Golf Rules Q & A - 91 to 100

QUESTION 91:
The 3rd green lies at the bottom of a steeply sloping hill. After a hard rain, the ground in front of the green becomes soggy and remains so for several days, making it an abnormal ground condition (casual water).
A player makes a stroke that appears to all watching to have landed in the soggy area. Upon arriving at the spot, the ball cannot be located.

What is the ruling in this instance?

ANSWER 91:
Since it is highly likely that the ball entered and became embedded in the soggy, abnormal ground condition, Rule 27-1(c) would come into play.

That rule provides that in such a case, the ball must be deemed lost and another ball dropped without penalty.

The spot where the ball most likely crossed the outermost limit of the abnormal condition must be determined and a ball should be dropped within one club-length (Rule 25-1(b), relief from abnormal ground condition).


QUESTION 92:
A player hitting to the 5th green hits her ball onto the wooden steps leading up to the 6th teeing ground. The ball comes to rest on one of the wooden steps.

Is she entitled to relief from where her ball lies under Rule 24-2 (immovable obstruction)?

ANSWER 92:
Yes. According to Rule 24-2(b), and the definition of an "obstruction," she is entitled to relief without penalty. She may drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief and no closer to the hole.


QUESTION 93:
Bill hit an excellent hook around some trees to get his ball near the green.
Ted, who was standing near the green saw Bill's ball come to rest on the lip of a green-side bunker and knew he was in for an adventure.
Upon close inspection, Bill and Ted found that the ball was overhanging the bunker, but not actually touching the sand within.

Since part of the ball was overhanging, should Bill proceed as if his ball is in the bunker?


ANSWER 93:
According to the Definitions section of The Rules of Golf, the boundary of a bunker does not extend upward like that of a water hazard.

As a result, the overhanging ball is not considered to be in the bunker. The player's ball lies "through the green" (meaning all areas of the course except the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and all hazards on the course) and he may proceed accordingly.


QUESTION 94:
Believing that frost should obviously be considered a loose impediment, much like snow and ice, a player scrapes some frost from around the hole.

Is he correct in assuming that frost is a loose impediment?

ANSWER 94: No. According to the definition of "loose impediment," frost (and dew) is expressly excluded from being deemed loose impediment.

The player incurs a two strokes penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play under Rule 13-2 Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing.


QUESTION 95: Player A chips his ball onto the green.
Since Player B is standing near the ball as it comes to rest, Player A asks Player B to mark the ball.
Player B agrees and does so.

Has either player violated a rule?

ANSWER: No. Both players are acting within the Rules.
Rule 20-1 states that a ball may be marked by any person authorized by a player, which, of course, can include another competitor.


QUESTION 96: This one has actually happened. Buddy's putt from nearly 40 feet seemed to be headed for the bottom of the cup, but when it came within inches of the hole, a frog hopped out of the hole and deflected his ball away.
After a brief laugh, Buddy placed a mark as nearly as possible to where he had just putted from, retrieved and placed his ball at the mark and putted again.

Did he act in accordance with the rules?

ANSWER: Rule 19-1-b states that if a ball is stopped, deflected or comes to rest on an animate outside agency on the putting green (the frog), the stroke is cancelled and must be replayed.

Buddy acted according to the rule.


QUESTION 97: Player A is standing near the flagstick when Player B, his partner is chipping onto the green.
When Player B makes his stroke it is immediately apparent he has struck his ball entirely too hard.
Player A then grabs the flagstick out of the hole and out of the path of his partner's ball.

Has either player committed an infraction?

ANSWER: No. Player A wisely recalled that since he was clearly standing in close proximity to the flagstick, he would be deemed as attending it.
According to Rule 17, had his partner's ball then struck the flagstick, his partner would have incurred a penalty.


QUESTION 98: Player A is preparing to putt his ball on the green when he hears Player B putt his ball.
Realizing that Player B has putted out of turn, Player A putts his ball while Player B's ball is still in motion.

Has Player A violated a rule?

ANSWER: According to Rule 16-1, a player must not make a stroke while another ball is in motion from the putting green, except that when another player has played out of turn, there is no penalty for doing so.
Player A was within the rules when he putted.


QUESTION 99: Player A's ball came to rest in high weeds. After searching briefly, he located a ball that was likely his own, but he was not certain.
He announced to his partner in the match that he was going to lift the ball to identify it.
He then marked the position of the ball, lifted it, identified it as his own and replaced it.

Did he act within the rules?

ANSWER 99: Unfortunately, he did not.
In his carelessness, he did not inform his opponent as required by Rule 12-2. He only told his partner in the match.
His infraction cost him a penalty of one stroke.


QUESTION 100: While playing the last hole of a tournament, a player's caddie mistakenly, and without his player's knowledge, lifts and cleans the player's ball in the fairway while talking to another caddie.
Realizing his mistake, he informs the player.

Does the player incur a penalty?

ANSWER: Rule 6-1 not only states that a player and his caddie are responsible for knowing the rules, but also provides that the player incurs the applicable penalty for any breach of rules committed by his caddie.