The Scene:
You hit a drive on hole #6. It soars high into the air then veers left. It’s heading for the water. You yell for it to stop. Then you jump in your cart and drive up to your ball. The ball is not in the hazard, thank goodness. But it is badly plugged. It’s in that mushy area that we all hate. Unfortunately there is no casual water visible. But there are some tire tracks. In fact your ball is lying right between two tire tracks.
What would you do?
A. Take relief from ground under repair to get away from the tire tracks?
B. Take relief for an embedded ball?
B is correct. Your ball is not in the tire tracks so you don’t get relief there. But your ball is embedded. Look at a list of our Local Rules. The last one says, “Embedded Ball Rule – in effect through the green. See Appendix I.”
Open your Rules of Golf book to Appendix I Part B, Speciman Local Rules. Relief for embedded ball. You will see the following:
Relief for Embedded Ball; Cleaning Ball
Rule 25-2 provides relief without penalty for a ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in any closely mown area through the green
That is what is normally provided. Relief in any closely mown area. But if you have a local rule that gives you relief through the green, read on. It says:
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
If the term ‘through the green’ confuses you, look in Definitions near the front of your book and you will see that
Through the green is the whole area of the course EXCEPT the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course.
REMEMBER: If you are playing a course that does not have this local rule you get free relief for an embedded ball only in a closely mown area - like the fairway. But if you are playing a course that does have this local rule (like Bay Hill) you get relief in the ruff, too.
Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2005. Show all posts
7.6.05
2005 #10 Your ball strikes hers. Is there a penalty?
The Scene:
You are playing in the President’s Cup, a match play event. You are playing hole #1. Both your ball and your opponent’s ball are on the putting green. You are away. Your opponent’s ball lies on the green, just beyond the cup.
What would you do?
A. Ask your opponent to mark her ball to prevent a 2-stroke penalty if your ball strikes hers?
B. Say nothing and hope she leaves it there? If your ball misses the cup, her ball could act as a backstop.
B is correct. There is no penalty if your ball strikes hers, even though both of your balls are on the putting green. Why? Because you are playing match play.
Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 19-5. You will see the following:
Rule 19 Ball in motion deflected or stopped
19-5. By Another Ball
a. At Rest
If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies. In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty unless both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case the player incurs a penalty of two strokes.
REMEMBER: The only time there is a penalty when your ball hits another ball at rest is in stroke play when both balls are on the green prior to the stroke.
You are playing in the President’s Cup, a match play event. You are playing hole #1. Both your ball and your opponent’s ball are on the putting green. You are away. Your opponent’s ball lies on the green, just beyond the cup.
What would you do?
A. Ask your opponent to mark her ball to prevent a 2-stroke penalty if your ball strikes hers?
B. Say nothing and hope she leaves it there? If your ball misses the cup, her ball could act as a backstop.
B is correct. There is no penalty if your ball strikes hers, even though both of your balls are on the putting green. Why? Because you are playing match play.
Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 19-5. You will see the following:
Rule 19 Ball in motion deflected or stopped
19-5. By Another Ball
a. At Rest
If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies. In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty unless both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case the player incurs a penalty of two strokes.
REMEMBER: The only time there is a penalty when your ball hits another ball at rest is in stroke play when both balls are on the green prior to the stroke.
6.6.05
2005 #9 Posting Tournament Scores
The Scene:
A player I’ll call Mary said, “Sue always beats me but her handicap stays higher than mine. That doesn’t make sense.” So Mary asked Blake why that was so. Blake looked at their handicaps and explained that Mary’s handicap had been reduced because she plays better in tournaments than she does on regular play days. Mary said, “But what about Sue? She beats me in tournaments, too.” Sue hadn’t posted any T (tournament) scores so her handicap hadn’t been reduced. Mary said, “That’s not fair!”
And she is right. It’s fair only if everyone posts their tournament scores properly.
The computer looks for exceptional tournament scores, scores that are at least 3 strokes better than your handicap index. If you have had at least two such scores in the last year the computer will reduce your handicap.
Some players don’t know when they should post these scores and some don’t know how.
In the future, before our major Bay Hill tournaments (President’s Cup, Arnold Palmer Cup, Member/ Member, Club Championship) Blake will announce that scores should be posted as tournament scores.
When posting your score the computer will ask you if this is a Tournament Score. Just click Yes.
REMEMBER: Post all of your tournament scores properly. It is the fair thing to do.
