Author: Kay B

Looking at the scale of golf highs and lows in the Rules of Golf a definite high is the feeling of relief when you errant shot lands in Ground under Repair. Under the Rules of Golf you get a free drop. Whew…..

When your errant shot lands in a water hazard it’s a low for sure but even this low is offset by the Rules of Golf. You can get a great lie, yippee, and it only costs you one a stroke.

The two stroke penalty is a definite low, but the worst is the dreaded two letter word DQ, disqualified. A sure fire low to end your game and possibly ruin your reputation.

I’d like to go over the following MUST CORRECT situations. If you don’t correct them, then yes, you guessed it…………. you’re DQd.

All must correct situations have the same stipulation they:

“Must be corrected before teeing off from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole, before leaving the putting green.”

The Rules of Golf give a player this window of opportunity to avoid being DQd.

Failure to hole out 3-2 Stroke Play

If you fail to hole out your ball on any hole and do not correct your mistake you will be Disqualified. You have before teeing off from the next teeing ground, or in the case of the last hole before leaving the putting green to make the correction. But it is a “A must correct situation.”

Playing from outside the teeing ground 11-4b. Stroke Play

Under the Rules of Golf when putting a ball into play it must be played from within the teeing ground. If you play from outside the teeing ground you will incur a two stroke penalty, and you must then tee off from within the teeing ground. If you fail to correct you are Disqualified. A must correct situation.

The same applies for Rule 11-5, Playing from the Wrong teeing ground Stroke Play

A must correct situation, or you incur DQ.

Playing the wrong Ball 15-3b Stroke Play

If you make a stroke at a wrong ball you incur the penalty of two strokes. You must correct this mistake by playing the correct ball or proceeding under the Rules (lost ball, ob ball played). I’m sure you all know by when it MUST be corrected or you are disqualified. A must correct situation.

Playing from Wrong Place (serious breach) 20-7 Stroke Play

If you make a stroke from a wrong place you incur a penalty of two strokes and you must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place. However if the Committee considers you have gained a significant advantage as a result of playing from the wrong place you will be disqualified for a serious breach of this Rule.

If you believe you have committed such a breach you must play out the hole with a second ball in accordance with Rule 3-3 and report this fact to the Committee so it can be decided which ball counts. Such a serious breach is a must correct situation.

Threesomes/Foursomes (playing in incorrect order) 29-3.

If the partners make a stroke or strokes in incorrect order, such strokes are canceled and the side incurs a two stroke penalty. The side must correct the error by playing a ball in correct order as nearly as possible at the spot where it was first played in incorrect order, or the side is disqualified.

A must correct situation.

Ladies, I wish you only highs in your golf games this year and no lows, especially no two dreaded lettered ones under the Rules of Golf.

I hope this helps you.

Hilary