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Director Lee Gidney assists Mark Miller with a drop

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Player A, in error, plays from the black tee markers.  Player B properly plays from the gold markers.  The players are unsure of what to do next and decide that Player A should correct his error and they would take the matter up with the next official spotted on the course.  Player A plays from the gold markers.
Prior to either player playing their next strokes an official is called over to assist with the Rules.

Answer

Next Move?

Player A takes relief for a ball unplayable and drops a ball three club-lengths from where the original ball lay.  Player A addresses the ball, the ball then moves.  While the player contemplates his situation, the ball rolls out of bounds.

Answer
 

Windy Day

During a singles match between Player A and Player B, Player A and Player B are searching for Player B’s ball which headed toward the trees right of the fairway.  As the players searched, the wind blew and Player B’s ball fell from the trees and was deflected by Player A’s golf bag.  

Answer

Agreements

1. Two players agree on the way to the course to tap down spike marks on the putting greens, knowing that this is not permitted under the Rules.  They start their stipulated rounds with the agreement in place and, sometime during the round, prior to either player tapping down any spike marks, cancel their agreement. 
 
2. Two players, during a stipulate round, agree to tap down spike marks, knowing that this is not permitted under the Rules.  Sometime during the round, prior to either player tapping down any spike marks, the players cancel their agreement. 

Answers
  

Dropping Zones

In the following situations the Committee has established a Dropping Zone as an additional option for a ball that is in a specific lateral water hazard or it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the lateral water hazard.  In each case the player has played the dropped ball.  Assume stroke play.

1)   The ball lands within the dropping zone but rolls almost two club-lengths toward the hole and comes to rest outside the dropping zone.
2)  The ball lands within the dropping zone and rolls more than two club-lengths but remains within the dropping zone.
3)  The ball lands within the dropping zone and comes to rest in a divot hole near to where the ball had landed.  The player lifts the ball and drops it within the dropping zone avoiding the divot hole.
4)  The ball lands outside the dropping zone and rolls and comes to rest within the dropping zone.  The player lifts the ball and substitutes another ball which he drops properly.
5)  The ball lands within the dropping zone and no re-drop is required.  The player then lifts the ball, substitutes another ball and drops it properly (no re-drop required) in an area with better turf.
6) The ball lands within the dropping zone and rolls less than two club-lengths toward the hole but does come to rest nearer the hole than where the ball last crossed the margin of the lateral water hazard.

Answers
  

Penalty Exercises

[Inspired by JoeNH]

Incidents are stroke play, player has deemed ball unplayable:

1) Player A, proceeding under Rule 28c, drops a ball three club-lengths from where the ball originally lay, no nearer the hole.  Player A plays the ball.
2)  Player B, proceeding under Rule 28c, tosses a ball which first strikes the course three club-lengths from where the ball originally lay, no nearer the hole.  Player B plays the ball.
3)  Player C, proceeding under Rule 28c, places a ball within two club-lengths from where the ball originally lay, no nearer the hole.  Player C plays the ball.
4)  Player D, proceeding under Rule 28c, places a ball three club-lengths from where the ball originally lay, no nearer the hole.  Player D plays the ball.

Answers

Score for Hole?

At a recent Accenture Match Play event, one of our AGA officials, serving as a volunteer, observed the following incident involving T. Woods.  While Tiger’s ball was in motion toward the hole, his opponent (S.Cink, I believe) conceded the stroke.  As Steve Williams approached the ball to pick it up, Tiger prevented him from lifting his ball which was still in play – a stroke may only be conceded when an opponent’s ball is at rest (Rule 2-4).  Some players know the Rules.

In each case the player lies 3 on the fringe:

1)  Player A plays a stroke with his ball from the fringe.  After his ball comes to rest near the hole, his opponent states, “That’s good”.  Player A misses the putt but holes his next stroke.

2)  Player B plays a stroke with his ball from the fringe.  While his ball is in motion, his opponent states, “That’s good”.  The ball comes to rest near the hole.  Player B misses the putt but holes his next stroke.

3)  Player C plays a stroke with his ball from the fringe.  While the ball is in motion, his opponent states, “That’s good”.  Player C lifts the ball.  Player C’s opponent holes out for a 4.

Answers 

Another OK / Not OK

Player A’s ball is on the fringe of the putting green.  Player B requests Player A to lift his ball which interferes with Player B’s play.

Player A marks and lifts his ball being careful not to clean the ball.  After Player B plays his stroke, Player A replaced his ball without removing his ball-marker. 

Player A considers his next stroke, then rotates his ball to align the trademark to the direction of play and lifts his ball-marker.

OK or Not OK?

