere to find the father /daughter tournament results from Hartford this year?

8/5/2009 9:07:38 AM

Tom writes:
Richard Saks - Your question is answered in Decision 5-1/4. It reads :5-1/4 Status of "X-out," "Refurbished" and "Practice" Balls Q. What is the status of "X-out," "refurbished" and "practice" balls? A. "X-out" is the common name used for a golf ball that a manufacturer considers to be imperfect (usually for aesthetic reasons only, e.g., paint or printing errors) and, therefore, has crossed out the brand name. A "refurbished" golf ball is a second-hand ball that has been cleaned and stamped as "refurbished." In the absence of strong evidence to suggest that an "X-out" or "refurbished" ball does not conform to the Rules, it is permissible for such a ball to be used. However, in a competition where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls (see Note to Rule 5-1), such a ball may not be used, even if the ball in question (without the X's or without the "refurbished" stamp) does appear on the List. In most cases, "practice" balls are simply listed, conforming golf balls that have been stamped "Practice," in the same way that golf balls often feature a club or company logo. Such balls may be used even where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls. (Revised) So, if your club does not use the the Note to 5-1 then these balls would be acceptible.

8/4/2009 4:43:35 AM

Jesse Haggith writes:
Why are par 3 courses unable to be posted to handicap?

8/3/2009 11:08:44 PM

frank csizmadia writes:
What does the "L" mean next to my trend handicap score? Thanks

8/2/2009 10:30:24 PM

Tom writes:
Jeff - You are entitled to relief from a sprinkler head (immovable obstruction) regardless of whether or not you are in a fairway or rough. You would find the nearest point not nearer the hole where you could take your stance without interference from the sprinkler head. That point is called the nearest point of relief. From that point you would get one (1) club length (not two) not nearer the hole. You must not drop on a green or in a hazard, but you could drop in either fairway length grass or rough length grass as long as you are within the parameters stated above.

8/1/2009 4:33:38 PM

Jeff writes:
My ball is on the edge of the rough, but my stance is hindered by a sprinkler head. I am entitled to two club length's relief, no nearer the hole. May I take my relief in the fairway or must I drop in the rough? Thanks.

8/1/2009 1:25:46 AM

Tom writes:
Jeff - Your situation is covered in Rule 18-5 (Ball at rest Moved By Annother Ball) "If a ball in play and at rest is moved by another ball in motion after a stroke, the moved ball must be replaced." So in your question you must replace your ball to the original spot and there is not a penalty to either player. The player's ball that struck your ball is played from where it comes to rest.

7/30/2009 7:23:29 PM

Tom writes:
Diane Owen - The definition of a stroke is "the forward of movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but after a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke." So the answer to the question would lie with your opponent as she is the only one that knows whether or not she was trying to hit the ball. It is possible that when she hit the tree she purposely changed direction of the club to miss the ball and then that would not be a stroke. If she was trying to hit the ball and the branch changed the direction of the club and it missed the ball, then that would be a stroke.

7/30/2009 4:38:28 PM

Diane Owen writes:
During match play, my opponent's ball was under a tree, but not against the trunk. She took a stance, swung the club over her head, it struck the tree, and then when she swung the club back down, it was about 3 feet above the ball. She looked at me and said, I didn't swing. No stroke. I didn't care much, she is a former golf instructor, and I was beating her soundly when it happened. What is the official ruling ?? Thanks !!

7/30/2009 3:08:28 PM

Tom writes:
Doc - The answer to your question is addressed in Decision 13-2/22 (Knocking down leaves with practice swing) Q. A player's ball lies near a tree or bush. The player takes a practice swing near his ball and knocks down leaves in the area of his intended swing. Is this a breach of Rule 13-2. A. The answer depends on whether the area of the intended swing is improved. In some cases, the knocking down of a number of leaves would not improve the area of the intended swing as the player still has to swing through a number of remaining leaves when making his stroke. In such circumstances, there would no breach of the Rules. In other cases, the knocking down of one leaf might improve the area of the intended swing, in which case there would be a breach of Rule 13-2. So, the answer to your question is not a definite yes or no without seeing the situation. From what you say in that "most of the needles and cones remain after the practice swing", it would seem to be that there is not a breach of Rule 13-2.