A player I’ll call Mary said, “Sue always beats me but her handicap stays higher than mine. That doesn’t make sense.” So Mary asked Blake why that was so. Blake looked at their handicaps and explained that Mary’s handicap had been reduced because she plays better in tournaments than she does on regular play days. Mary said, “But what about Sue? She beats me in tournaments, too.” Sue hadn’t posted any T (tournament) scores so her handicap hadn’t been reduced. Mary said, “That’s not fair!”
And she is right. It’s fair only if everyone posts their tournament scores properly.
The computer looks for exceptional tournament scores, scores that are at least 3 strokes better than your handicap index. If you have had at least two such scores in the last year the computer will reduce your handicap.
Some players don’t know when they should post these scores and some don’t know how.
In the future, before our major Bay Hill tournaments (President’s Cup, Arnold Palmer Cup, Member/ Member, Club Championship) Blake will announce that scores should be posted as tournament scores.
When posting your score the computer will ask you if this is a Tournament Score. Just click Yes.
REMEMBER: Post all of your tournament scores properly. It is the fair thing to do.
2005 #8 What is your Handicap?
The Scene:
You played on a Thursday play-day and shot a record low score for you. You were excited. You hurried to the breezeway to post your score. The score sheet was broken up into flights A, B, C and D. Your handicap was listed on the handicap sheet (near the computer) as 25.1. So you entered your score in flight B (19-26). But your gross score is higher than most of the others in that flight and your net score is 71, only one below par. There is no way you can win.
What would you do?
A. Throw up your hands and accept it. Golf is just not fair.
B. Recheck your handicap. Make sure you got your course handicap and not your handicap index.
B is correct. If your score is really low for you, your net score should be lower than 71.
Where should you look? There are two places that have your course handicap. One is the computer and the other is the list in the handicap book near the computer.
Both give you two numbers, your handicap index and your course handicap. You want your course handicap, the number without the decimal place. But what’s the difference? Why do they have two numbers?
Your handicap index is the true measure of your golfing skills. It is the same no matter where you play. Your course handicap is the number of strokes you are given to play a particular course, like Bay Hill. If the course you are playing is difficult you’ll be given more strokes; if it is easy you will be given fewer strokes.
For example, suppose your handicap index is 25.1. When you play Bay Hill your course handicap will be 28. When you play Tuscawilla your course handicap will be 27; when you play Grand Cypress GC your course handicap will be 25. But at every one of those courses your handicap index will be the same 25.1. If you had given your course handicap in the scenario above (instead of your handicap index) your net score would have been 68. And you probably would have won your flight.
If you play as a guest at another course and are asked for your handicap, give them your handicap index (the number with the decimal place). They will use that to calculate a course handicap for you to use there.
REMEMBER: On any playday when you are asked for your handicap, give your course handicap.
You played on a Thursday play-day and shot a record low score for you. You were excited. You hurried to the breezeway to post your score. The score sheet was broken up into flights A, B, C and D. Your handicap was listed on the handicap sheet (near the computer) as 25.1. So you entered your score in flight B (19-26). But your gross score is higher than most of the others in that flight and your net score is 71, only one below par. There is no way you can win.
What would you do?
A. Throw up your hands and accept it. Golf is just not fair.
B. Recheck your handicap. Make sure you got your course handicap and not your handicap index.
B is correct. If your score is really low for you, your net score should be lower than 71.
Where should you look? There are two places that have your course handicap. One is the computer and the other is the list in the handicap book near the computer.
Both give you two numbers, your handicap index and your course handicap. You want your course handicap, the number without the decimal place. But what’s the difference? Why do they have two numbers?
Your handicap index is the true measure of your golfing skills. It is the same no matter where you play. Your course handicap is the number of strokes you are given to play a particular course, like Bay Hill. If the course you are playing is difficult you’ll be given more strokes; if it is easy you will be given fewer strokes.
For example, suppose your handicap index is 25.1. When you play Bay Hill your course handicap will be 28. When you play Tuscawilla your course handicap will be 27; when you play Grand Cypress GC your course handicap will be 25. But at every one of those courses your handicap index will be the same 25.1. If you had given your course handicap in the scenario above (instead of your handicap index) your net score would have been 68. And you probably would have won your flight.
If you play as a guest at another course and are asked for your handicap, give them your handicap index (the number with the decimal place). They will use that to calculate a course handicap for you to use there.
REMEMBER: On any playday when you are asked for your handicap, give your course handicap.
2005 #7 Where should you drop?
