New Decisions Helpful in Daily Play
Most changes to the Rules of Golf originate from rules situations that do not have a definitive answer. These situations occur on the PGA, LPGA, European and Asian Tours and at major amateur championships. However, some of the new decisions for 2008 might have originated at your local course as they address questions that the average club member faces in a casual round of golf during the year.
Putting Green Situations Clarified
How often have we heard a player attending the flagstick say to his partner, “Aim toward my left foot” and wondered if that was a Rules infraction? Now thanks to Decision 8-2b/2 we know that if the person attending the flagstick purposely places his foot on the green to indicate a line for putting, there is a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play to the person putting.
However, that is not the end of the decision. If the person attending the flagstick takes his stance and then realizes a player targeted his foot as a good line, his suggestion to “aim toward my right foot,” would only be a breach of the Rules of Golf if he did not move his foot to another position that would not indicate the line for putting before the stroke is made.
New Decision 16-1e/2 also involves the putting green. In an effort to hole a short putt, right-handed players frequently stretch their right foot across an extension of the line of putt behind the ball to avoid standing on another player’s line while they tap their ball into the hole. (For the Phil Mickelsons in our readership, it is the left foot.) This is all done in an effort to keep play moving. It is not intended to putt croquet-style which is what Rule 16-1e legislates against. Good sense has prevailed, and this common practice is no longer a breach of the Rules of Golf. Purposely putting croquet style will still get a player penalized.
Distance Measuring Devices
A new Local Rule which may be adopted by a club or committee conducting a tournament permits the use of distance-measuring devices. However, a strong word of caution is needed here. Players should never assume the Local Rule is in effect. They need to look at the Local Rules for the competition being played. If the Local Rule is not included, the use of distance-measuring devices is still a disqualification penalty under Rule 14-3.
The NCGA Rules and Tournament Committees have agreed to implement this Local Rule. GPS type systems can be used in all of our qualifiers and tournaments in 2006.
Exchanging Distance Information
Paired with the Local Rule that allows the use of distance-measuring devices is a revision to Decision 8-1/2 which now allows players who are not partners to exchange distance information. Players may now exchange information between any two objects on the course, not just two permanent objects. This means a player may ask anyone (fellow-competitor, opponent or their caddies) the distance between his ball and the hole and not face a penalty. For example, if Player B in a cart observes his ball is 176 yards from the hole according to the GPS device, Player A may ask Player B what the distance is from his (B’s) ball to the hole. Knowing that his fellow-competitor’s ball is four paces closer to the hole, Player A knows his next shot is 180 yards.
What is the definition of the term ‘member in good standing’ relating to eligibility in team play.
Jim
August 2nd, 2007 at 10:04 pmToday was the first day of our Club Championship.
Our course has the GPS on their carts. It was not functioning. Several people
had their own private hand held GPS devices and they insisted that it was okay to use
them. Some players felt that since the course’s GPS was not functioning, those members
with private GPS should not be allowed to use them. It was an angry touchy subject.
What say you?
August 21st, 2007 at 7:07 pmI
In Partners Play, is there a penalty for standing behind your partner while they putt?
September 28th, 2007 at 5:59 pmNow I am totally confussed. The new ruling on measuring devices
March 22nd, 2008 at 6:14 pm14-3 allows for a “local ruling” for use of measureing devices. Then you inserted ” The NCGA Rules and Tournament Committees have agreed to implement this Local Rule. GPS type systems can be used in all of our qualifiers and tournaments in 2006.”
Did you mean 2008..?? and why would I think your ruling is local..?? The ruling should be for each course,, not every course. Every course is not local.. ?? Not sure this is clear to anyone …
Dear Kent,
2006 was just a typo. It should have said 2008. For all NCGA run tournaments we use the Local Rule allowing the use of distance measuring devices.
There are many possible Local Rules which are allowed and for which the USGA Decisions on the Rules of Golf gives us sample verbiage. You can find sample Local Rules in 33-8 of the Decisions book.
I hope that is now clear.
Gail Rogers
March 24th, 2008 at 8:33 amDirector of Education
I just finished a playing a Tournament at Hiddenbrook, there wernt any distance markers and many players were useing personal distance measuring devices, which I didnt think were allowed durning tournament play. I didnt play as well as I should have but now i know what questions to ask for next time.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:17 pmhad a great time, cant wait to get back out there.
Sam Glass jr.
Dear Sam,
Distance measuring devices may be used by Local Rule in tournaments. The NCGA has the Local Rule in effect for all of our tournamets. Please review tournament information that is provided prior to any tournmaent in which you play in order to know the Conditions of the Competion.
The United States Golf Asociation does not allow the use of Distance Measuring Devices in its qualifiers or championships. I was a rules official for CWAC Senior Women’s Tournament and they too elect to not put the Local Rule in effect. Players must read theconditions of the competition ad Local Rules for each tournament
Gail Rogers, Director of Education
May 13th, 2008 at 11:44 am