7/30/2009 3:38:59 AM

Tom writes:
Byron Chase - Rule 17-1 states "before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole." So the answer to your question is that the flagstick can be attended for a shot from off the green. There would be a penalty if the ball strikes the attended flagstick. The penalty is 2 strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play.

7/15/2009 9:10:45 PM

Tom writes:
Jim Stender - A Trend Handicap is a handicap using your last 20 scores. It is intended to be used for local play at the club where your handicap is kept. When your Official Handicap is calculated the Trend Handicap at the time the update computer transmission is done becomes your Official Handicap. So your Trend Handicap and your Official Handicap would be the same until you add another score at which time your Trend Handicap may change.

7/13/2009 8:00:04 PM

Tom writes:
Neil Riedel - An eagle by definition is 2 strokes under par, therefore a hole-in-one is an eagle by definition although it is normally stated as a hole-in-one.

7/13/2009 7:44:31 PM

Jim Stender writes:
How is the trend computed? Is it based on your last 20 scores?

7/13/2009 11:16:59 AM

Neil Riedel writes:
Please help me clear something up with fellow golfer. He say's that a hole in one on a par 3 is an Eagle, I'm telling him it is a hole in one and a eagle is a 2 on a par 4 or a 3 on a par 5, he contends that it is 2 under par on a par 3 so it can be called an eagle. Neil

7/13/2009 7:37:10 AM

Tom writes:
Max - I am assuming that you mean accidentally taps his ball off of the tee. The answer lies in the definition of ball in play. When you first place a ball on a tee within a teeing ground the ball is not in play. To put the ball in play you must make a stroke at the ball. The definition of a stroke is the forward movement of a club with the intention of striking at and moving the ball. So, when you tapped the ball accidentally off the tee it was not a stoke. You would just re-tee and then make you first stroke on that hole.

7/10/2009 10:36:59 AM

Tom writes:
Tom Michals - You may not declare the ball lost. There are specific actions that you can take that make the ball lost and these are listed in the definiton of lost ball. You are not required to look for your ball, so one of the actions that make a ball lost is to make a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place. Check out the definition of lost ball. If one of your fellow-competitors found a ball before you made a stroke at your provisional ball you would be required to identify the ball and if it was your ball that would be the ball in play.

7/8/2009 4:53:56 AM

Tom Michals writes:
In strok play, I hit my tee close to some bushes. No knowing if I can find my ball, I hit a provisional ball. As I approach the bushes, I do not see my ball and I realize it is in the bushes. Without looking for the ball, can I declare it lost and proceed by playing the provisional ball?

7/7/2009 6:33:58 PM

Tom writes:
Brian - The definition of Ball in Play states that the ball is in play when the player makes stroke from the teeing ground. This ball remains in play until the ball is holed, except that annother can be substitued if a ball is lost or substitution is allowed by the rules such as hitting into a water hazard. A player may start each hole with a different ball and if the "one ball condition" is not being used the player may use a different brand of ball on each hole or each legal substitution.

7/6/2009 7:36:52 AM

Tom writes:
John Engel - Your answer lies in Rule 25 - Abnormal Ground Conditions. The rule states "Interference by an abnormal ground condition occurs when a ball lies in or touches the condition or when the condition interfers with the player's stance or the area of his intended swing. So the answer to your question is that you would get relief.

7/6/2009 7:23:12 AM

Brian Siebers writes:
Do all WSGA tournaments impose the "one ball condition"?

