Common Questions and Answers on Golf Rules Rolling the ball Q. Your opponent's shot comes to rest in an old divot mark in the fairway. He rolls his ball a few inches to a better lie. You announce that he has improperly moved his ball and that it must be replaced in the divot with a two stroke penalty. Who is correct? A. Under our league rules, a player may move the ball up to 6 inches,except in a hazard. As long as your opponent did not move it any closer to the hole, there is no penalty Taking relief from ball into a stream crossing the fairway Q. You hit your tee shot into a stream that crosses the fairway. The area is marked with yellow stakes. What are your options? A. You have two options under USGA rules. 1. Play the ball where it lies in the hazard if you can ** Please remember that you cannot ground your club head in a hazard at any time addressing the ball. The penalty is automatic loss of the hole and a two stroke penalty.* 2. Take 1 penalty stroke and drop on a line from where it went in to the hazard with the pin and go back as far as you want. Note the line is from the pin to where it went into the water, not the line from the tee box to where it went into the water. Taking relief from a ball hit into the river along the fairway Q. You hit your tee shot into a river along the side of the fairway. The area is marked with red stakes. What are your options? A. You have four options under USGA rules. 1. Play the ball where it lies in the hazard if you can ** Please remember that you cannot ground your club head in a hazard at any time addressing the ball. The penalty is automatic loss of the hole and a two stroke penalty.* 2. Take 1 penalty stroke and drop on a line from where it went in to the hazard with the pin and go back as far as you want. Note the line is from the pin to where it went into the water, not the line from the line from the tee box to where it went into the water. 3. Take a 1 stroke penalty and drop the ball within two club lengths from where it went into the hazard. 4. Take a 1 stroke penalty and drop the ball no nearer to the hole on the other side of the hazard.

In addition, the Wednesday night Laurel View golf league has a modification that allows you to take a 1 stroke penalty and drop on the line from where the ball entered the hazard back to where you hit the last shot. This is relevant because

Laurel View has marked some of the tree lines with red stakes when it is not strictly speaking a lateral hazard. It is not feasible to use option #2 under the USGA rules in this situation. Our leagues permit taking a one stroke penalty and dropping on the line going back when a ball is hit into the trees Removing Sand from the Putting Green Q You are on the putting green and there is some sand from the near by sand trap on the putting surface. It is on your line. You take your club and you push away the sand and make you putt. Any penalty? A Under section 16.1a I, the player may remove sand or loose soil on the putting green by picking them up or by brushing them aside with his hand or a club without pressing anything down. The rule was changed in 2004 to also permit the use of a towel or hat Ball is about to hit a flagstick on the ground Q. Player B removes the flag stick and places it on the putting green behind the hole and putts. Player A, thinking B`s ball will strike the flagstick, picks up the flagstick, allowing B`s ball to roll beyond where the flagstick had been placed. What is the ruling? A. The USGA modified this topic in 2008. There is no penalty for moving a flagstick that is attended, removed or held up. You are also permitted without penalty to remove the equipment of any player once the ball is in motion. But if the flag is in the cup and unattended, you cannot run up and remove the flag. In match play, A loses the hole for removing an obstruction, which might influence the movement of the ball while the player`s ball was in motion. In stroke play, A incurs a penalty of two strokes. (Rule 1-2 or 24-1). There is no penalty to B and B`s ball must be played as it lies. Putt hits flagstick still in hole Q. On the green, you are making a long birdie putt. Your partner is tending the flag. As the putt moves closer to the hole, it miraculously looks like it will fall in. Your partner is so shocked that he fails to remove the flag stick. Your ball hits the flag stick and falls into the hole. Did you make the birdie? A. Under section 17-3, if your ball hits the flag stick in the hole when the ball has been played from the putting green, there is a penalty of the loss of the hole and a two stroke penalty. So your birdie is now a bogey. Note there is no penalty for hitting the flag stick if your stroke was initiated from off the putting green. Hitting another ball on the green Q. You hit your ball from the fairway onto the green. Your ball hits another ball already on the green. Your ball is deflected off course and the other ball is moved. How do you handle this situation? Is there a penalty? A. Your ball is played from where ever it comes to rest. The other ball is returned to its original position, as best as it can be determined. There is no penalty. How to drop the ball

