1 A competitor played from the tee, lifted his ball which he erroneously thought was out of bounds, and played the ball again from the tee; he now lies three.
True
Decision 18-2a/11
Q. In stroke play, a
competitor hits his tee shot into a practice area. Thinking that the ball is
out of bounds, he lifts it and plays another ball from the tee. He then
discovers that the practice area is not out of bounds. What is the ruling?
A. When the player lifted his ball in play, he
incurred a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a and was required to
replace it. However, when the
player made a stroke from where the previous stroke was made (Rule 20-5),
he played a ball under penalty of stroke and distance (see Decision 27/17). This procedure overrides Rule 18-2a and, therefore, the penalty under Rule 18-2a does not apply.
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2 If a tree basin has an artificial wall, the wall is an obstruction unless the Committee deems it to be an integral part of the course.
True
Decision 33-2a/10.5
Q. What is the status
under the Rules of tree wells or tree basins?
A. There is no relief under the Rules from tree
basins which are not made of artificial materials.
If a tree basin has an
artificial wall, the wall is an obstruction unless the Committee deems it to be
an integral part of the course under Rule 33-2a.
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3 A ball is visible in casual water but a player cannot retrieve it; without reasonable evidence that it is his ball, the player must treat his ball as lost outside the casual water.
False
Decision 25-1/1
Q. There is reasonable
evidence that a player’s ball came to rest in a large puddle of casual water. A
ball is visible in the casual water, but the player cannot retrieve it or
identify it as his ball without unreasonable effort. The player abandons the
ball and proceeds under Rule 25-1c, which provides relief for a ball lost
in casual water. Was the player justified in doing so?
A. Yes. A player is not obliged to use unreasonable effort to retrieve a ball in
casual water, for identification purposes.
However, if it would not take unreasonable effort to retrieve a
ball in casual water, the player must retrieve it. If it turns out to be the
player’s ball and he elects to take relief, he must proceed under Rule 25-1b(i); otherwise, he must proceed under Rule 25-1c(i).
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4 In the rain, a player holds an umbrella over his head with one hand while holing a short putt with his putter held in the other hand; there is no penalty.
True
Decision 14-2/2
Q. A player playing in
the rain holds an umbrella over his head with one hand while holing a very
short putt, gripping the putter with the other hand. Is this permissible?
A. Yes. Rule 14-2 prohibits a player, while making a
stroke, from accepting protection from the elements from someone other than
himself. However, it does not prohibit him from protecting himself.
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5 Even when it is obvious that a dropped ball will roll into a hazard or out of bounds, the player may not place the ball instead of dropping it.
True
Decision 20-2c/3
Q. A player is required
to drop a ball. However, it is obvious that the ball when dropped will roll into
a hazard, more than two club-lengths, etc., in which case it must be re-dropped
and then placed under Rule 20-2c. In such a case, is it permissible to
waive the dropping requirement and allow the player initially to place the
ball?
A. No. Dropping and then re-dropping are necessary to resolve any doubt
as to whether the ball will roll into a hazard, etc., and to establish the spot
at which the ball must be placed, if necessary.
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6 A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club; he has not made a stroke and incurs no penalty.
False
Decision 18-2a/20
Q. A player makes a
practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club. Has he
made a stroke?
A. No. He had no intention of moving the ball — see
Definition of “Stroke.”
However, he
incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play,
and the ball must be replaced.
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7 If a competitor purposely alters the line of putt of a fellow-competitor, he is penalized two strokes unless the Committee decides to impose the penalty of disqualification.
True
Decision 1-2/1
Q. An opponent or a
fellow-competitor purposely steps on the player’s line of putt with the
intention either of improving the line (e.g., by pressing down a raised tuft of
grass) or of damaging it (e.g., by making spike marks). What is the ruling?
A. In either case, the opponent or the
fellow-competitor was in breach of Rule 1-2. The penalty is loss of hole in match
play or two strokes in stroke play, unless the Committee decides to impose a
penalty of disqualification — see Note under Rule 1-2.
In stroke play if the line of putt has been damaged, the player,
in equity (Rule 1-4), may restore the line of putt to its
previous condition. A player is entitled to the lie and line of putt he had
when his ball came to rest. The line of putt may be restored by anyone.
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8 A player does not remove his ball-marker when he replaces his ball on the putting green and the wind moves his ball to a new position; he must replace his ball.
False
Decision 20-4/1
Q. A player replaces
his ball on the putting green but does not remove his ball-marker. Subsequently
the wind moves his ball to a new position. What is the ruling?