The Scene:
You are on the tee on hole #3. You wind up and hit a huge drive. Your ball soars over the water headed for the fairway just short of the green. Can it make it? “Go!” you shout. But the ball drops short of its mark. It hits the bank just short of a red stake and bounces back into the water. You sigh and say, “At least I’ll get to drop over there.” But your fellow competitor disagrees. “You should drop right out here where your ball first crossed the water.”
What would you do?
You know your ball is in a lateral water hazard. You will take a one stroke penalty and drop a ball within two club lengths of a spot. But which spot?
A. Your ball made it to the other side of the hazard and bounced back in. Your spot is where it entered the water. After all, it is a lateral water hazard.
B. When your ball hit the bank it was short of the red stake. The spot where it landed was still in the hazard. So the last place it crossed the margin of the hazard was back near the tee where it first entered the hazard. That’s your spot. Drop within two club lengths of there.
B is correct.
You may drop within two club lengths of where your ball LAST crossed the margin of the hazard – that imaginary line represented by the red stakes.
If your ball had flown all the way across the hazard and landed BEYOND the red stakes and THEN bounced back into the water, that bounce would have taken it across the margin, back into the hazard again. The spot where it crossed the margin would be the last place it entered the hazard. That would be your spot.
But in this case your ball fell short. It didn’t clear the hazard. So you drop near the spot where your ball entered the hazard (back near the tee).
26-1 c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard
REMEMBER: If your ball is in a lateral water hazard just think about where it LAST entered the hazard. That’s your spot. Take one penalty stroke and drop within two club lengths of there, no nearer the hole.
You are on the tee on hole #3. You wind up and hit a huge drive. Your ball soars over the water headed for the fairway just short of the green. Can it make it? “Go!” you shout. But the ball drops short of its mark. It hits the bank just short of a red stake and bounces back into the water. You sigh and say, “At least I’ll get to drop over there.” But your fellow competitor disagrees. “You should drop right out here where your ball first crossed the water.”
What would you do?
You know your ball is in a lateral water hazard. You will take a one stroke penalty and drop a ball within two club lengths of a spot. But which spot?
A. Your ball made it to the other side of the hazard and bounced back in. Your spot is where it entered the water. After all, it is a lateral water hazard.
B. When your ball hit the bank it was short of the red stake. The spot where it landed was still in the hazard. So the last place it crossed the margin of the hazard was back near the tee where it first entered the hazard. That’s your spot. Drop within two club lengths of there.
B is correct.
You may drop within two club lengths of where your ball LAST crossed the margin of the hazard – that imaginary line represented by the red stakes.
If your ball had flown all the way across the hazard and landed BEYOND the red stakes and THEN bounced back into the water, that bounce would have taken it across the margin, back into the hazard again. The spot where it crossed the margin would be the last place it entered the hazard. That would be your spot.
But in this case your ball fell short. It didn’t clear the hazard. So you drop near the spot where your ball entered the hazard (back near the tee).
26-1 c. As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a lateral water hazard, drop a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard
REMEMBER: If your ball is in a lateral water hazard just think about where it LAST entered the hazard. That’s your spot. Take one penalty stroke and drop within two club lengths of there, no nearer the hole.
2005 #6 You Hit Your Ball by Accident
THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #4. Your ball is in the fairway about 30 yards short of the green. You drive up, grab your sand wedge and putter and walk over to your ball. After planning your shot you take a practice swing. Now, you have no intention of striking your ball but your brain doesn’t understand that. Unaccountably, during your practice swing, your hands just reach out and your club strikes the ball, moving it sideways a couple of feet.
What would you do?
A. Since we have Winter Rules and are allowed to move our balls in the fairway you pretend you just moved it to that spot on purpose and you play it from there.
B. You replace your ball and take a one stroke penalty for moving your ball.
B is correct.
There is a decision in the Rules of Golf that addresses this specific problem.
18-2a/20 Ball in Play Moved Accidentally by Practice Swing
Q. A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club. Has he made a stroke?
A. No. He had no intention of moving the ball — see Definition of “Stroke.”
However, he incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play, and the ball must be replaced.
If you fail to replace your ball, that penalty becomes 2 strokes.
Our Winter Rules allow you to mark, lift, clean and place your ball within one club length of where it lies. At Beech Mountain we often roll our balls into place. But the player in our scenario was obviously not doing that. So (A) above is not correct.
REMEMBER: If by accident you cause your ball in play to move, be sure to replace it. Then take a one stroke penalty.
