Golf Rules Q & A - 81 to 90

QUESTION 81:
While playing a match, Player A hits a 30-foot, left to right breaking putt to within two feet of the hole. Player B says, "That's a good one."
Player A, believing that Player B has conceded the putt, picks up his ball.
Player B then says, "I didn't concede the putt."

What is the ruling in this case?

ANSWER 81:
In the case of this misunderstanding, Rule 1-4 would come into play. It states that any point in dispute must be resolved in accordance with equity.

It would appear that the fair thing to do in this case would be for Player A to replace his ball without penalty.


QUESTION 82:
Prior to a scheduled match, William conceded the match to Ben because he could not be present at the scheduled time.
Shortly thereafter, William learned that he could be present to play in the match.

Under the Rules, will he be allowed to play the match?

ANSWER 82:
Rule 2-4 stipulates that the concession of a stroke, hole or match may not be withdrawn.

There is no provision for extenuating circumstances such as this.


QUESTION 83:
Player A was the first in his foursome to putt. He struck his first putt and it came to rest 18 inches from the hole.
Uncomfortable with putting without taking his time, he marked and waited his next turn.
Due to the position of his ball, he had to wait until the other three had taken two putts each to hole out.
By the time Player A's turn again came, everyone, including Player A, had forgotten he had marked.
All the players had entered the next teeing ground before Player A realized he had not holed out.

What is the Rule in play here?

ANSWER 83:
The governing Rule here is Rule 3-2, which states that if a competitor fails to hole out at any hole and does not correct his mistake before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the round, before he leaves the putting green, he is disqualified.

Luckily, Player A realized his mistake before anyone had played from the next teeing ground.

QUESTION 84:
Throughout a competition, Tom carried a driver that was not in compliance with the club design specifications detailed in The Rules of Golf; however, he did not use the club.

Did he violate any Rules?

ANSWER 84:
Rule 4-1 states that a player's clubs must conform with this Rule and the provisions, specifications and interpretations set forth in Appendix II.

There is no provision that allows a player to carry, but not use, a non-conforming club.

In stroke play the player is penalised two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred, with a maximum penalty per round of four strokes. In match play the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred, with a maximum deduction per round of two holes.


QUESTION 85:
A player makes a stroke and his ball acts erratically during flight before it lands in a bunker.
Upon approaching the ball, the player finds that it has become embedded in the sand.
Due to the erratic flight, he believes the ball may be unfit for play.

May he lift the embedded ball from the bunker to determine its condition?

ANSWER 85:
Yes. Rule 5-3 allows for a ball to be lifted, even in a bunker, to determine if it is fit for play.

Since the ball was embedded, the lie must be recreated when the ball or the new ball is put into play.


QUESTION 86:
At the completion of a competitive round, Tom reviews, signs and gives his scorecard to a member of the scoring committee.
He then immediately realizes his marker had written an incorrect score on one of the holes.

After realizing the error, may he retrieve the card and make the correction?

ANSWER 86:
This one has caused a lot of heartache over the years. He may not retrieve the card and make the correction. Rule 6-6(c) expressly states that no alteration to the card may be made after it is delivered to the committee.


QUESTION 87:
While waiting for players to clear the green, Rich drops a ball on the fairway and begins to putt the ball.

Is he in violation of a Rule?


ANSWER 87:
Although he was not on the green when practising his putting, he is in breach of Rule 7-2. In stroke play the penalty is two strokes, in match play it is loss of hole. In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

That Rule expressly states that practice is not permitted during the play of a hole.


QUESTION 88:
After holing out on the 18th during a stroke-play event, Tom gave unsolicited advice to his friend Bill as he prepared to hit his chip shot on the same hole.

What should be the ruling here?

ANSWER 88:
It doesn't matter that Tom had finished his round, other competitors were still playing the hole.

Rule 8-1 stipulates that a player may not give advice to anyone playing the course other than his partner.

Tom got himself a two stroke penalty.


QUESTION 89:
During a sudden-death playoff in a stroke play event, after Player A holes out, Player B asks her how many strokes she took.
Player A states she took four and Player B, who was putting for a five, picks up her ball.
Player A then says she was incorrect and actually took a five.

What is the ruling in this instance?

ANSWER 89:
The governing rule here, Rule 9, does not provide a penalty for giving the wrong information during a stroke play event.

Player A does not, therefore, incur a penalty.

Although it doesn't seem quite fair, Player B incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 20-1 for having lifted a ball in play without marking its position.

In match play the outcome would have been different.
A would have been penalised loss of hole for giving wrong information to B, resulting in her picking up her ball.


QUESTION 90:
A player has deemed his ball unplayable.
Instead of dropping within two club-lengths, he determines where he will have the clearest shot to the green and drops in line with the hole approximately 50 yards behind where his unplayable ball rested.

What is the ruling?

ANSWER 90:
There is no need for a ruling in this case. Rule 28(b) provides an option to drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly behind the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped.

Bro NG, wondering what is the penalty if he practices on the putting green for Question 87

Nice to know that under rule "28(B)provides an option to drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly behind the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped." All the while I thought must drop within 2 club length.

Bro S2S, same rule(7-2) applies, 2 strokes penalty or loss of hole. You must note the difference between practice swing and practice stroke. Practice swing is air swing without ball involved. Practice stroke is with ball.

Rule 28(b), note that it is behind the ball and the hole, not left or right of the ball.

Rule 28(c) will allow you to drop ball anywhere(left, right. behind, etc) as long as within 2 club length and not nearer to the hole.

Neutralgolfer wrote:

Bro S2S, same rule(7-2) applies, 2 strokes penalty or loss of hole. You must note the difference between practice swing and practice stroke. Practice swing is air swing without ball involved. Practice stroke is with ball.

Rule 28(b), note that it is behind the ball and the hole, not left or right of the ball.

Rule 28(c) will allow you to drop ball anywhere(left, right. behind, etc) as long as within 2 club length and not nearer to the hole.

Thanks Bro NG....For other members not familiar with the rule, RULE 28 is when a player declare his ball unplayable. He has 3 options, the other option is 28(a) which is "Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played."