Q. You are in a situation where you are permitted to drop the ball. You hold the ball about waist high and drop the ball. Is this the correct process? A. The correct procedure for dropping a ball is to stand erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and at arm's length and drop it. If the ball is dropped by another other person or not in this manner, there is a one stroke penalty and it must be dropped correctly. (section 20-2) Hitting your partner's golf bag Q. Your ball accidentally hits the golf bag of your partner. It ricochets off to the side. What do you do? A. In 2008 the USGA changed the rule. If a player’s ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by himself, his partner, or their equipment, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be played as it lies, except when it comes to rest in their clothes or equipment. In that case, the ball should be dropped where the ball came to rest. Hitting you opponent's golf bag Q. Your ball accidentally hits the golf bag of your opponent. It ricochets off to the side. What do you do? A. There is no penalty. You can play the ball where it lies or cancel the stroke and play the ball without penalty as nearly as possible to the original spot. Maximum number of strokes on a hole Q. You are having a horrible hole. You have found the water several times and flubbed several shots. You count up 15 strokes. What score do you record on the score card. A. Under our league rules, the maximum number of strokes on any hole is 12. When you reach 12, you pick up your ball and write a 12 on the scorecard.

Ball lost in fairway Q. You hit a great drive down the right side of the fairway into the first cut of the fairway. But when you get to the spot, you look for your ball but it can't be found in the grass. What do you do? A. Under our league rules, if a ball is lost in a fairway or rough, all players must agree as to where the ball should have been and drop a new ball with a 1 stroke penalty. No loss of distance. If you should find your first ball after you hit the newly dropped ball, you cannot play it. The penalty stands. Casual water Q. The fairways are very wet. You hit your drive and it comes to rest in a puddle. What do you do? A. This puddle would qualify as casual water. Casual water is a temporary accumulation of water on the course which is visible before or after the player takes his/her stance and is not in a water hazard. The player may take relief from this abnormal ground condition without a stroke penalty by lifting the ball and

dropping it within one club length of and not nearer to the hole than the nearest point of relief which avoids interference by this abnormal ground condition. Hitting the wrong ball Q. You and your opponent hit both your balls into the tall rough. Your opponent finds a ball and hits it. You find what you assume is your ball and also hit it. Later, when you reach the green, both players realize that they have hit the wrong ball. What do you do? A. Your opponent hit first and hit the wrong ball. It is an automatic loss of hole plus a 2 shot penalty on your opponent on the hole. Identify your ball. Put a marking on it. When in doubt, check the ball before hitting it , especially in the rough. (Note: The official USGA rules are more complex. If the player has not finished the hole when the wrong ball is discovered, the player would have to return to the spot where the wrong ball was hit and replay the hole with the two shot penalty. If the wrong ball is discovered after the hole is completed, there is just the two shot penalty and no need to replay the hole. Our rules will just assess the two shot penalty and automatic loss of the hole.) Blocking Your Opponent’s Intended Line Q: B's ball is three feet from the green on a direct line to the hole with A's ball which is 30 yards from the green. May A require B to lift and mark his ball, on the grounds that the ball interferes with his play? A: Yes Improving Your Stance under a Tree Q: A player’s ball lies under the branch of a tree. In attempting to take his stance fairly, the player improves his line of play by moving the branch with his body. Before playing, he realizes he could have taken his stance without moving the branch. He abandons his stance and the branch returns to its original position or is returned to its original position by the player. The player then approaches the ball from a different direction, takes his stance without disturbing the branch and makes his stroke. What is the ruling? A: There is no penalty. When fairly taking his stance the player is required to take his stance in the least intrusive manner that results in the minimum improvement in the position or lie of the ball, area of intended stance or swing or line of play. However, as the branch moved as a result of the player’s attempt to take his stance fairly and was returned to its original position before the stroke was made, there is no penalty. Any doubt as to whether the branch returned to its original position should be resolved against the player. The same principle would apply to fixed artificial objects (e.g., a boundary stake) if the position or lie of the ball, area of intended stance or swing or line of play is improved as a result of the player’s attempt to take his stance fairly but the object is returned to its original position before the player makes a stroke Rain after the start of the matches