Answer  
 

Tour Trouble

Recently, a tour player took his stance in a fairway bunker to play a stroke at a ball which lay through the green. After the stroke, the player saw that his ball came to rest in a greenside bunker.  The player’s caddie raked the footprints in the bunker as the player walked forward to his ball.

Answer
Excerpt from USGA
  

Two Jaguars

Another episode from Phil-MS:

Player A searches briefly for his ball and finds a Pro V1 with a Jaguar logo, the logo on the ball he is playing.  After Player A plays the ball his fellow-competitor finds another ball nearby, another Pro V1 with a Jaguar logo.  The player is unable to determine which ball was his original ball – no distinguishing characteristics or unique markings.

What is the proper ruling?  

Answer

OK/Not OK

Player A and Player B are fellow-competitors:

1) Player A asks Player B to stand on a mound on a line with the flagstick prior to the stroke.  Player A cannot see the flag from his ball.  Player B moves before Player A makes a stroke.

2)  Player A’s ball is off the green.  Player A has a 10 yard chip.  Player B says “The  putting green slopes right to left”.

3) Player A’s ball is off the green.  Player will use a putter for his next stroke.  Player B says “Aim 3 feet right of the hole”. 

4) Player A is on the tee of par-4 hole.  Player B says “It is 200 yards to clear the bunker on the left.  

5)  Player A is on the tee of par-4 hole.  Player B says “Aim for the palm tree and you will have the best angle to the hole”.   

Answers

Polo Golf

[Yes, this really happened.]

Assume stroke play:
A player’s putt has come to rest four inches from the hole.  The player lies 3.  In an effort to speed up play and avoid stepping on any fellow-competitor’s line of putt, the player reaches over the hole with his putter in an effort to tap in the putt.   As he makes a backswing for the stroke, he inadvertently hits the top of his ball with his putter and the ball begins to roll away from the hole.  While the ball is still moving he reaches out and hits the ball back toward the hole.  The ball misses the hole and the player now moves his putter back to the other side of the hole and swings at the ball while it is still in motion. The ball is holed.

What is the player’s score for the hole?

Answer
  

Trouble or No Trouble

Earlier today during a Stableford competition, an official observed a player making a stroke from an area inside the large posts bordering the practice range.  The course-side edge of the large posts define out of bounds as noted on the Notice to Players – the player’s ball was out of bounds.

The official informed the player that he had played a stroke from out of bounds. The player responded “I guess I’m DQ’d.  I did the same thing on the last hole”.

Answer
  

Bunkers (Edited version)

A few bunker reminders!

1) Player A’s ball is in a bunker. Player A digs in with his feet prior to making a stroke with his sand wedge.  Player A makes a stroke and misses the ball.  Player A decides he will use his pitching wedge for his next attempt and, knowing that the provisions of Rule 13-4 permit raking after a stroke, rakes his stance area and makes a great stroke with his pitching wedge.
         
2) Player B’s ball lies at location 1 in a bunker which encircles most of the putting green.  Player B makes a stroke and the ball flies over the green and comes to rest in another part of the same bunker, at location 2.  Knowing well the provisions of Rule 13-4, Player B rakes his stance area and the area of lie and swing at location 1 and selects a club for his next bunker shot.  Player B’s next stroke, at location 2, comes to rest again in the bunker, at location 1.

Answers
 

Dr. Smith

Dr. Smith’s tee shot lies in the fairway.  His second shot flares off toward the woods.  Dr. Smith declares “That ball is lost!” and drops another ball.  Before Dr. Smith played a stroke with the dropped ball, his opponent calls from the woods “I found your ball. You have to play it!”

Dr. Smith calls for an on-course official to assist with a ruling.  Dr. Smith argues that he declared his original ball lost.  His opponent argued that he had found Dr. Smith’s ball within the five-minute search period.

Answer

Par-3 Trouble

The Committee sounded the three short notes of an airhorn, repeated, shortly after a group commenced play of a challenging par-3 hole on a desert course.  It is getting dark quickly.

Player A’s tee shot lands right of the green on the desert hillside.  The player deems his ball unplayable and returns to the tee playing another ball which lands left of the green in “bad country” in the desert.  A fellow-competitor calls back to Player A on the tee, “Play another ball”.  Player A plays another ball which lands in front of the green.

Player A quickly arrives at the ball which had landed in front of the green ready to play his next stroke.  A fellow-competitor states to Player A that he thinks he has found Player A’s second ball played from the tee.

An official was called to assist in making a ruling.

Answer
  

Information

 [Thanks to Chris for this incident.]

