Category: Rules of Golf

When do you take a ONE stroke penalty, and when do you take TWO strokes???

However well you know the Rules of Golf at times you can be uncertain of the penalty you have incurred. You stand there and ask yourself, “Should what I just did be a one or two stroke penalty?”

Certified Rules Officials learn from the NCGA “Big-Little Book” in which almost a whole page is devoted to when you get a ONE stroke penalty. Many Rules Officials quake at memorizing these, and even after learning them they still make mistakes. I’ve certainly been there…..done that.

So how does the everyday golfer decide?

I’ve been giving some thought as to how I can explain it to you all, as I know you don’t want to memorize a whole page. Hopefully this will help you. It’s not set in stone; it’s a guide to help you make the correct decision.

Let’s start by looking at the REAL world……According to the law of the land if you break the law you can be charged with a FELONY, or a MISDEMEANOR.

Let’s move this thinking over to the golf world, but don’t worry there’s no jail time!

If you break a golf Rule, as in moving your ball to a different place and hitting it from there, that’s like a FELONY, bad, bad, bad so it’s a TWO stroke penalty.

You took an advantage and cheated. A felony.

If you do anything in the course of play to help you play better, like getting advice from someone, or grounding your club in a bunker, and thereby testing the surface of the sand, it’s a FELONY, you’re a bad, bad girl, and you deserve a TWO stroke penalty.

Now the ONE stroke penalty, this is like a MISDEMEANOR.

You did something you shouldn’t have but it’s more like an accident, not a deliberate action to gain an advantage in the golf world.

You accidentally hit you ball in the water hazard; it was a mistake, so just a ONE stroke penalty.

You hit you ball out of bounds, again not a deliberate act, so a ONE stroke penalty.

You are a klutz and on your swing you accidentally hit your ball twice……you take a ONE stroke penalty. Ouch!

You move your ball in play by mistake, an accident, ONE stroke …UNLESS you don’t move it back and then it’s a deliberate act to cheat for distance and so it’s a TWO stroke penalty.

Very simply put………….and a basic guide for you all……..

When you do something wrong on the course think to yourself, “Was it an accident, or did I do a really bad thing? Was it more like a misdemeanor or a felony?”

Accidental, with no advantage but you should not have done it…….then a ONE STROKE PENALTY.

If you gained an advantage in your play by what you did, breaking a Rule, then it’s a TWO STROKE PENALTY.

I always end my Rules’ e mails by saying “I hope this helps you”, this time I really hope this helps you decide correctly if you take a one or two stroke penalty, and if you really can’t decide you can always ask me, or look it up in the Rules of Golf.

Hilary

Ladies

The Ryder Cup is played every other year between 24 players representing the United States of America and Europe. This weekend the twenty eight 2014 matches are to be played at Gleneagles, Scotland. In 2012 the final score was Europe 14.5 USA 13.5. Europe has won 7 of the last 9 Ryder Cups, who will win this time? The Europeans have a very strong team which includes McIlroy, Garcia and Poulter. The USA team includes the veterans Mickelson and Furyk, along with the rookies Spieth and Reed. Fierce competitiveness and strategy is the key to winning in Ryder Cup Match Play. Rickie Fowler just got a new haircut with U S A shaved into the side of his head so maybe this will spur the USA team on? As I am English and an American citizen too I am torn who to root for, but my “roots” are swaying my allegiance, I say Europe wins again! Sorry……

Here is a Ryder Cup quiz you may like to try just for fun. Enjoy!

1. Where did the Ryder Cup get its name?

a.) An English seed merchant

b.) An American rental truck company

c.) Bernard Darwin

2. When was the Ryder Cup first held

a) 1897

b.) 1904

c.) 1927

d.) 1952

3. Who is the youngest player in Ryder Cup history?

a.) Young Tom Morris

b.) Sergio Garcia

c.) Jordan Spieth

4. Which player broke his putter in anger and had to use a sand wedge the rest of his match?

a.) Ben Crenshaw

b.) Tiger Woods

c.) Tommy Bolt

5. What is considered the greatest gesture of sportsmanship in the Ryder Cup?

a.) Jack Nicklaus conceding Tony Jacklin a short par putt in 1969 so the Ryder Cup would end in a tie.

b.) Hal Sutton sending out Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson as partners — twice.

c.) Tiger Woods removing himself from consideration for the 2014 team.

6. Where was the first Ryder Cup played?

a.) Valhalla Golf Cub

b.) Worcester Country Club

c.) Wentworth Golf Club

7. What was the most prolific partnership in Ryder Cup history?

a.) Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal

b.) Jack Nicklaus and Tom Watson

c.) Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson

8. Who is the oldest player to be named captain of the Ryder Cup?

a.) Arnold Palmer

b.) Tom Watson

c.) Old Tom Morris

Answers.

1. a
2. c
3. b
4. a
5. a
6. b
7. a
8. b

Ladies we have covered most of these topics this year, how many answers do you remember?

The answers are at the bottom, good luck!

1. A player’s ball lies in a hazard when any part of it touches the hazard?

True or false?

2. It is permitted to eliminate an irregularity on the surface of the teeing ground?

True or false?

3. There is no requirement for a player to put an identification mark on their ball?

True or false?

4. A ball is not “Out of Bounds” unless all of the ball lies out of bounds?

True or false?

5. A player who starts a round with 13 clubs may add one more club at any time?

True or false?

6. How many club lengths behind the tee markers may a player tee their ball and still be within the teeing ground?

ANSWERS

1. TRUE
2. TRUE
3. TRUE
4. TRUE
5. TRUE a player may add clubs up to the permitted total of 14 as long as the pace of play is not affected
6. TWO CLUB LENGTHS, the teeing ground is defined as a rectangular area 2 club lengths in depth defined by the outside limits of the two tee markers.

I hope this helps you,
Hilary