7/5/2009 1:48:20 PM

David Cohn writes:
Dave - The nearest point of relief must be on the course. Since the cartpath is against the out of bounds line, your nearest point of relief that would not give you interference from the obstruction would most likely be on the other side of the cartpath. In your example, this would be on the right-side of the cart path.

7/2/2009 10:58:18 AM

David Cohn writes:
Matthew - When your ball lies in a bunker, you are prohibited from testing the condition of the hazard. You would be allowed to dig in with your feet for a stance and practice swing. You are not allowed to dig in excess of what would be done for a stroke or practice swing or fill in from a previous stance. For example, you would not be allowed to fill in your footprints if you decide to play a stroke differently than what you had previously thought. The intent is to prevent a player from gaining more information about the hazard than could be gained from taking a regular stance with the understanding that some digging in would be necessary when playing a shot from a bunker.

7/2/2009 10:41:13 AM

dave wernicke writes:
l play a coarse, near Crivitz, the left side of whole five and six, has a gravel kart path. Then just left of kart path there our OB stakes, guessing five to seven feat from path. l end up on kart path left side, the relief is nearest point, BUTT bee-ing left-handed after taking stance plus klub length the bawl wood then bee dropped OB, PLEEZ tell the buffoon l play with that my nearest relief is the write side of the kart path,. THANX

7/1/2009 5:11:10 PM

Matthew J. Sullivan writes:
Hello Staff, I was looking for some information specifically regarding the method of stabilizing your golf stance in a sand trap. When on the beach it is often recommended that one “wriggles” their feet to anchor or stabilize his/her footing especially when the ground is uneven. Are there any specific golf rules/limits to how this is performed properly (i.e. going in too deep with the feet, adjusting and readjusting, time spent)? Regards, Matthew J. Sullivan

6/29/2009 3:21:44 PM

Tom writes:
Chuck - The answer to your question is that you are intitled to relief from any part of the guide wire that is inbounds and interfers with your stance of swing. Your relief would be the nearest point of relief not closer to the hole and then one club length from that point and not closer to the hole or in a hazard or out of bounds. This situation is covered in Decision 24/2.

6/26/2009 1:43:31 PM

Doc writes:
A player hits a shot out of bounds. Not realizing the ball is out of bounds he hits the ball from that position. Is the player penalized both the stroke and distance and for hitting a wrong ball as there were two seperate actions?

6/26/2009 12:09:11 PM

Doc writes:
A player completes a hole playing out two balls because of a question on a ruling. Later the player consults with the local tournament rules person who gives a ruling on how to proceed. After the close of competition it is learned that the ruling given by the tournament rules person was incorrect. The player has signed an incorrect scorecard based on the ruling given. How do you proceed?

6/26/2009 11:15:58 AM

Robert writes:
The other day I faced about a 50 yard shot where I needed to clear a sand trap to get to a green. However, there were overhanging evergreen branches directly in front of me. I wanted to hit the club with the most possible loft yet still keep the ball under the branches. When I went to take a couple of practice swings, I saw that there were nice, round pine cones right around my ball, so with my practice swings I hit pine cones with different irons, thinking the way the pine cones flew would mimic the trajectory the ball would fly with the various irons. Based on the shots with pine cones, I settled on a nine iron, hit my shot, and it stayed just under the tree branches. Was this illegal?

6/25/2009 12:30:13 PM

Tom writes:
Jeff - A tree stump from a recently cut tree is not ground under by definition. In the definition of ground under repair it states that material piled for removal is ground under repair,i.e., like grass clippings. To answer your question, unless the tree stump is marked as ground under repair, you are dealing with a short tree. You would either play the ball as it lies or proceed under Rule 28; Unpalyable Ball.

6/24/2009 7:18:56 AM

Tom writes:
Mark Kawula - I think what you are saying is the fence is out of bounds. Decision 24-2b/21 (Interference by Immovable Artificial Object Situated Out of Bounds) Q. An immovable artificial object situated our of bounds interferes with a player's swing. May the player obtain relief as provided in Rule 24-2b? A. No. Immovable artificail objects off the course are not obstructions(see Definition of Obstructions); therefore, the Rules provide no relief without penalty.

