Category: Rules of Golf

Ladies: Our Spring Handicap tournament starts next week, be prepared.

Tournament play is more stressful than regular play days as more is on the line, the chance to be the Champion or place in your flight! With this in mind we should be sure to follow golf etiquette and the Rules of Golf. Consideration should be shown to others on the course at all times. Make each day of the tournament a pleasant experience for your fellow competitors and yourself.

Pace of Play

Nothing is more annoying than slow play. Long waits to make your shots ruins your rhythm and slows down the whole field.

Keep up with the group in front.

Take all the clubs to your ball that you “may” need for your next shot.

Do not take excessive time over the ball or an excessive number of practice swings.

Be prepared to step up and putt when it is your turn. Check out your line and speed of putt while others are putting. Be ready.

As soon as everyone has putted out leave the green quickly. You can put your clubs back in your bag at the next tee box.

If you bring clubs to the green leave them on the line of your exit path. This way you will not be wasting time retrieving your clubs that are on the other side of the green.

If you walk make sure you leave your push cart away from the front of the green so it is out of the way of players hitting behind you. Put your cart on your exit path.

Write the scores on the scorecard at the NEXT tee box.

Etiquette

Be courteous. Do not talk or make a noise while your fellow competitors are hitting or setting up for their shot.

Be patient. If your fellow competitor is playing badly help them by moving their cart if needed.

If your ball is on the green and your fellow competitors are still hitting up from the fairway do not stand on the green in the line of play. It is very distracting for players hitting to the green to see you on their line of flight and dangerous for you!

Rules

Do not be early or late for your tee time. Tee off at your designated time.

Check that your handicap is correct on your scorecard.

Do not ask for or give advice.

If a ball is on your line of play or distracting for your next shot ask your fellow competitor to lift their ball and mark it. (Rule/Decision 22/1)

If you want to play a Provisional ball because your ball may be lost or out of bounds tell your fellow competitors before you hit the Provisional ball.

If you are unsure how to play your ball using a Rule you may play two balls, your ball in play and a second ball. Before you hit both balls decide which of the two you want to count if it is played by the Rules. Complete the hole with both balls and put both scores on your score card. Do not sign your card and bring it to the Committee for a decision. (Rule 3-3)

If you believe that you, or a fellow competitor, have broken a Rule and may have incurred a penalty do not sign the score card and bring the question to the Tournament Committee at the end of your round.

Double check all your scores for EVERY hole before you sign your scorecard. Check your addition. Do not be DISQUALIFIED because you made a scoring mistake.

I hope this helps you.
Hilary

Hi Ladies:

Quizzes are back……enjoy!

A “Whoopsies” Rules Quiz

Questions 1,2,3 are Stroke play, 4,5,6 Match play.

1. Elizabeth is playing Stroke play and she putts from the green and her ball strikes her clubs that are on the fringe. Whoops. What is her penalty?
a. One stroke
b. No penalty
c. Two strokes

2. Mary Lou is playing Stroke play and putts from the green and her ball hits her fellow competitor’s clubs that are on the fringe. Whoops. What is her penalty?
a. Two strokes
b. One stroke
c. No penalty

3. Sandy is playing Stroke play and her ball is in the bunker. She strikes her ball too softly and accidentally hits her ball twice. Whoops. What is her penalty?
a. One stroke penalty
b. Two stroke penalty
c. Ignore it happened!

4. Rebecca is playing Match play and her putt from the green strikes the clubs of her Opponent. Whoops. What is her penalty?
a. Loss of hole
b. One stroke penalty
c. No penalty

5. Amanda is playing Match play and her putt from the green hits her own clubs that are on the fringe. Whoops. What is her penalty?
a. One stroke
b. Loss of hole
c. No penalty

6. Pat is playing Match play and her ball goes in the water hazard. She drops a ball within two club lengths of where it last crossed the hazard, but accidentally
hits her own club that is on the ground. Whoops. Apart from the one stroke penalty for going in the water, does she incur any additional penalty ?
a. Loss of hole
b. No additional penalty
c. One stroke additional penalty

“Whoopsies” answers

1. a. As the clubs belong to Elizabeth there is a one stroke penalty and the ball must be played where it lies, Rule 19-2.

2. c. As the clubs belong to a Fellow competitor (Stroke play) there is no penalty, it is “the rub of the green”. The ball must be played where is lies.

3. a. One stroke penalty, Rule 14-4. Sandy counts her stroke and adds one penalty stroke.

4. c. No penalty as the clubs belong to the Opponent (Match play). However Rebecca has two options.

1) Cancel her stroke and repeat the putt, Rule 19-3 or 2) Play the ball as it lies.

5. a. One stroke penalty, and play the ball where it lies, Rule 19-2. (Both Stroke and Match play incur the same penalty.)

6. b. Pat gets no additional penalty. In both Match and Stroke play when you drop a ball under a Rule you must re-drop if you hit your equipment, Rule 20-2.
There is no limit to how many times you may do this, but your partners will call you a klutz!

I hope this helps you,
Hilary

Ladies:

I first want to thank all those who took part in my Rules survey; it helped me have more insight for my future Rules quizzes. I hope I have answered all your questions.

Drum roll please……..Here is the final “Survey says” question. So that there is no misunderstanding this time I will be giving Rules/Decisions references.

The infamous hole #12. Question #3

What may you do if your ball lands on the bridge that crosses the water hazard mid-way across the fairway on hole #12?

The bridge itself is an Obstruction which is IN the water hazard, and as such is covered by Rule/Decision13-4/30. However the bridge is not “ground in the hazard” so:

You may hit your ball as it lies on the bridge, and ground your club. There is no penalty if you do this.

If you do not want to hit your ball from the bridge, and as the bridge is IN the water hazard, you may take relief, under penalty of one stroke, under Rule26-1, Water hazards.

The stakes defining the water across the fairway are yellow, but the stakes lining the bridge are red defining a lateral hazard, as many bridges on courses are, so you may:

Drop a ball within two club lengths of the bridge on the grass.

Hit a ball from where you hit before.

Drop a ball as far back as you like in line with you ball and the pin.

If you ball is on the bridge, but rests in the pilings, you have the same options.

Below I have pasted a link to an excellent article which explains this “Ball on bridge over a water hazard situation”.

http://lindamillergolf.blogspot.com/2009/01/ask-linda-99-ball-on-bridge-in-hazard.html

That’s it for the Survey.
Hilary