You are playing hole #4. Your ball is in the fairway about 30 yards short of the green. You drive up, grab your sand wedge and putter and walk over to your ball. After planning your shot you take a practice swing. Now, you have no intention of striking your ball but your brain doesn’t understand that. Unaccountably, during your practice swing, your hands just reach out and your club strikes the ball, moving it sideways a couple of feet.
What would you do?
A. Since we have Winter Rules and are allowed to move our balls in the fairway you pretend you just moved it to that spot on purpose and you play it from there.
B. You replace your ball and take a one stroke penalty for moving your ball.
B is correct.
There is a decision in the Rules of Golf that addresses this specific problem.
18-2a/20 Ball in Play Moved Accidentally by Practice Swing
Q. A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club. Has he made a stroke?
A. No. He had no intention of moving the ball — see Definition of “Stroke.”
However, he incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play, and the ball must be replaced.
If you fail to replace your ball, that penalty becomes 2 strokes.
Our Winter Rules allow you to mark, lift, clean and place your ball within one club length of where it lies. At Beech Mountain we often roll our balls into place. But the player in our scenario was obviously not doing that. So (A) above is not correct.
REMEMBER: If by accident you cause your ball in play to move, be sure to replace it. Then take a one stroke penalty.
2005 #5 Can You Move an OB stake?
THE SCENE:
On Sunday morning from my deck on hole #4 I watched a ball land beside an out of bounds stake. The ball was in bounds. The player arrived, walked around the stake and realized it would interfere with his stance. So he pulled the stake out of the ground and tossed it aside. He hit the ball and then replaced the stake. If your ball landed there
What would you do?
The same as the player above? Remove the stake and play your ball?
Take free relief from an immoveable obstruction?
Take an awkward stance and hit the ball?
C is correct.
Look in your Rules of Golf book under Rule #13. You will see:
13-2. Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play
A player must not improve or allow to be improved:
• the position or lie of his ball,
• the area of his intended stance or swing,
• his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or
• the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,
by any of the following actions:
• .moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),
In other words you are not allowed to move a stake defining out of bounds because it is deemed to be fixed. If you do, there is a 2-stroke penalty! The player I watched on hole #4 should have been penalized 2 strokes.
Also these stakes are not obstructions. Most stakes are. Stakes defining water hazards and ground under repair are obstructions. You can move them. But look under Definitions in your Rules book and find Out of Bounds. You will see the following:
Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.
REMEMBER: Don’t ever touch an out of bounds stake and you will be ok.
On Sunday morning from my deck on hole #4 I watched a ball land beside an out of bounds stake. The ball was in bounds. The player arrived, walked around the stake and realized it would interfere with his stance. So he pulled the stake out of the ground and tossed it aside. He hit the ball and then replaced the stake. If your ball landed there
What would you do?
The same as the player above? Remove the stake and play your ball?
Take free relief from an immoveable obstruction?
Take an awkward stance and hit the ball?
C is correct.
Look in your Rules of Golf book under Rule #13. You will see:
13-2. Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play
A player must not improve or allow to be improved:
• the position or lie of his ball,
• the area of his intended stance or swing,
• his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or
• the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,
by any of the following actions:
• .moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),
In other words you are not allowed to move a stake defining out of bounds because it is deemed to be fixed. If you do, there is a 2-stroke penalty! The player I watched on hole #4 should have been penalized 2 strokes.
Also these stakes are not obstructions. Most stakes are. Stakes defining water hazards and ground under repair are obstructions. You can move them. But look under Definitions in your Rules book and find Out of Bounds. You will see the following:
Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.
REMEMBER: Don’t ever touch an out of bounds stake and you will be ok.
2005 #4 What if your ball is beside a sprinkler switch box?
THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #7. Your approach shot flies over the green and lands beside a sprinkler switch box. You take your stance but the box interferes with your swing.
What would you do?
A. The box is an immoveable obstruction so you get free relief. Drop your ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.
B. This one is easy. Just hit the ball sideways to avoid the box.
C. Declare the ball unplayable. Take a one stroke penalty and drop within two club lengths.
A is correct. You have interference from an immoveable obstruction.
How do you know this?
The box is an immovable obstruction.
Look in your Rules of Golf book under Definitions. Find Obstruction. It says:
An “obstruction’’ is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:
a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;
b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and
Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.
An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an immovable obstruction.
You do have interference. Look at Rule #24-2a
Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing.