A. Under Rule 20-4, a ball is in play when it is
replaced, whether or not the object used to mark its position has been removed.
Consequently the ball must be played from the new position — see Decision
18-1/12.
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9 Unless the use of golf carts is specifically prohibited in the conditions of competition, a player may use a golf cart in the competition.
True
Decision 33-1/8
Q. May a player use a
golf cart during a competition?
A. Yes, unless such equipment is prohibited in the conditions of the competition
(Rule 33-1).
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10 A player
True
Decision 18-2a/27
18-2a/26 Ball Dislodged from Tree When
Player Climbs Tree to Play Stroke
Q. As a player is climbing a tree to play a ball
lodged in the tree, the ball falls to the ground. Does the player incur a
penalty?
A. Yes, one stroke under Rule 18-2a, and the ball must be replaced.
18-2a/27 Ball Dislodged from Tree;
Circumstances in Which Player Not Penalized
Q. A player whose ball is lodged high in a tree
wishes to dislodge it by shaking the tree or throwing a club so that he can
identify it and proceed under
the unplayable ball Rule. Is this permissible?
A. Yes. The player should state his intention
before taking such action to avoid any question being raised as to whether a penalty
would be incurred under Rule 18-2a.
18-2a/28 Ball Dislodged from Tree;
Circumstances in Which Player Penalized
Q. A player could not find his ball. Believing
the ball might be lodged in a tree, he shook the tree and his ball fell to the
ground. He played the ball from where it came to rest. What is the ruling?
A. The player incurred one penalty stroke under
Rule 18-2a for moving his ball. He should have replaced the ball. Since he
did not do so, in match play he lost the hole and in stroke play he incurred a
total penalty of two strokes — see penalty statement under Rule 18.
18-2a/29 Ball Dislodged from Tree;
Replacement of Ball Not Possible
Q. A player, believing his ball is lodged in a
tree, shakes the tree in order to dislodge it. His ball falls to the ground.
According to Decision 18-2a/28, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under
Rule 18-2a and must replace his ball. Suppose, however, that the player
cannot replace his ball either:
(1) because
the spot where it lay in the tree is not determinable, or
(2) because
the ball fails to remain on the correct spot when replaced, or
(3) because
the player cannot reach the spot where the ball lay.
How should the player proceed in each of these three
circumstances?
A. Rules 20-3c and -3d would normally cover
circumstances (1) and (2), but these Rules do not contemplate a situation such
as the one described. Accordingly, in equity (Rule 1-4), in the first two circumstances the ball must be placed in the
tree as near as possible to the spot from which it was moved, and in the third
circumstance the player must proceed under the unplayable ball Rule, incurring
an additional penalty stroke.
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11 If a person is standing near enough to the flagstick so that he may touch it, then he is deemed to be attending the flagstick.
True
Decision 17-1/1
Q. Note 1 to Rule 17-1
states that, if anyone “stands near the hole,” he is deemed to be attending the
flagstick. Is such a person considered to be standing
“near the hole” if he is close enough to touch the flagstick?
A. Yes.
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12 A player removes a broken tee touching his ball on the putting green causing the ball to move; there is a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced.
False
Rule 24-1
Q. During removal of a
movable obstruction, may a player hold his ball to prevent it from moving?
A. No. Such procedure would be a breach of Rule 18-2a. There is no
penalty if a ball moves during removal of a movable obstruction provided the
movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction.
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13 Which is correct
regarding a player
If he takes relief under the embedded ball Rule but the ball embeds again and several times thereafter when re-dropped, he is entitled to place it as near as possible to the spot where it embedded after the second drop.
Decision 25-2/2.5
Q. According to
Decision 25-2/2, if a ball dropped on a fairway embeds on impact, the player is
entitled to relief under Rule 25-2. What is the proper procedure if a
ball embeds each time it is dropped?
A. If a ball embeds when dropped and embeds again
when re-dropped, the player may, in equity (Rule 1-4), place the ball as
near as possible to the spot where it embedded when re-dropped, but not nearer
the hole.
If the player drops the ball
more than twice, the ball embeds each time and he then becomes aware that he
was entitled to place the ball after the second drop, he may place the ball as
near as possible to the spot where it embedded on the second drop.
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14 In stroke play, a
player
There is no penalty.
Decision 18-2a/5
Q. A player’s ball lies
in a hazard. He moves a loose impediment which lies outside the hazard but is
near the ball. Before the player addresses the ball, it moves. Is the player
penalized?