6/21/2009 5:24:47 AM

Tom writes:
Carey M. Wolf - The answer to your question is found in Rule 27-2b (When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play)"The player may play a provisional ball until he reaches the place where the original ball is likely to be. If he makes a stroke with the provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place, the original ball is lost and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance." So a player may play the proviional ball up to the point where you think the original ball may be no matter how many times you hit the provisional ball to get to that point. If you then find your original ball, that is the ball in play and the strokes taken with the provisional ball do not count.

6/21/2009 5:01:08 AM

Tom writes:
Jay Cox - Rule 24-2b (Relief from Immovable Obstruction)states "Except when the ball is in a water hazard or lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction..." The cart path is an immovable obstruction, but as the ball lies in a lateral water hazard (red stakes)the player would not get relief.

6/21/2009 4:39:49 AM

Rick Binder writes:
Rule 16-1 a(ii) states the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it,provided he does not press anything down; Am within this rule if I 1)address the ball by standing behind the ball an placing the putter in the line. 2) leave the putter in line as I step to the side of the line. 3) Stroke the putt from that position

6/17/2009 10:27:04 AM

Victor Chua writes:
My ball was lying in the rough. We saw a cart from a different foursome roll its wheel over my ball and embedded it. I believe I can lift and drop my ball without penalty. The question is can my clean my ball after I lift it and before I clean it?

6/14/2009 6:35:42 PM

Tom writes:
Dick Gosch - When taking an unplayable ball and using the option under 28c (drop a ball within 2 clubs of where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole)you may drop the ball anywhere within the 2 club lengths. A ball may roll up to 2 club lengths from where it strikes the course without having to be redropped. So if your drop strikes the course near the edge of the measured 2 club lenghts and rolls 2 more club lengths not closer to the hole it would be in play and would be almost 4 club lengths from where the ball was unplayable. If the dropped ball rolled more than 2 club lengths after it stuck the course it would need to be redropped. If the same thing happened a second time the ball would be placed where it struck the course on the second drop.

6/12/2009 4:24:28 PM

Tom writes:
Bob Sullivan - The answer to your question is found in Rule 16 - The Putting Green. Rule 16-1a states that the line of putt must not be touched except: (there are seven exceptions stated) exception number two(ii) is "the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down."

6/11/2009 7:40:51 AM

David Cohn writes:
Rich - Rule 18-2 covers this situation. The ruling would be different depending on if you grounded your club prior to making your stroke. On the putting green, you are deemed to have addressed the ball when you take your stance and ground your club. If the ball moved after you had addressed it, you would be deemed to have caused it to move and would be assessed a one stroke penalty. Since it moved after you began your stroke, you would play it from wherever it then came to rest. If you had not grounded your club, you would have not addressed the ball and you would have not caused the movement of the ball. Therefore, there would be no penalty for causing the ball to move and the ball would still be played from where it came to rest after you made the stroke.

6/10/2009 9:50:19 AM

David Cohn writes:
Ray - Exception 2 to Rule 13-4 answers your question. If after making a stroke from a hazard, your ball still lies in the hazard, you are able to smooth the sand provided that nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2. Rule 13-2 is Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play.

6/10/2009 6:58:28 AM

Doug writes:
We were playing a friendly game this weekend, got up to a par 3 and one of the players picked up a broken tee that had been left behind on the tee to tee up his ball with. One of the players in our group said that using that tee would result in a penalty because it would be considered "using someone else's equipment." We all told him he was crazy, but I promised I'd check with the experts.

6/8/2009 9:26:39 AM

Tom writes:
Jeff L. - The answer to your question is that you can substitute any type of ball that is on the conforming ball list.

