By Buzz Walker --
Oak Hills Teaching Professional
Buzz Walker's Golf Rules from past TeeTalk Newsletters....
From TeeTalk's Spring 2008 Issue:
Decision 14-4/3 Player Hits Behind Ball and Then
Strikes Moving Ball...
This time we
will look at one of the new decisions of golf for 2008.
Question:
In playing a chip shot, a player's club strikes the
ground several inches behind the ball and does not come into contact with the
ball. However, the ground is struck with enough force to cause the ball to move.
The player's club continues and strikes the ball while it is moving. What is the
ruling?
Answer:
The player must count his stroke and add a penalty
stroke under rule 14-4. Even though the club itself did not initially strike the
ball, the ball was put into motion due to the stroke; therefore, Rule 14-4
applies. (New)
Hit them straight!
From TeeTalk's Winter 2007/08 Issue:
Holing Out Without Ball Touching Flagstick...
This rule is from the Decisions
of Golf. #17-3/1 Holing Out Without Ball Touching Flagstick
Question: A player plays a stroke from the putting green without having the
flagstick attended. The ball stops on the lip of the hole and then falls into
the hole. The player claims that the ball fell into the hole without striking
the flagstick and therefore he incurs no penalty under rule 17-3. Is the
claim valid?
Answer: No. A ball is not holed until it is at rest in the hole -Definition of
"Holed." If the flagstick is in the hole, it is impossible for a ball
to come to rest in the hole without striking the flagstick.
From TeeTalk's Fall 2007 Issue:
Rules of Etiquette...
This month rule has no penalty! It's ETIQUETTE! Etiquette
is defined on Merriam-Webster's Online dictionary as "the conduct or
procedure required by good breeding or prescribed by authority to be observed in
social or official life." In golf, it is the conduct and behavior that is
expected by all players on the golf course.
While it is important to know the Rules of Golf, one
might argue that it is even more important to be familiar with the Etiquette
guidelines provided in "Section I" of "The Rules of Golf"
before playing the very first round. Following these standards will result in
you and those around you to have maximum enjoyment of the game.
Remember these 5 key items:
- The Spirit of the Game
This means sportsmanship.
- Safety
Don't forget to yell "fore."
- Consideration for Other Players
This says it all!
- Pace of Play and Priority on the Course
- Care of the Golf Course
The only penalty for the breach of Etiquette is Guilt.
From TeeTalk's Summer 2007 Issue:
Embedded Ball...
Rule 25-2 Embedded Ball:
A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in
any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped,
without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the
hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the
green. "Closely mown area " means any area of the course, including
paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.
From TeeTalk's Spring 2007 Issue:
Abnormal Ground
Conditions...
Abnormal Ground Conditions: Rule 25-1
a. Interference
Interference by an abnormal ground condition when a ball lies in or touches the
condition or when the condition interferes with the players stance or the area
of his intended swing. If the players ball lies on the putting green,
interference also occurs if an abnormal ground condition on the putting green
intervenes on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is
not, of itself, interference under this rule. An example of this would be the
diggings of our rather large Blue Herons birds on the golf course.
For more information on this rule and the relief for this problem see Rule
25-1 parts b & c in the USGA Rules of Golf, 2006-2007.
From TeeTalk's Winter 2006-2007 Issue:
Doubt as to Procedure...
a. Procedure
In stroke play, if a competitor is doubtful of his rights or
the correct procedure during the play of a hole he may, without penalty,
complete the hole with two balls. After the doubtful situation has arisen
and before taking further action, the competitor must announce to
his marker or a fellow-competitor that he intends to
play two balls and which ball he wishes to count if the Rules
permit. If he fails to do so, the provisions of Rule 3-3b (ii) apply.
The competitor must report the facts of the situation to the Committee
before returning his scorecard. If he fails to do so, he is disqualified.
b. Determination of Score for Hole
- (i) If the ball that the competitor selected in advance to
count has been played in accordance with the Rules, the score
with that ball is the competitor's score for the hole.
Otherwise, the score with the other ball counts if the Rules
allow the procedure adopted for that ball.
- (ii) If the competitor fails to announce in advance his
decision to complete the hole with two balls, or which ball he wishes to
count, the score with the original ball counts, provided it has been played
in accordance with the Rules. If the original ball is not one
of the balls being played, the first ball put into play counts, provided it
has been played in accordance with the Rules. Otherwise, the
score with the other ball counts if the Rules allow the
procedure adopted for that ball.
Note 1: If a competitor plays a second ball under Rule
3-3, the strokes made after this Rule has been invoked with the
ball ruled not to count and penalty strokes incurred solely by
playing that ball are disregarded.
Note 2: A second ball played under Rule 3-3 is not a provisional
ball under Rule 27-2.
Hit them straight!
Buzz Walker
Are you confused about golf penalties or have a
question about a golf rule?
Please direct your golf rule questions to Buzz Walker at buzzwalker@teetalk.net
- writing "Golf Rules" in the subject line. After all, we should
all Know The Rules!
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