The Rules of Golf: Know the rules and play by them.

By: Bruce Munch

Head Professional, White River Golf Club, Rochester, VT.

The game of golf is unique in that, as a game of honor, players call penalties on themselves when they violate the rules. The rules of golf are not only about penalties, the also provide relief from a variety of difficult situations. Knowing the rules of golf and playing by them will provide for a more enjoyable experience for you and your playing partners.

Before golf became the competitive sport it is today, the game was governed by three basic principles. 1) Play the ball as it lies. 2) Play the course as you find it. 3) If you cannot do either of these things, do what is fair. If you follow these principals you won’t be far off.

For those of you who would like to adhere to a little stricter form of the rules, I have constructed a little rules test. Let’s see how you do. Answers and explanations are at the end of the test.

1)  A ball is "lost" if:
  1. The player declares it lost.
  2. A provisional ball is played.
  3. Five minutes have elapsed in the search.
  4. Both A and C.

2) From which situation does the player get a free drop?        

  1. From casual water.
  2. From an out of bounds fence.
  3. From ground under repair.
  4. Both A and C.
3) Why is a provisional ball played?
  1. To save time.
  2. The original ball has been hit out of bounds.
  3. To get some extra practice in.
  4. The rules require it if the ball may be lost or out of bounds.
4)  Which is not an option for a regular water hazard?
  1. Stroke and distance penalty.
  2. Drop with penalty, straight back on line from hole to point of hazard entry.
  3. Drop with penalty within two clublengths from point of entry.
  4. Try to play the ball, no penalty.
5)  A ball is declared "unplayable" outside a water hazard if:
  1. The player cannot physically hit it.
  2. The rules official declares it so.
  3. The opponent or fellow competitor agrees it is.
  4. The player declares it so.

6) Which of the following is legal?

  1. Switching balls to putt with.
  2. Holding the removed flagstick while putting.
  3. Playing a wrong ball from casual water.
  4. Taking a free drop for an embedded ball in loose soil.
7)  A ball is out of bounds if:
  1. More than half of it is out of bounds.
  2. All of it is out of bounds.
  3. Any part of it is out of bounds.
  4. It flies over out-of-bounds, even though it comes to rest in-bounds.
8)  Which of the following is a minimum requirement for "casual water"?
  1. Water is visible after taking a stance
  2. The water must physically impede the player’s play.
  3. Water must come over the soles of the player’s feet.
  4. No water is visible, but the ground is soft and mushy.
9)  Your ball has come to rest with a man made immovable obstruction between you and the hole. You may take free relief:
  1. Always
  2. If you cannot hit over it.
  3. If it interferes with your stance or swing.
  4. If your partners agree to it.
10)  Which of the following meets the definition of " Obstruction"?
  1. A rake in a bunker.
  2. A pine cone.
  3. An out-of-bounds stake.
  4. A large tree.

ANSWERS:

  1. D. If you re-tee or drop without declaring the ball provisional, or if a five-minute search has expired, the ball is lost.
  2. D. An out of bound fence is not considered an obstruction and no relief is granted. In addition, OB stakes may not be moved.
  3. A. If you are unsure as to the ability to find your ball, or its position relative to out-of-bounds, declare and play a provisional ball. If your original ball is playable, the provisional strokes don't count. Otherwise you would have to go back and replay the shot which slows play.
  4. C. The two-clublength option applies to lateral water hazards and unplayable lies, not water hazard. You can, of course drop back any number of clublengths or yards on the line from the flag through the point the ball crossed the line of the hazard.
  5. D. The player is has the sole responsibility of declaring a ball unplayable and under penalty of one stroke, drops A) within two clublengths of the ball. B) As far back as desired along the line from the flagstick through the ball location. C) Replay the shot from the original location (stroke and distance).
  6. B. You may hold the flagstick while putting. D, would be correct, only if the local club rules declared that the imbedded ball rule is in effect all over the course, not just in the fairway.
  7. B. The ball must be completely out of bounds. If it is on the line or partially in bounds it is in play. For lateral hazards, water hazards and bunkers, if any part of the ball is in the hazard it is deemed to be in the hazard so don’t ground your club.
  8. A. The minimum acceptable test for Casual Water is the presence of water after taking a stance.
  9. C. You only get relief if the obstruction interferes with your stance or swing. Otherwise you must play over or around it.
  10. A. The rake is a man made, moveable obstruction and may be moved. If your ball moves in the process, replace it where it was with no penalty. The pinecone is a loose impediment, which may be moved everywhere but in a hazard. If the ball moves in the process, one stroke is added and the ball is replaced. The OB stake is not an obstruction and may not be moved. The tree is obvious.

So how did you do? The rules of golf are there to provide stability to the game and in many cases to help speed pace of play. Try them, you will like it. If you have questions on the rules of golf, e-mail me at golfpro@vermontel.net and I will try to get you an answer.

 

Copyright © 1999 Bruce R. Munch       
All Rights Reserved