Match play:  Player A and Player B play their tee shots to opposite sides of the fairway.  Player B is on the green in three strokes.  Player A, unknown to Player B, whiffs his second stroke and is on the green in three strokes – Player B assumes Player A lies two.
 
Player B misses his putt and his next stroke is conceded for a score of 5 for the hole.
 
Player B says “If you make this putt you will get a great birdie.”  Player A says “This putt is for par.”
 
Player B claims the hole based on receiving wrong information from Player A.
 
What is the proper ruling by the Committee?

Answer

Canceled Strokes?

Assume stroke play.

1.  The Local Rule for overhead power lines is in effect.  Player A searches with fellow-competitors for his tee shot on a 166-yard par-3 hole.  The players all saw the ball go near/through the power lines toward the putting green.  The search area was around the putting green – rough, trees, etc.  After a five-minute search, Player A walks back toward the tee and finds the original ball under the wires, about 100 yards from the tee.  All players agreed that the ball must have struck the power lines – the ball could not have landed at that location otherwise.  Player A calls an official for assistance.
Answer  

2.  The Local Rule for overhead power lines is in effect.  Player B searches with fellow-competitors for his tee shot on a 166-yard par-3 hole.  The players all saw the ball go near/through the power lines toward the putting green.  The search area was around the putting green – rough, trees, etc.  After a five-minute search, Player B walks back toward the tee and finds the original ball under the wires, about 100 yards from the tee.  All players agreed that the ball must have struck the power lines – the ball could not have landed at that location otherwise.  Player B completes the hole with the original ball in three additional strokes.  (The ball was played from its location under the wires.)
Answer

3.  Player C’s ball lies 2 on the putting green about 12 feet from the hole.  Player C makes a stroke and the ball in motion is deflected by a squirrel which ran across the green.  The ball comes to rest 10 feet from the hole.  Player C proceeds properly under the Rules and completes the hole in two additional strokes.
Answer

4.  Player D’s ball lies 2 on the putting green about 12 feet from the hole.  Player D makes a stroke and the ball in motion is deflected by a squirrel which ran across the green.  The ball comes to rest 10 feet from the hole.  Player D plays the ball as it lies and completes the hole in two additional strokes.
Answer

Procedure Question – The Ruling

Ball A is played from the tee.  The player properly plays a provisional ball, Ball B, which comes to rest in the fairway farther from the hole than where Ball A is likely to be. 

As the player approaches Ball B, a fellow-competitor says “I think I see your ball ahead in the rough”.

The player, an expert on the Rules, knows that he is permitted to continue play of the provisional ball until he plays a stroke at the provisional ball near where the original ball is likely to be.  The player plays a stroke with Ball B.  An official arrives on the scene to assist the player.

[Is the player permitted to play a stroke at the provisional ball or is he required to identify the ball which may be his ball?]

What is the proper ruling? Answer

Bouncing Ball – The Ruling

At a recent collegiate stroke-play event:

A player is taking relief for a ball deemed unplayable.  The player elects to drop a ball within two club-lengths of the original position of the ball, no nearer the hole.  The player drops a ball on a cart path on a spot which satisfies the relief procedure.  The ball bounces straight up in the air and the player catches the ball. 

As we often say, “Now what?” Answer 

Bad Country – The Ruling

At a recent collegiate stroke-play event:

A player’s tee shot heads toward “bad country” in the desert.  The player’s coach says “You should play a provisional ball”.  The player responds “No, I don’t want to find that ball”.  The player plays another ball (Ball B) which lands in the same general area as Ball A but slightly closer to the hole.

The player finds Ball B and declares it unplayable.  The player’s coach finds Ball A and tells the player that she is required to play Ball A.  The player leaves Ball B and returns to Ball A.  The player declares Ball A unplayable, lifts Ball A and drops Ball A on the “flagline”, proceeding under Rule 28b.

At scoring, the facts of the incident are discussed with the officials.

What is the proper ruling? Answer

Exercises that Focus on Some Key Concepts

 Assume stroke play and strokes were made after the drops:

1)  Player A finds his ball in a divot hole in the fairway.  Player A lifts his ball and drops it in the fairway about three club-lengths to the side of its original position.

2)  Player B finds his ball in a divot hole in the fairway.  Player B lifts his ball, substitutes another ball and drops it in the fairway about three club-lengths to the side of its original position.

3)  Player C finds his ball in a divot hole in the fairway.  Player C, without lifting his original ball, drops a substituted ball in the fairway about three club-lengths to the side of its original position. 

4)  Player D finds his ball in a divot hole in the fairway.  Player D declares his ball unplayable, lifts his ball and drops it in the fairway about three club-lengths to the side of its original position.