6/4/2009 7:40:10 AM

Tom writes:
Dave - The answer to your question depends on the type of play. I am assuming that you mean a stroke play event. The answer to your question is based on the the definition of a "stipulate round." A stipulated round "consists of playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence. . . . The number of holes in a stipulated round is 18 unless a smaller number is authorized." Under Rule 4-4 this rule allows you to have a maximum of 14 clubs for a stipulated round and gives you the limits for replacing any clubs during that stipulate round. So the answer to your question is that you could change clubs or change playing characteristics of any clubs for the playoff as it is considered a new stipulated round. The same holds true if the "one ball" rule is in affect. The answer remains the same for suspension of play due to inclement weather and is based on the definiton of a stipulated round. As a match play playoff it is considered an extention of the stipulated round, thus changes could not be made for clubs unless they meet the requirements of replacements under Rule 4-3.

6/1/2009 6:33:11 AM

Dave Ullenberg writes:
The final round of a tournament ends in a tie, requiring a sudden death playoff. Before the playoff begins, are players allowed to exchange clubs in the bag, make adjustments to clubs (such as changing the adjustable shaft setting on a driver), and change brand of ball if the one ball rule were in effect? Or must all equipment used in the final round be maintained? Also, same question in relation to a round that is postponed overnight due to inclement weather, or darkness not allowing the round to be finished.

5/31/2009 5:28:24 PM

Tom writes:
Dave - As long as the ball mark is on the green it may be repaired whether or not the player's ball is on or off the green and whether or not his ball made the mark. If the ball mark was off the green it could not be repaired if it were in your line of play unless it was made after your ball was at rest. This is covered under Rule 13-2.

5/27/2009 9:57:14 AM

Cliff Lawson writes:
During the course of play, a ball has mud on it while in the fairway (not on the green)- Can a player twist (turn) the ball so that the mud is facing away from the side of the ball that the club would strike ? The player would not be cleaning the ball, or picking it up, simply turning it.

5/26/2009 3:40:43 PM

David Cohn writes:
Benny Dier – This is covered in Rule 18 “Ball at Rest Moved.” Since the ball was moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted. If the spot at which the ball came to rest is not known, the ball would need to be dropped instead of placed.

5/26/2009 10:32:42 AM

Tom writes:
Scott - Yellow stakes define a regular water hazard and red stakes define a lateral water hazard. With either type of water hazard you have three options; one is to play the ball as it lies in the water hazard, two is return to the spot where you hit your last shot and three is to drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped with no limit to how far behind the water hazard may be dropped. With the lateral water hazard there are two additional options. One is to drop a ball outside the water hazard wihtin two club lengths of and not nearer the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or two, a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hole. With any of the relidf options you receive a one-srtoke penalty. A lateral water hazard is defined as a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is deemed by the committe to be impracticable, to drop a ball behind the water hazard in accordance with Rule 26-1b.

5/25/2009 3:55:53 PM

David Cohn writes:
Charlie - Yes, you would incur a two stroke penalty for breach of Rule 13-4b. A stroke is defined as the forward movement of your club, so you would be penalized for touching the ground in a hazard prior to making a stroke. Decision 13-4/31 “Touching Sand in Bunker During Backswing” covers this situation.

5/23/2009 3:48:19 PM

Tom writes:
Rob Pratel - It is not true that the Rules of Golf do not allow for an inside the course out of bounds. Decision 33-2a/14 addresses this question. "A committee may make a Local Rule under Rule 33-2a declaring part of an adjoining hole to be out of bounds when playing a particular hole, but it is not permissible for a Committee to make a Local Rule placing an area of the course out of bounds to a stroke played from the teeing ground only." In essence if an adjoining hole is made to be out of bounds for a play of a certain hole any shot that lands in that area during the play of the hole would be out of bounds whether it was a tee shot or second, third or fourth shot, etc..

5/21/2009 8:17:38 AM

Tom writes:
Mike Desson - Objects defining out of bounds are deemed as fixed and cannot be removed. In your question the chain cannot be unhooked. If the player did that he would incur a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.