You do get free relief. Look at Rule #24-2b
Relief:
Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it ,without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
So, just drop your ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief (see rule above) and play. (No penalty.)
REMEMBER: If your ball is next to an immovable obstruction that interferes with your stance or swing you get FREE relief.
You are playing hole #7. Your approach shot flies over the green and lands beside a sprinkler switch box. You take your stance but the box interferes with your swing.
What would you do?
A. The box is an immoveable obstruction so you get free relief. Drop your ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.
B. This one is easy. Just hit the ball sideways to avoid the box.
C. Declare the ball unplayable. Take a one stroke penalty and drop within two club lengths.
A is correct. You have interference from an immoveable obstruction.
How do you know this?
The box is an immovable obstruction.
Look in your Rules of Golf book under Definitions. Find Obstruction. It says:
An “obstruction’’ is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:
a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;
b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and
Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.
An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an immovable obstruction.
You do have interference. Look at Rule #24-2a
Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing.
You do get free relief. Look at Rule #24-2b
Relief:
Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it ,without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
So, just drop your ball within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief (see rule above) and play. (No penalty.)
REMEMBER: If your ball is next to an immovable obstruction that interferes with your stance or swing you get FREE relief.
2005 #3 What if you can’t play your ball?
THE SCENE:
You are playing from a tee on a high hill. It is a par three hole with a green far below. Your drive soars toward the green. Then it veers left, lands way short of the green and bounces down towards the street. It stops right in front of some rocks that hold up the bunker and the side of the hill. You walk down to the ball. It is in bounds but you can’t play it. You are facing the rock. And you can’t wedge yourself between the rock and the ball to hit it sideways.
What would you do?
A. Hit it left handed. You have to get it out of there to a spot from where you can hit it onto the green.
B. Declare the ball unplayable. Take a one stroke penalty and hit from the tee again.
Of course you are allowed to hit the ball left handed (A.) but it would still be hard to reach the green from down by the street. So the most reasonable thing to do would be (B.) Hit from the tee again.
Look at Rule #28, below.
Rule 28. Ball Unplayable
The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is 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.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.
You can deem your ball unplayable anywhere except in a water hazard. You don’t have to prove it’s unplayable. If you don’t want to play it from wherever it lies, just say it’s unplayable. Take one penalty stroke.
Then you have 3 options:
1) Play from where you played before, in this case, the tee.
2) Drop your ball on an imaginary straight line that starts at the hole, passes through the ball and goes back as far as you wish. In this case that would put you out in the street.
Drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball lies, no nearer the hole. In this case that wouldn’t help very much, so hit from the tee again.
REMEMBER:You can deem your ball unplayable almost anywhere. So, if you get in trouble and know your next shot is going to be very difficult, just take a penalty stroke and use one of the Unplayable options above
You are playing from a tee on a high hill. It is a par three hole with a green far below. Your drive soars toward the green. Then it veers left, lands way short of the green and bounces down towards the street. It stops right in front of some rocks that hold up the bunker and the side of the hill. You walk down to the ball. It is in bounds but you can’t play it. You are facing the rock. And you can’t wedge yourself between the rock and the ball to hit it sideways.
What would you do?
A. Hit it left handed. You have to get it out of there to a spot from where you can hit it onto the green.
B. Declare the ball unplayable. Take a one stroke penalty and hit from the tee again.
Of course you are allowed to hit the ball left handed (A.) but it would still be hard to reach the green from down by the street. So the most reasonable thing to do would be (B.) Hit from the tee again.
Look at Rule #28, below.
Rule 28. Ball Unplayable
The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is 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.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.
You can deem your ball unplayable anywhere except in a water hazard. You don’t have to prove it’s unplayable. If you don’t want to play it from wherever it lies, just say it’s unplayable. Take one penalty stroke.
Then you have 3 options:
1) Play from where you played before, in this case, the tee.
2) Drop your ball on an imaginary straight line that starts at the hole, passes through the ball and goes back as far as you wish. In this case that would put you out in the street.
Drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball lies, no nearer the hole. In this case that wouldn’t help very much, so hit from the tee again.
REMEMBER:You can deem your ball unplayable almost anywhere. So, if you get in trouble and know your next shot is going to be very difficult, just take a penalty stroke and use one of the Unplayable options above
2005 #2 Cart Runs Over Ball
THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #11. Your drive landed in the trees between hole #11 and hole #13. You can’t see your ball in the rough so you drive around through the trees while your partner searches on foot. Suddenly your partner holds up her hand and yells, “Wait!” You stop the cart but it’s too late. You have already run over your ball. The ball was pushed straight down into the ground.