Q. The matches are begun and it starts to rain around 7:30 PM. Some of the teams were not able to complete the full 9 holes. What happens to the matches? A. The golfers should return to the club house. The league director will determine if the rain will end in time for the golfers to resume play. If golf cannot resume, a minimum of five holes must be played to make the match official. If all the teams have completed at least the 5 holes, the matches count for the night. If even one team does not complete 5 holes, all the matches are cancelled for the night. Lightning Q. Lightning is observed by one of the groups on the course. What should happen? A. If there is lightning in the area, get off the course immediately and return to the club house. The league director will determine if it is safe to return to the course. Again, all teams must complete 5 holes for the entire night of golf to count. Gimmies Q. What is the Rule for allowing "gimmies"? A. The Rules of Golf do not permit the use of "gimmies." Rule 1-1 states the Game of Golf consists in playing a ball from the teeing ground into the hole by a stroke or successive strokes in accordance with the Rules. Additionally, in stroke play, if a player fails to hole out and does not correct the error prior to playing a stroke from the next teeing ground, he shall be disqualified - see Rule 3-2. In match play, if the putt has not been conceded, (Rule 2-4) the player shall lose the hole. In our golf league matches, we have a match play component. Thus it is permitted for your opponent to concede that your next stroke would have gone in. You add one stroke to your score and there is not penalty. Putting out After Stroke Conceded Q. Scott putts out on the putting green after his opponent Joe conceded his next stroke? What is the penalty to Scott? A. Scott does not incur a penalty. A concession may not be withdrawn. Joe`s concession stands and it is irrelevant whether Scott makes the putt or misses. (Rule 2-4). Lines or Arrows Used to mark Golf Ball Q. It is recommended placing an identification mark on my golf ball. May I use a line or an arrow that will also help me align the club face? A. Rules 6-5 and 12-2 state that each player should put an identification mark on his ball. Thus, the Rules do not limit the type of markings a player may put on the ball (i.e. arrows, lines, words, etc). Additionally, there is no penalty for using such lines to "line up" prior to a stroke on the putting green or any place else on the course. Status of Practice Swing Q. Is a practice swing a stroke?

A. No, a practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be taken at any place, provided the player does not breach the Rules. Practice swing on tee hits ball Q. Before making a stroke on the teeing ground, a player makes a practice swing and accidentally knocks the ball off the tee with the club. Is there a penalty? A. There is no penalty as the ball was not in play. Additionally, the player has not made a stroke—see Definition of “Stroke.” (That is, a stroke is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball; but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball , he has not made a stroke. ) The player must put a ball into play from the teeing ground. (Decision 19-2a/19) Practice Swing Accidentally Moves Ball in Play Q. While making a practice swing, Brenda accidentally moved her ball in play with her club. What is the ruling? A. This ball is in play, meaning the golfer has teed off on the hole. Brenda incurs a one stroke penalty, and must replace the ball to its original position. If she fails to replace the ball, she will incur a total penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. Please refer to the Penalty Statement under Rule 18. (Rule 18-2a and Decision 18-2a/20) Club Placed on Ground to Align Feet Q. A player places a club on the ground parallel to the line of play to assist him in aligning his feet properly. Is this permissible? A. Yes, provided the player removes the club before playing his stroke. Otherwise a breach of Rule 8-2a would occur. Slicing the ball off the tee out of bounds Q. You hit a slice off the tee and it goes out of bounds (marked by the white stakes). What do you do? A. Under our league rules, determine where the ball crossed the out of bounds line, add one stroke penalty, and take one club length from that point. For the Laurel View golf league, we also permit you to drop the ball anywhere on the line of sight back to where the shot was played from with a one stroke penalty Lifting Ball for Identification Q. Am I permitted to lift a ball that I believe is mine to identify it? A. Yes, under Rule 12-2, a ball may be lifted for identification. The player must announce his intention to lift the ball to an opponent, fellow-competitor or marker, and mark the position of the ball. He must also give the opponent, fellowcompetitor or marker an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement of the ball. This rule pertains outside of hazards. In 2008, the USGA modified the rules for identifying your ball in a hazard (including a sand bunker) . The player is now permitted to lift a ball lying in a hazard in order to identify it and will incur a 2

