Golf Rules With Chris
Decisions On The Rules Of GolfView Rule Of The Week
Q:
An 18-hole stroke play competition is played on a 9-hole course. A competitor, having holed out at the 3rd hole, plays a practice putt on the third green. Since the stipulated round requires that the competitor play the 3rd hole as the 12th hole later in the round , is the competitor penalized for practicing?
A:
No. Rule 7-2 permits a player between the play of two holes to practice putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole last played.
Q:
A player asks his opponent or fellow-competitor the length of the hole about to be played. This information was not displayed on the teeing ground. Was the player in breach of rule 8-1 which prohibits asking for advice?
A:
No. Information as to the length of a hole is not advice within the meaning of the term in the Rules. This is factual information normally available to all players through score cards, tee signs, etc
Q:
During the play of a hole, players exchange information concerning the distance of their respective balls from the hole for the purpose of determining the order of play (Rules 10-1 or 10-2). Is this permissible?
A:
Yes. However, it is recommended that the players determine the order of play in another manner to eliminate any question as to whether a breach of advice Rule (Rule 8-1) has occurred. Any doubt on this point must be resolved against the players.
Q:
A player preparing to play to putting green asks a spectator to advise him how far his opponent’s or fellow competitor’s ball, which is on the green, lies on the flagstick. Was the player in breach of Rule 8-1?
A:
No.
Q:
During play of the 6th hole, A asked B what club he had used for a shot at the 4th hole. Was A in breach of Rule 8-1?
A:
No.
Q:
A plays his second shot which lands on the green. B does likewise. A then asks B what club he used for his second shot .Was A in breach of Rule 8-1?
A:
No.
Q:
After playing a stroke, a player: “I should have used a 5-iron” Was the player in breach of Rule 8-1?
A:
If the statement was made casually, there was no breach. If the statement was made to another player who had a shot to play from about the same position, there was a breach.
Q:
A made a statement regarding his club selection which was purposely misleading and was obviously intended to be overheard by B, who had a similar shot. What is the ruling?
A:
A was in breach of Rule 8-1 and lost the hole in match play or incurred a two-stroke penalty in stroke play.
Q:
A looks into B‘s bag to determine which club B used for his last stroke. Is this the equivalent of asking for advice?
A:
No. Information obtained by observation is not advice. But see also decision 8-1/11.
Q:
Decision 8-1 /10 states that it is not breach of Rule 8-1 for A to look into B’s golf bag to determine which golf club B used for his last stroke. Suppose a towel was covering B’s clubs and A removed the towel in order to determine which club B had used, would that be a breach of Rule 8-1?
A:
Yes. A player is prohibited from obtaining such information through a physical act.
| Tip Of The Week | To Score With A Hybrid Against The Collar
By now, you’ve probably realized that hybrid clubs are a lot easier to hit than traditionally shaped long irons. The ball flies higher and lands softer with a hybrid, making them ideal for shots deep in the fairway that require a soft landing on the green. But what you may not know is hybrid clubs are also designed to perform well from a variety of other locations on the golf course. From the rough, the fringe, even the bunker—the hybrid can be an effective tool for saving your score....more »» |
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