5/20/2009 2:55:51 PM

Tom writes:
Kevin - If a ball ends up in a footprint in a bunker (sand trap) you do not get relief. You could call the ball unplayable and take relief allowed under that rule. However, you would incur a one-stroke penalty.

5/20/2009 2:36:13 PM

Mike Desson writes:
What is the rule regarding and out of bounds that is marked with posts with chains linking the posts. For example, can the chain be unhooked? Can the post be removed if the chain cannot be unhooked? Thanks, Mike

5/20/2009 2:24:20 PM

Tom writes:
Cody - Question one - It is fact whether the ball is in bounds or out of bounds. In the case at point it would appear that the committee did not have the course prepared to address such a situation. If it cannot be determined that the player is out of bounds, then he would be in bounds. Question two - Decision 18/2 addresses this situation. As long as the ball was touched accidentally and the ball returned to its original position (oscillated is the term) by the Rules of Golf it has not moved and you would not incur a penalty.

5/20/2009 1:50:22 PM

kevin hawkin writes:
If a ball lands in a footprint in the sand trap do you get relief without penalty

5/19/2009 5:59:18 PM

Gary Brown writes:
Anywhere on the course other than the tee box can you put your club down behind the ball to see what club would work better. I have seen players do this resulting in matting down grass in the rough. Is this not improving your lie? Thank you

5/19/2009 10:13:33 AM

David Cohn writes:
Joe - The committee must determine if the movement of the ball was directly attributable to you stepping on the branch. If so, then you would be penalized one stroke for moving your ball at rest and the ball must be replaced. If it was not replaced, you would be penalized a total of two strokes for playing from a wrong place. If the ball moved on its own and was not a result of your actions, there would be no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies.

5/18/2009 5:40:37 PM

David Cohn writes:
Phil – 1) There is no specific depth requirement, but at least a part of the ball must be below the surface of the ground. Unless there is a specific local rule stating that relief is available for an embedded ball through the green, the Rules of Golf only permit relief for an embedded ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in any closely mown area through the green, which means grass cut to fairway height or less. 2) You may deem your ball unplayable within a bunker, but the relief procedure is modified. If you choose to proceed by dropping a ball behind the point at which the ball lay, keeping that point directly between your drop and the hole, or within two club lengths of the spot at which the ball lay, you must drop within the bunker. If you choose to return to the spot at which you last played, you may drop outside of the bunker.

5/18/2009 12:54:45 PM

Tom writes:
Frank - In the Rules of Golf an embedded ball can only occur in "closely mown areas." Most competitions use the local rule that allows an embedded ball "through the green." "Through the green" is defined as all areas of the course except the tee and green of the hole you are playing and all hazards. As a lateral water hazard is a hazard your ball does not meet the criteria in the rule for embedded ball. Therefore, you must play the ball as it lies or proceed under the water hazard rule.

5/18/2009 4:26:23 AM

Frank Opatik writes:
Ball embedded in it's own pitch in lateral hazard (red stake). The ball is visable and can be identified. What is the ruling?

5/17/2009 7:37:32 PM

Tom writes:
Ed - I assume that you mean a water hazard. When a drop zone is used it is considered another option and does not have to be used. Although many times a drop zone is used because one or more of the options are not available. In any case you can always return to the spot that you hit the last shot.

5/15/2009 1:03:49 PM

Tom writes:
One of the options under the water hazard rule (Rule 26) is that you can put a ball in play at a spot as near as possible from where you played your last shot. Rule 20-5a (Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made) states: "On the Teeing Ground - the ball to be played must be played from within the teeing ground. It may be played from anywhere within the teeing ground and may be teed." So the answer to your question is that it can be teed.

5/15/2009 9:04:09 AM

Brian writes:
What happens if my putt is deflected by my opponent's ball marker on the green? What if the ball marker is a tee stuck into the green? Do I get a do-over?