5)  Player E finds his ball in a divot hole in the fairway.  Player E declares his ball unplayable, drops a substituted ball in the fairway about three club-lengths to the side of its original position.

6)  Player F arrives at an area in the rough where he thought his tee shot might have come to rest.  Not seeing his ball and to save some time, Player F drops another ball and continues play.

7)  Player G arrives at an area in the rough where he thought his tee shot might have come to rest.  Not seeing his ball and to save some time, Player G declares his original ball unplayable, drops another ball and continues play of the hole.

Answers

The USGA has issued the attached memorandum in response to the many inquiries which have recently been received concerning the acceptability of scores for rounds played with non-conforming clubs or balls.

The position of the NCGA is fully in support of the USGA policies.

If you should have questions or require any further clarification, please contact the NCGA Handicapping Department at 831/625-4653 or via e-mail at handicap@ncga.org.

The USGA Handicap System and The Rules of Golf

The USGA has received many inquiries regarding whether rounds played with equipment that does not conform to the Rules of Golf are acceptable for handicap purposes.

The USGA’s long-standing policy according to the USGA Handicap System is that scores made using non-conforming clubs or balls are not acceptable for handicap purposes.*

The USGA recognizes that it is a player’s choice whether or not he adheres to the Rules of Golf. While the USGA cannot ensure that all players use only conforming equipment, the integrity of the USGA Handicap System relies on a single set of Rules and uniform equipment standards to predict accurately a player’s potential ability and designate an appropriate USGA Handicap Index.

It should be noted that over time the USGA Handicap System has allowed a few exceptions that promote the inclusion of some scores that are not played strictly according to Rules of Golf. These exceptions represent an effort to make it easier to obtain scoring data needed for formulating an accurate USGA Handicap Index.

Preferred Lies and Winter Rules

The use of preferred lies or winter rules is not endorsed nor interpreted under the Rules of Golf. But a local rule denoting the existence of such a practice is included in the Rules of Golf for the benefit of local Committees faced with adverse course conditions. Scores made under preferred lies or winter rules will be posted for handicap purposes unless a club’s Handicap Committee determines that conditions are so poor that such scores should not be posted.

Conceded Putts and Incomplete Holes

In stroke play, a player is required under Rule 3-2 to hole out at every hole. However, in some special forms of stroke play (see Rules 31-32) there are instances where holing out is not a requirement. When a player fails to hole out, in either stroke play or match play, the Handicap System requires data that is reflective of what transpired that will help in predicting potential ability. Section 4-1 of the USGA Handicap System Manual states:
“If a player starts but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke, he shall record for handicap purposes
the score he most likely would have made. The most likely score consists of the number of strokes already
taken, plus, in his best judgment, the number of strokes that the player would need to complete the hole from
that position more than half the time.”

Mulligans

“Mulligans” are a relatively frequent occurrence on the golf course. But they are not recognized under the Rules
of Golf.

The USGA Handicap System doesn’t want to eliminate a round that has seventeen holes of valid scores if a “mulligan” was played on a single hole. So, for handicap purposes, the hole score made with the mulligan is tossed out and replaced with a hole score that is not considered out of the ordinary for the player, based on his Course Handicap. The player’s score becomes par, plus any handicap strokes the player should receive, on the hole(s) in question. A player with a Course Handicap of eighteen receives a stroke on every hole, so that particular player’s hole score would be par plus the one stroke, or a bogey.

Electronic Measuring Devices

Use of Electronic Distance Measuring Devices is contrary to the Rules, namely Rule 14-3 (Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment).

A policy allowing the posting of scores for handicap purposes tied to use of these devices has been in place since 1994. At that time, the player really had no practical choice whether to use these devices since many golf carts had mounted versions that a player could not turn off. Over time, hand-held devices started to appear and players had a choice whether to use such a device or not. However, the USGA determined that it would be impractical for handicap purposes to differentiate between scores made with cart-mounted versus hand-held devices. Thus, scores made with both types of devices are acceptable for handicap purposes.

* The USGA provides a list of non-conforming driving clubs within the Equipment section of its web site at
http://www.usga.org/press/list_of_clubs.html. The Association publishes twice annually a booklet of conforming golf balls. But a golf ball not included in that booklet is not necessarily a non-conforming ball.. All balls (including ‘x-out’ balls whose identification markings have been obscured) are assumed to be conforming unless they obviously fail the test for size (may not be less than 1.68 inches) or weight (shall not be greater than 1.62 ounces). Decision 5-1/4 from the Decisions on the Rules of Golf states: “In the absence of strong evidence to suggest than an ‘x-out” ball does not conform to the Rules, it is permissible for such a ball to be used.”