What would you do?
A. There is no penalty because you moved your ball while you were searching for it.
B. There is no penalty because you couldn’t see your ball. You play it as an embedded ball.
C. Take a one stroke penalty because your equipment caused your ball to move. Then place your ball in a similar lie.
C is correct. Look at Rule #18-2
Rule 18 Ball at Rest Moved
18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
a. General
When a player’s ball is in play, if:
the player, his partner or either of their caddies lifts or moves it, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule, or
equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced
Since your equipment caused your ball to move, you incur a penalty of one stroke. Since the original lie of your ball was altered, you must place it in the most similar lie, within one club length. See 20-3b below:
Rule 20-3b. Lie of Ball to Be Placed or Replaced Altered
If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered:
(i) except in a hazard, the ball must be placed in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard;
REMEMBER: If you run over your own ball with your golf cart, take a one stroke penalty and replace the ball. If the lie has been changed, place the ball in a similar lie.
You are playing hole #11. Your drive landed in the trees between hole #11 and hole #13. You can’t see your ball in the rough so you drive around through the trees while your partner searches on foot. Suddenly your partner holds up her hand and yells, “Wait!” You stop the cart but it’s too late. You have already run over your ball. The ball was pushed straight down into the ground.
What would you do?
A. There is no penalty because you moved your ball while you were searching for it.
B. There is no penalty because you couldn’t see your ball. You play it as an embedded ball.
C. Take a one stroke penalty because your equipment caused your ball to move. Then place your ball in a similar lie.
C is correct. Look at Rule #18-2
Rule 18 Ball at Rest Moved
18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
a. General
When a player’s ball is in play, if:
the player, his partner or either of their caddies lifts or moves it, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule, or
equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced
Since your equipment caused your ball to move, you incur a penalty of one stroke. Since the original lie of your ball was altered, you must place it in the most similar lie, within one club length. See 20-3b below:
Rule 20-3b. Lie of Ball to Be Placed or Replaced Altered
If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered:
(i) except in a hazard, the ball must be placed in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard;
REMEMBER: If you run over your own ball with your golf cart, take a one stroke penalty and replace the ball. If the lie has been changed, place the ball in a similar lie.
2005 #1 What if your ball hits your golf cart?
THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #13, stroke play. Both carts are parked beside the green. Your ball is in the trees out to the right but you have a clear path for a pitch to the green. You line up your shot, take a practice swing and then … OH, NO!!! You shank your ball right into your golf cart. It bounces off and lands in the rough.
What would you do?
A. The cart is not yours. You are riding with someone else in their cart so there is no penalty. You count the stroke that hit the cart and then play your ball as it lies.
B. You take a 1 stroke penalty and play the ball as it lies because your ball hit your own equipment.
B is correct. You are sharing a cart with the cart’s owner. Open your Rules of Golf book to the section called Definitions. Look at Equipment. It says:
Equipment
Note 2: 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 the cart is deemed to be your equipment and according to Rule 19-2 you will be penalized 1 stroke.
Rule 19 Ball is motion deflected or stopped
19-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
If a player's ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by himself, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. (New in 2008) The ball must be played as it lies,
REMEMBER: If your ball strikes your golf cart, or one that you are sharing with another player, you are penalized one stroke and must play the ball as it lies.
You are playing hole #13, stroke play. Both carts are parked beside the green. Your ball is in the trees out to the right but you have a clear path for a pitch to the green. You line up your shot, take a practice swing and then … OH, NO!!! You shank your ball right into your golf cart. It bounces off and lands in the rough.
What would you do?
A. The cart is not yours. You are riding with someone else in their cart so there is no penalty. You count the stroke that hit the cart and then play your ball as it lies.
B. You take a 1 stroke penalty and play the ball as it lies because your ball hit your own equipment.
B is correct. You are sharing a cart with the cart’s owner. Open your Rules of Golf book to the section called Definitions. Look at Equipment. It says:
Equipment
Note 2: 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 the cart is deemed to be your equipment and according to Rule 19-2 you will be penalized 1 stroke.
Rule 19 Ball is motion deflected or stopped
19-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
If a player's ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by himself, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. (New in 2008) The ball must be played as it lies,
REMEMBER: If your ball strikes your golf cart, or one that you are sharing with another player, you are penalized one stroke and must play the ball as it lies.
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