Having a debate over a Golf Rule? Is it about to get ugly? Don't Fight. Ask the Golf Guru. The Golf Guru can settle any golf rules debate or just smooth over that curious golf rule itch that has been bothering you. Just email her by
Ask The Golf Guru.
Dear Golf Guru,
Let's go back to the tee for two questions. Many times I have seen a player straddle the tee markers, placing their ball between the tee markers but their feet outside of the markers. Is this a violation of the rules? Is it okay to tee your ball anywhere on the mown portion of the tee box?
This question made a few people a little nervous, wondering if something had changed in the rules. Nope, the correct answer is that as long as the ball is between the margins of the two tee markers and not more than 2 club lengths behind this line, all if good! You cannot tee the ball in front of the tee markers but you can put your feet wherever makes you comfortable. Let'r rip!!
Dear Golf Guru,
During stroke play, a competitor whose ball lies in a bunker makes a practice swing, touching the
ground in the bunker with her club. The fellow competitor advises her that her action may be a breach
of the Rules. The competitor disagrees and makes several (2) more practice swings prior to making her
stroke, touching the sand each time. What is the penalty?
This question might generate some debate. Under rule 13-4, a player cannot ground their club in the hazard (bunker). Touching the sand prior to a stroke is a 2 point penalty. Given that the player ignored her competitor's advice, she threw caution to the wind and did it again. The penalty is not based upon the number of times she touched the sand but in how many time she did it with intended swings to hit the ball. In the question above, it implies that she did the practice strokes all before hitting her intended shot. So in this case she incurs only a 2 stroke penalty. If we change the scenario a bit and say that she touched the sand during the practice swing for shot #1 in the bunker, the ball remained in the bunker after shot #1 and she took another practice swing brushing the sand before shot #2, then she multiplies her penalty by 2 for a total of 4 penalty strokes. Lesson Learned: Stay away from the Beach!
Dear Golf Guru,
In a golf match, the two players agree in advance to concede all putts that are "within the leather" of the putter. Is this allowable?
When I read this rule, I thought of my father and his golfing partners. They play what they have termed "relaxed rules." Don't bother looking this up because it
doesn't exist. According to their "relaxed rules," a putt can be a “gimme” if it is within 3 feet.(My interpretation of their rule - the older they get, the longer their
putters to compensate for their expanding bellies! When they add the suction cup to the end of the putter, not only do they not have to putt, they also don't have to bend over to get the ball either! How's that for using golf as an excuse to exercise?)
Oops, Back to reality now - Rule 1-3 says that players must not agree to exclude any Rule or to waive any penalty incurred. They key to the question above was "in a golf match." Of course, if you are playing a friendly game just for relaxation, you can do whatever you want BUT if you plan to record this score as part of your handicap calcu- lation, you must play and record every stroke. Sorry to rain on your parade!!
Several times throughout the year golf courses will aerate fairways and the greens. This practice leaves behind "goose-like turds" on the fairway along with holes that resemble peg board. If your ball comes to rest in one of the aeration holes, are you entitled to relief from the hole under the definition of "ground under repair?"
Dear Golf Guru,
Several times throughout the year golf courses will aerate fairways and the greens. This practice leaves behind "goose-like turds" on the fairway along with holes that resemble peg board. If your ball comes to rest in one of the aeration holes, are you entitled to relief from the hole under the definition of "ground under repair?"
Unfortunately, the aeration holes and the "dirt turds" (technically called plugs) created by a Greenskeeper are not considered "ground under repair" unless designated so by a local rule. The player must play the ball as it lies. Moving the ball out of an aeration hole without the exception of a local rule would result in a two-stroke penalty. If the local rule permits relief, then the ball should be dropped as near as possible to the spot where the ball originally came to rest but not nearer the hole. If the aera- tion hole is on the green, then the ball can be placed at the nearest spot, not closer to the hole. (Appendix 4d of USGA Rules of Golf)
The plugs made from the aeration process are considered loose impediments and can be moved away. The same goes with true goose droppings! (Rule 23)
Dear Golf Guru,
You approach your ball in the fairway and see something that looks like a crooked stick laying next to your ball. As you get closer, you realize that the crooked object is not a stick but a snake. Are you entitled to relief and if so what?
Well let me just say, if this happened to me, my game is over for the day. I hate snakes and anyone that has played with me knows that if my ball goes into the weeds or woods, I consider it lost. No $1.50 ball is worth coming face to face with one of these creatures.When I found the following ruling in the USGA Decisions on the Rules of Golf, I had to just laugh.
Under Rule 23, you have to determine if this is a loose impediment or an outside agent. REALLY? If the snake is dead, it is considered a loose impedi- ment and can be moved. If the snake is alive, it is considered an outside agent and you are entitled to relief under Rule 19.You can drop the ball at the nearest point of relief, not closer to the hole. (For me, this would be in the clubhouse!) I'm not sure about you, but I won't be getting close enough to determine if the snake is dead or alive.
Dear Golf Guru,
Player A prepares to hit her ball from the teeing ground. While she finishes telling a joke to her foursome, she proceeds to take her practice strokes and accidently strikes the ball, knocking it off the tee. After the foursome quits belly laughing, they try to determine if
Player A should count the stroke or incur a penalty. What do you think?
I think Jeannie should have saved the punch line until after completing her shot, thus avoid- ing becoming the butt of her own joke. There’s no penalty for this mishap, except for putting up with her friends’ teasing. (“there’s a prize for shortest drive, Alice,” “let me get my GPS out to find out how far you drove that beauty”).
There is no penalty for hitting the ball on a practice swing if the player has not addressed the ball and it is not yet in play. The ball may be re-teed. If however, an attempt has been made, the stroke counts (Rule 14-1). Also, note that by definition a practice swing is not a practice stroke and is allowed provided the player does not breach any other rule (Note1, Rule 7-1)
Signed, (Sitting in for the Golf Guru)
The Whiffer