Category: Rules Knowledge

Rules: Can a player be penalized 26 strokes?

The situation is you are playing lift clean and place.  You do it the customary method of using one club length; however, you didn't read the tournament rules sheet where it specifically says within twelve inches.

You discover the infraction after finishing the 13th hole.

What's the ruling?

 The penalty is two shots for every infraction. 

In this case, 13 holes x 2 strokes each = 26 shot penalty.

Unlike the 14-club rule where you are penalized a maximum of 4 strokes for carrying more than 14 clubs, there is no maximum penalty in this type of situation because it is deemed that the multiple infractions affected the player's scorecard.  In other words, you are not forgiven for repeating the same (playing) infraction over and over again during the round.

Ryuji Imada had such a scenario.  His respectable 71 turned into a horrendous 97. You can read about it at golfchannel.com.  After reading the article, you may wonder why Imada's playing partner didn't notice it before.

Rules: The Damn Critter Moved My Ball!!

Remember the situation at TPC Sawgrass in 1998 at the 17th island green where a seagull picked up Steve Lowery's ball off the 17th green and flew off with it (only to drop it in the water)?

Well guess what.  A similar situation happened to one of PCGC members.

At our 2010 TOC at Eagle Vines, Brian Ungaretti hit his tee shot in the fairway.  Then out of the woods came a coyote who moved Brian's ball at least 30 yards before dropping it and moving on.

What's the ruling?

 There is no penalty per Rule 18-1.  Since the coyote is considered to be an outside agency, it is not the player's fault that his ball was moved.  Neither he or his caddie instigated the situation.

The ruling is the player can place his ball back to the original spot without penalty.

And yes, Brian's fellow players in his foursome tried to assess him a five-stroke penalty.  They were kidding of course.  They were down in their match.

 

Since the seagull dropped Steve Lowery's ball in the water, Lowery could not use his original ball to place on the green.  So he was allowed to use a different ball to take his relief.  However, don't forget that the PGA Tour has a "one ball rule" where the player must play one brand of a ball during the round.  Lowery did.

Rules: Brush Aside Casual Water on the Green

May a player whose ball lies on a putting green brush aside casual water on his line of putt, or mop it up with a towel?

 No. Such action would be a breach of Rule 16-1a (Touching Line of Putt).  After reading the rule, you will realize that water is not considered to be a loose impediment.

16-1. General

a. Touching Line of Putt

The line of putt must not be touched except:

(i) the player may remove loose impediments, provided he does not press anything down;
(ii) the player may place the club in front of the ball when addressing it, provided he does not press anything down;
(iii) in measuring – Rule 18-6;
(iv) in lifting or replacing the ball – Rule 16-1b;
(v) in pressing down a ball-marker;
(vi) in repairing old hole plugs or ball marks on the putting green – Rule 16-1c; and
(vii) in removing movable obstructions – Rule 24-1.

Rules: Hitting a Flagstick

Generally, the player's ball must not strike the flagstick when removed from the hole (Rule 17-3).

What is the ruling in the following situations:

(a) A player putts too strongly and his ball strikes the flagstick which has been removed by someone in his match or group and placed on the ground behind the hole.

(b) A player plays his second shot to the green and the ball strikes the flagstick, which had been blown down by the wind and was lying on the ground.

(c) A player, not believing he can reach the green which is occupied by the match or group ahead of him, plays his second shot at a par-5 hole and the ball rolls onto the green and strikes the flagstick which has been removed from the hole and placed on the ground by someone in the match or group ahead.

 (a) The player incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play under Rule 17-3a and the ball must be played as it lies.

(b) and (c) No penalty is incurred. Rule 17-3a is not applicable in either case. It applies only when the flagstick has been removed with the player's authority or prior knowledge by someone in the player's match or group.

17-3. Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant

The player's ball must not strike:

  • The flagstick when it is attended, removed or held up; 
  • The person attending or holding up the flagstick or anything carried by him; or 
  • The flagstick in the hole, unattended, when the stroke has been made on the putting green.

Exception: When the flagstick is attended, removed or held up without the player's authority