A. It is a
question of fact whether the player caused the ball to move. If he did so, he incurred a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a and the ball must be replaced. Otherwise, the ball is played as
it lies without penalty.
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15 Which is a player not permitted to do when his ball lies in a hazard?
Lightly brush the sand in the hazard with his club on his backswing.
Rule 13-4
Except as
provided in the Rules,
before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard,
the player must not:
(a) Test the condition
of the hazard or any similar hazard;(b) Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a
club; or(c) Touch
or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.
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16 In stroke play, a player is unaware that his ball is in ground under repair. He addresses the ball and the wind causes it to move. After he replaces the ball, he realizes that he is entitled to relief without penalty. He lifts the ball, properly takes relief from ground under repair and completes the hole. What is the ruling?
There is a one stroke penalty.
Rule 18-2b
b. Ball Moving After Address
If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a
result of a stroke),
the player is deemed to have moved
the ball and incurs a
penalty of one stroke.
The ball must be replaced unless the movement of the ball occurs after the
player has begun the stroke
or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.
FYI
Q. A player lifts his
ball after deeming it unplayable and then discovers that the ball was lying in
ground under repair. Does the declaration and the lifting of the ball commit
the player to proceeding under Rule 28? (Unplayable lie)
A. No. Provided the player has not put a ball
into play under Rule 28, he is not precluded by that Rule from taking
relief, without penalty, under the ground under repair Rule (Rule 25).
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17 A player
He is entitled to relief because the high grass within the area is part of the ground under repair and the grass interferes with his swing.
Decision 25-1a/1
Q. The margins of
ground under repair do not extend vertically upward. If the ball lies outside
ground under repair and a tree rooted within the ground under repair interferes
with a player’s swing, but there is no interference with his stance, is the
player entitled to relief?
A. Yes. The Definition of “Ground Under Repair” states: “All ground and any
grass, bush, tree or other growing thing within the ground under repair is part
of the ground under repair.” Therefore, the player may take relief under
Rule 25-1 as the tree within the ground under repair interferes with the
area of his intended swing.
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18 In stroke play, during play of a hole, a player substitutes for a ball which he says is unfit for play. His marker disputes the claim but the player plays a stroke with the substituted ball. The marker asks the Committee for a ruling before completion of the hole. The Committee determines that the ball taken out of play was not unfit for play. What is the ruling?
There is a two stroke penalty and he must continue with the substituted ball.
Decision 5-3/3
Q. In stroke play, a
competitor, after announcing his intention of doing so, lifted his ball to
check for damage, showed it to his marker and claimed that it was unfit for
play. The marker disputed this
claim, but the competitor insisted on substituting and playing another
ball. Before completion of the hole, however, a Committee member was consulted
and ruled that the ball taken out of play by the competitor was not, after all,
unfit for play. What is the ruling?
A. The competitor should be penalized two strokes
for a breach of Rule 5-3 and must hole out with the substituted ball.
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19 In stroke play, a player holes a putt with a club in one hand, while holding the removed flagstick with his other hand. What is the ruling?
There is no penalty.
Decision 17-1/5
Q. A player holds the
flagstick with one hand and holes a short putt, gripping the putter with his
other hand. Is this permissible?
A. Yes, provided the flagstick has been removed from the hole and the ball
therefore does not strike it. If the ball were to strike the flagstick,
a breach of Rule 17-3a would occur.
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20 In stroke play, a player positions his golf cart so that he can stand on it to play his ball that was resting in a large bush just beyond the reach of his club if he were to stand on the ground. What is the ruling?
If he stands on the cart and plays the stroke, there is a two stroke penalty.
Decision 13-3/5
Q. A player’s ball is
lodged in the branch of a tree just beyond his reach with a club. The player
positions his motorized golf cart under the tree, stands on the cart and
prepares to make a stroke at his ball. At that point, the player is advised
that he is building a stance, contrary to Rule 13-3. If the player
removes the cart and does not play a stroke while standing on it, does he
nevertheless incur a penalty for a breach of Rule 13-3?
A. No. If a player builds a stance through use of
an object such as a golf cart, stone or brick, he incurs no penalty if he
removes the object before playing his next stroke.
However, if a player builds a stance through alteration of the
ground on which he is taking his stance, it is impossible for him to restore
the ground to its original state. Accordingly, a player who builds a stance in such manner incurs the
penalty prescribed in Rule 13-3, whether or not he attempts to restore
the ground to its original state before playing his next stroke.
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