Category: Rules of Golf

Hi Ladies: Let’s start our quiz year with an easy one, but first a Rules nag.

So that we play the game correctly please remember that if a Rule states that you must DROP the ball make sure you do so anddon’t just bend down and PLACE the ball. I know you want to get a perfect lie for your next shot but it is against the Rules and you will incur a TWO stroke penalty.

For example: When your ball goes in the water DROP a new ball. When taking relief from aeration holes DROP a ball. When taking relief from Ground under Repair DROP a ball please. Get used to doing it correctly! The only place you can place is on the putting green. Nag over.

Here’s the quiz, enjoy.

1. What is the maximum number of clubs with which a player may start a round?

14
15
13
12

2. A player may declare his ball unfit for play during the playing of a hole and after the concurrance of his opponent, if the ball _______ ?

is scratched
is cut or cracked
is covered with mud or other substance
its paint is damaged or discolored

3. According to Rule 11, how many club lengths behind the tee markers may a player tee the ball and still be within the teeing ground?

1
4
0, ball must be teed even with the tee markers
2

4. In match play, what penalty does a player incur for teeing off in front of the tee markers?

no penalty
no penalty, opponent may require player to re-hit
loss of hole
one stroke

5. Water hazards are defined by what color stakes or lines?

red
green
white
yellow

6. Which of the following is not considered ‘casual water’?

snow
puddle
ice
dew

7. An out of bounds stake is an obstruction under Rule 24?

True
False

8. A player may declare his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a _________

9. What is the penalty for hitting a ball out of bounds?

one stroke and distance
two strokes
one stroke
loss of hole in match play

10. A player may, upon reaching the putting green, change balls and complete play on the hole with the substitute ball?

True
False

ANSWERS

1. 14.
Rule 4-4. However, if a player starts a round with less than 14 clubs he or she may add clubs during the round up to 14 providing the pace of play is not affected.

2. Is cut or cracked.
Rule 5-3. It the opponent agrees that the ball is unfit, the player may replace it with no penalty

3. 2
The teeing ground is defined as a rectangular area 2 club lengths in depth defined by the outside limits of 2 tee markers.

4. No penalty, your opponent may require you to re-hit.
Rule 11-4. It is a 2 stroke penalty in stroke play.

5. 5. Yellow.
Red stakes or lines define lateral hazards. White stakes or lines define out of bounds.

6. 6. Dew
Casual water is defined as a temporary accumulation of water which is visible before or after a player takes his or her stance

7. 7. False.
Lateral hazard stakes and water hazard stakes are considered movable obstructions.

8. 8.Water Hazard

9. Rule 27. One stroke penalty.

9. One Stroke and distance.
.

10. False
Rule 15-1. A player must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground, unless that ball has been declared unfit for play.

Honor that which is sacred and equal within us all.

Hi Ladies:

It’s hard to believe our 18 holers’ golfing season is winding down. Time flies when you’re having fun.

This year we started our quizzes by covering “Nearest point of relief”, how to do it and when. Like at the staked tree on hole #1 or the cart path on hole #9.

We then learned not to carry a paper cup for our Kahlua in our golf cart as it could turn into an outside agency and move our ball.

Pesky ducks on hole #7 taught us how to deal with “Moving outside agencies” that think our ball is their egg.

Then last month those determined little insects on our ball showed us when to squish ‘em and when to leave them alone.

Let’s have a our last trip trip around our course for this year and see what trouble we can find.

1. Here we are on hole #8 and our ball is lying on the fringe of the putting green. It’s kinda narrow there and your fellow competitor’s ball is 10 yards behind you and they are getting ready to chip on to the green.
You kindly say, “Let me get my ball out of your way.” You go and mark your ball correctly and then pick it up.

Have you broken any Rule?

Yes you have. You have just broken rule 22-2.

You MAY lift your ball if you think it’s going to ASSIST another player but not if you think if would interfere. However your competitor CAN have your ball lifted if they think it will interfere with their next stroke.

Next time wait ‘til your competitor asks YOU to lift it. It’s hard to believe this but being nice can sometimes be a bad idea.

