Golf Rules Challenge

Every week Coach Miller will post a golf rules challenge. Figure out the correct answer and check below to see if you are right. (A tiny greens-keeper told me that some of these questions might be on the upcoming Rules Test.)

Golf Rules Challenge #4

A player’s ball lies in a water hazard and she decides that she can play the ball as it lies. Before playing her ball, she takes several practice swings, each time touching the ground causing leaves to move in the hazard. She also removes several strands of tall grass with her hand in the area of her backswing. What is the ruling?

1. There is a two stroke penalty.
2. There is a four stroke penalty.
3. There is a six stroke penalty.

The correct answer for CHALLENGE #4 is option #2 – here’s why: Two rules have been breeched: first, the practice swings are a penalty of two strokes; second the player also incurs a penalty of two strokes for improving the area of her intended swing by removing the tall grass.

Remember: the maximum penalty per attempt to hit a ball is four strokes. If the player were to hit into another hazard and do the same things again, there would be another four stroke penalty added to her score. Her score could quickly get very high if she does not know her RULES …

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Golf Rules Challenge #3

A player addresses her ball in a bunker, then changes her mind regarding club selection. She leaves the bunker and returns with a different club. Before playing the stroke, the player smooths the footprints she made in the sand and takes a different stance. What is the ruling?

1. There is no penalty.
2. There is a one stroke penalty.
3. There is a two stroke penalty.

The correct answer for CHALLENGE #3 is option #3 – here’s why: This is one of the many actions that would constitute “testing” the condition of the hazard which is a breach of the rules (13-4a), therefore, answer 3 is correct.

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Golf Rules Challenge #2

A player deems her ball unplayable and lifts it. Then, she discovers that the ball was in ground under repair. What is the ruling?

1. If she drops a ball under the “unplayable ball” rule, she may lift the ball and proceed under the “ground under repair” rule without incurring any penalty.
2. If she drops a ball under the “unplayable ball” rule back into the ground under repair, she may then lift the ball and proceed under the “ground under repair” rule, incurring a total of two penalty strokes.
3. If she does not drop a ball under the “unplayable ball” rule, she may proceed under the “ground under repair” rule without penalty.

The correct answer for CHALLENGE #2 is option #3 – here’s why: Because the player did not yet drop and put her ball back into play when discovering that her ball was in “ground under repair,” she may use the “ground under repair” rule and drop without penalty.

Bonus discussion on “unplayable balls” … You may deem your ball “unplayable” any place on the course, EXCEPT when it is in a water hazard, in which case you would proceed under Rule #28, taking a 1 stroke penalty. Under Rule #28, the player must:

1. play a ball as near as possible to the spot from which the original ball was last played … or …
2. drop a ball behind the point where the ball had been, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot upon which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped … or …
3. drop a ball within 2 club-lengths of the spot where the ball had been, but not nearer to the hole.

When proceeding under Rule #28 the player “MAY” lift and “CLEAN” her ball or substitute a ball. Why? Because she took her ball out of play (with a 1 stroke penalty).

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Golf Rules Challenge #1

A player’s ball lies on the fringe of the green and her line of play through the green is affected by a pitch-mark made by another player’s ball. What is the ruling?

1. If the pitch-mark was created before or after the player’s ball came to rest, she may repair the pitch-mark without penalty.
2. If the pitch-mark was created after the player’s ball came to rest, she may repair the pitch-mark without penalty.
3. If the pitch-mark was created by the ball of her partner after the player’s ball came to rest, she is not entitled to relief without penalty.

The correct answer for CHALLENGE #1 is option #2 – here’s why: The key concept here is that the ball is on the fringe of the green and not on it. If the pitch-mark was there “before” the players ball came to rest, (on the fringe) she is NOT entitled to relief without a penalty. Number 1 says created “before or after” if it said just after it would be correct….And #3 says she is “not” entitled when she is.

Note: In golf rules and definitions you will hear the term “Through the Green” … this is the entire area of the course except the teeing ground and the putting green of the hole being played, and all hazards on the course.