stroke penalty and loss of the hole if the wrong ball is played from any part of the course ( including the bunkers). Standing on Extension of Line of Play or Line of Putt Q. My opponent or fellow-competitor always stands behind me while I am playing a stroke? Isn`t this a penalty? A. Rule 14-2b only prohibits a player from allowing his partner or their caddies from standing in this position. While it may be a breach of Etiquette, there is no penalty under the Rules. A solution is to politely ask your opponent or fellowcompetitor to move to one side or the other. (Rule 14-2b) Playing Another Ball after Searching for a Lost Ball Q: A player unable to find his ball after a brief search plays another ball (Ball B) under Rule 27-1. His original ball is then found within five minutes after search for it began. The player lifted Ball B and continued to play with the original ball. Was this correct? A: No. The original ball was lost when Ball B was played under Rule 27-1 (see Definition of "Lost Ball"). When the player lifted Ball B, he incurred a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a. When he made a stroke with the original ball after it was out of play, he played a wrong ball (see Definition of "Ball in Play" and "Wrong Ball") and incurred a penalty of loss of hole in match play or an additional penalty of two strokes in stroke play (Rule 15-3). In stroke play, the player would be disqualified if, before playing from the next teeing ground, he did not correct his error (Rule 15-3b). Ball Struck More then Once Q. While chipping from off the green, Larry strikes the ball once, and then strikes it a second time on his follow through. What is the ruling? A. Larry has made a stroke and must add one penalty stroke to his score. The answer is the same regardless of how many times the Larry struck the ball. Ball Moves after Address, Player Strikes Moving Ball Q. A player`s ball in play moves after he addresses it. He makes a stroke and strikes the ball while it is still moving. Is there a penalty? A. Yes. The player incurs a one stroke penalty under Rule 18-2b for his ball in play moving after he addressed it. However, there is no penalty for playing a moving ball in this case as the ball started to move after the player had begun his swing. Both Players in Match Play Hit the Wrong Balls Q. Dan and Mike are playing the third hole in a match. Their balls lie within a few inches of each other in the fairway. First, Dan plays the ball he believes is his, and then Mike plays the remaining ball. Upon reaching the green, they discover they exchanged balls back in the fairway. What is the ruling? A. As Dan was first to play a stroke with a wrong ball, he incurred the loss of hole penalty. All subsequent actions are irrelevant as the result of the hole had been

determined. For the golf leagues, we have a match component and a stroke component If a player should play the wrong ball, it is an automatic loss of hole plus a 2 shot penalty to his final score on the hole. When in doubt, check the ball before hitting it, especially in the rough. If two players hit the ball into the same area and the first person to play hits the wrong ball, then the automatic loss of hole and two stroke penalty is assessed against the first player. The fact that the other person hits the remaining ball (which is not his ball) does not create a penalty for him. The two wrong actions don’t cancel out each other. The second person records the score based on the number of strokes he took with the two balls Opponent Steps on Ball During Search Q. Jane was helping her opponent, Amy, look for Amy`s ball in long grass. Jane accidentally stepped on Amy`s ball. Does Jane incur a penalty? A. No. As the opponent`s ball was moved during search, there is no penalty. Amy must replace her ball. If Jane had moved Amy`s ball other than during search, she would incur a penalty of one stroke.

Ball at Rest Moved by Another Ball Q. Steve`s ball was at rest on the putting green. Cindy plays from just off the green and her ball hits Steve`s ball. What must Steve do? A. Under Rule 18-5, Steve must replace his ball back to its original position. Cindy must play her ball as it lies. There is no penalty to either player in either match play or stroke play. Ways to Mark Your Ball Q. My ball is on the putting line of another player, who asks me to move my marker. When moving a ball-marker to the side, must the position of the ball be marked first and then the ball-marker moved, or can I simply measure to the side of the ball? A. The player may either mark the position of the ball, measure to one side of the mark, and move the ball-marker to that spot, or he may place the putter head directly behind the ball and place the ball-marker to the side of the putter head, thereby eliminating one step.

Stones in Bunkers Q. What is the status of stones in bunkers? A. Stones are by definition loose impediments regardless of their location. Thus, when the ball and the stone lie in or touch the same hazard, the stone may not be removed. However, a Committee may adopt a Local Rule stating that stones in bunkers are movable obstructions. Unless this Local Rule is put into effect by the Committee, players may not remove stones in bunkers without penalty. Our golf league rules permit the removal of stones.

Entire Bunker filled with Casual Water Q. What are a player`s options if an entire bunker is filled with casual water? A. Under Rule 25-1b(ii), without penalty, the player may drop the ball in the bunker at a point that provides maximum available relief (i.e., in 1 inch of water rather than 5 inches). Or, under penalty of one stroke, the player may drop the ball outside the bunker keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and where the ball is dropped, with no limit on how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped. (See Decision 25-1b/8) The golf leagues have adopted a local rule. If the water has filled the bunker such that there is no place to take relief, then the bunker should have been declared ground under repair. Our local rule will permit the player to drop the ball outside of the bunker no closer to the hole with no penalty. If the player could taken relief in the bunker but choose not to, then the player can take relief outside the bunker with a one stroke penalty. The player can drop on the line from the hole to where the ball lay in the bunker as far back as the player wants.