5/14/2009 10:09:08 AM

Tom writes:
Dennis - You are correct. There is nothing in the Rules of Golf that restricts a player to using only right handed or only left handed clubs. The only restriction is to the number clubs for a stipulated round and that number is 14. The 14 clubs could be all the same, right handed or left handed, or any combination of right handed and left handed.

5/14/2009 3:14:44 AM

Doug writes:
My ball came to rest very near the base of a large tree. Rather than taking an unplayable lie, I decided to try to swing at the ball. I took a full backswing and as I started my downswing, with the intent to hit the ball, the club hit the tree and stopped before it ever got back to the ball, thus not completing a swing. Does that count as a stroke? Sadly, we ruled yes.

5/12/2009 3:08:49 PM

Glenn Dahl writes:
If a paved cart path going through a hazard and a ball comes to rest on the cart path, does the player get a free drop? If yes, where does he drop?

5/11/2009 2:45:26 PM

John Kaufman writes:
Hi Guys, Our 18th hole out here in AZ has a long bunker on the right side of the fairway near the green. Bordering the bunker on the right is lateral, a desert wash. The red stakes are right in the sand on the right edge of bunker. If I hit it into the lateral and can't find it or play it where do I drop? Can I take a drop from a hazard into another hazard? There is no drop zone. The pro shop couldn't answer my question. Forunately I haven't hit it into the lateral yet.

5/8/2009 11:21:01 PM

Tom writes:
Tork Fog - The answer to your question would be the same in stroke play or medal play. In stroke there is no penalty if you press down a fellow-competitor's ball marker or even if you moved the marker in the process. The marker would be placed back to where it is with no penalties. In match play Decision 20-1/6.5 covers this situation. This decision states that the opponent does not receive a penalty for pressing down an opponent's ball marker. It does go on to state "if the ball marker were moved such that it no longer accurately marked the position of the ball, in equity (Rule 1-4), the opponent would incur a penalty of one stroke. If the opponent pressed down the marker with the authority of the player and that act caused the ball to move, there would be no penalty to either player."

5/8/2009 9:06:11 AM

Tom writes:
Brian - Your question is answered in Decision 13-4/35. The answer is your friend incurred a 2 stoke penalty under Rule 13-4. There are three exceptions in Rule 14-4 where a player can touch the sand after a stroke and his actions are not covered in the exceptions.

5/8/2009 8:38:46 AM

brian writes:
my friend is in the sand trap and duffs the shot it rolls five feet as my friend is upset he drops his club in disappoinment cause of his shot (club didnt touch ball)and picks up club and hits the next shot out is there a penality for "dropping" your club in the sand trap??

5/5/2009 9:34:03 PM

Tom writes:
Tony - There may be a different answer depending on whether or not the chain link fence is a boundary fence. If the chain link fence is a boundary fence, and your only reasonable stroke would be left handed and your feet would be on a cart path, you would get releif. Decision 24-2b/17 covers this situation. Once relief is taken the player would be allowed to then play his next stroke right handed if he choose to do that. If the fence is not a boudary fence or some type of protection fence there may be a different answer. The player would get relief, but the nearest point of relief may be on the other side of the fence. So, more information would be needed to address that situation.

5/5/2009 6:38:53 AM

chuck kurth writes:
Fairway, right side cart path next to right side red staked water hazard. The ball lands in the water hazard and is unplayable in the hazard. When I remove the ball from the hazard and look for a two club drop there is none. No matter where I go my feet and ball are on the path.

5/4/2009 2:15:55 PM

Del Guenther writes:
what are the official names of the various tee boxes available at many courses. (ladies, senior etc,)

5/3/2009 5:54:03 AM

Tom Rusch writes:
When measuring a club length for the purpose of dropping from a hazard, what club may I use? Can I use a club from the bag of a playing partner?