2. Peggy Sue’s ball lies near to, but to the side of your ball, in the fairway. It’s her turn to play and she asks you to lift your ball just because it catches her eye giving mental interference. What is the ruling?
A. It’s your choice, lift it or leave it

B. If you lift your ball you’ll get a penalty under rule 22-2 as in question #1

C. You must lift your ball.

D. You tell Peggy Sue to “suck it up” and quit whining

ANSWER: C. Decision 22/1 says that a player is entitled to have a ball lifted if it interferes mentally or physically with their play. If you refuse to lift your ball you will be disqualified, Rule 3-4

Let’s keep with this mental stuff and try this one.

3. You are on the fairway of hole #10. You get ready to hit your ball but a sprinkler head is between your feet and the ball.

A. You can move your ball/get free relief due to mental interference

B. You have to play it where it is and suck it up.

ANSWER: B. Unlike Peggy Sue, you must "suck it up" if the sprinkler head does not interfere with the lie of your ball, your stance, or area of swing.

4. Hole #17. Your tee shot just gets over the water, whew your lucky day. It lands on the grass and slowly rolls into the bunker in front of the green. Because it’s a long bunker shot you fail to get out and your ball lands back in the bunker 10 feet in front of where is was . You rake the bunker and walk forward to try again. What is your penalty?
A. You get a two stroke penalty for raking/ testing the surface of the bunker.

B. No penalty.

C. $50 because you decide to get bunker lessons

D. A one stroke penalty

ANSWER: B and C. After playing you ball in the bunker you may smooth the sand provided nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2 with respect to your next stroke. As your ball lay some distance from your raking there is no penalty. As for the $50, maybe it would be money well spent!

That’s it Ladies for this season. I hope you enjoyed the quizzes and they helped you.

Hilary

Hi Ladies:

Let’s have some fun with “loose impediments” and see what we know, don’t know, and what we should do.

1. Our ball is on the fairway surrounded by little pieces of cut grass. We think, “Thank goodness they’ve finally mowed the rough!” We remove them from around the ball, and one piece that’s stuck on our ball. The ball does not move. Penalty or no penalty?

Answer. No penalty for removing the grass around the ball BUT a one stroke penalty for removing the grass adhering to the ball.

Decision 21/2 says that anything “adhering to the ball” is not a loose impediment. The grass is a loose impediment when it’s on the ground, not when it’s on your ball.

2. Your ball is on the fringe of the green and, before you make your next stroke, you remove some twigs, leaves, loose soil and sand from around your ball. The ball does not move. Penalty or no penalty?

Answer. It’s tricky.

No penalty for removing the twigs and leaves as they are "loose impediments."

But a TWO STROKE penalty for removing the loose soil and sand, because here they are not “loose impediments.” You have improved your lie, area of intended stance, swing or line of play. Rule 13-2.

3. Now you’re on the putting green, and you’re very angry because your “lying 3” became a 5. You mark your ball and, on your line of play, there’s some sand and loose soil. Can you remove them, or will it be another two stroke penalty?

Answer. Here on the putting green sand and loose soil ARE loose impediments so you can remove them. No penalty, Rule 16-1

Go figure who decided this, and what do they have against loose soil and sand eh?

Finally a very tricky one …….

Your ball lies on the fairway and a live insect is on your ball, can you remove it?

Yes, because unlike the grass in question #1, it is not considered to be adhering to your ball because it has legs and can walk and therefore is a “loose impediment”. BUT if your ball moves while removing the pesky critter you get a one stroke penalty and have to replace your ball.

The trickiness continues……

Same ball, same insect on your ball, but now in a bunker. Can you remove the insect?

NO. Even though he’s still a "loose impediment" he’s in the bunker and that is forbidden.

However, as he is capable of moving on his own you may wave your hand over it, or blow on it to encourage it to fly away on its own, but be sure not to move your ball or touch the sand. If you remove the insect with your fingers you will be penalized TWO STROKES under Rule 13-4c.

The final trickiness……

Same ball, same determined little insect on your ball, and now you’re on the putting green. Can you remove the insect?

Yes, yes, yes you can.

You can mark and lift your ball and squish him really hard, which he deserves for following you around all this time.

You can blow him off, wave your hand over him, AND you can pick him off with your fingers. Even if your ball moves there’s NO PENALTY.

As long as the movement of your ball was DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE to the removal of a loose impediment it’s allowed on the putting green under Rule 23-1.

Now I’m sure you’re totally confused, but a good Rule to follow is:

When in doubt "PLAY THE BALL AS IT LIES."

I hope this helps you, and please note that I said that the insect was a HIM, no LADYbug would dare to bug us.

Hilary