5/1/2009 5:43:06 PM

David Cohn writes:
Don- The committee must declare that area as ground under repair for you to proceed under Rule 25 (Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green). You would be justified in requesting the committee to declare the “groves” as ground under repair, and the committee would most likely be justified in doing so. If the area is declared to be ground under repair, you would have the option of playing the ball as it lies or proceeding under Rule 25-1b(ii) for relief from an abnormal ground condition in a bunker. The relief procedures are: (ii) In a Bunker: If the ball is in a bunker, the player must lift the ball and drop it either: (a) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause(i) above, except that the nearest point of relief must be in the bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker or, if complete relief is impossible, as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, on a part of the course in the bunker that affords maximum available relief from the condition; or (b) Under penalty of one stroke, outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.

5/1/2009 9:00:18 AM

Don writes:
In a sand trap after a heavy rain my ball was in runoff groves (mud) not sand. What should have been done? Is it ground under repair?

4/30/2009 1:36:48 PM

David Cohn writes:
Jay- Rule 26-1 reads, “It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the hazard. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.” In your situation, it must be determined if it is known or virtually certain that your ball is in the lateral water hazard and not out of bounds. If it is known or virtually certain that your ball is in the lateral water hazard, then you would proceed under the options available under 26-1, one of which is dropping “within two club-lengths and not nearer to the hole than the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard.”

4/27/2009 2:03:42 PM

Meg writes:
I understand that he applied rule 26-1. However, it seems odd that there was no other option as she was in no way deemed to have moved or caused her ball to move. Rule 26-1 seems a wee bit overly harsh under the circumstances.

4/24/2009 8:09:22 PM

Meg writes:
During the 2nd rnd of Kraft Nabisco, a player had reached the 18th green, marked her ball, cleaned and replaced it (ball is in play). She then stepped away to evaluate putt. Wind caused the ball to move, and it rolled into water hazard fronting the green. Rules Official determined that she should return the ball to original spot, with a one stroke for unplayable lie. Later, he said that the correct ruling should have been that she play the ball from where she had struck it to land on the green. 1) the rnd should have been suspended due to 40+ MPH winds. 2) His first ruling was correct. If the ball is properly on the green, why would it have to be replayed from the fairway?

4/23/2009 6:06:52 PM

Mont Martin writes:
Brian Gay's caddy used his towel to clear off tree debris in the line of Gay's next putt. I thought it was illegal to use a foreign object to do that.

4/23/2009 9:53:40 AM

Tom Kottraba writes:
I marked my ball on the green with a dime. I tapped it down with my putter and walked away. I went back to put my ball and the mark was gone. Come to find out it was stuck to the bottom of my putter (dew made it wet and it adhered to bottom of putter). What is the ruling?

4/21/2009 6:18:55 AM

David Cohn writes:
Robert Schroeder- Unfortunately, your question falls outside the Rules of Golf and our area of expertise. It is an interesting question and a lawyer or legislator would probably have a more accurate answer.

4/20/2009 10:59:55 AM

Robert Schroeder writes:
I see this sign in some of the Wisconsin golf courses." No carry on beverages allowed on course per Wisconsin Code 125.32" What is code 125.32? All I ever found on this code referred to licensing and sale of fermented beverages.

4/19/2009 3:24:26 PM

Aimee writes:
Why was Rory McIlroy not disqualified from the Masters? Wasn't he testing the condition of the sand?

4/17/2009 9:54:31 AM

Tom Schmidt writes:
Chris, An embedded ball according to the rules of golf can only occur "through the green". "Through the Green" is defined as whole area of the course except: the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course. Therefore a ball that goes into the face of bunker (sand trap) would be considered lost if you did not find it wihtin the 5 minute time limit. This would be a lost ball and you would need to put a ball in play from the spot you hit your last shot. You would incur a one stroke penalty.

4/17/2009 9:23:00 AM

Chris writes:
Ruling on an embedded lost ball in the face of a sand trap?

4/15/2009 6:51:39 PM