Dr. Robin Farran’s is one of the USGA’s top Rules Officials who used to teach Advanced Rules at the Golf Academy of America in Phoenix. But now that all of the Golf Academies nationwide have suddenly closed, Dr. Farran is turning his attention to 2019.
Says Dr. Farran, “It will assist our individual preparation for PGA/USGA Workshops and readiness for 2019 tournaments if we search the 2019 Rules for all relevant references as we consider the correct rulings.” In this month’s Diary of a USGA Rules Official, Dr. Farran continues his all-out push to educate us on/ahead of the most extensive changes to the Rules of Golf since 1984. New rulings are highlighted in red:
Incident Reports
Incident 1
In stroke play, as Player A putts from the fringe, Player B, another player in the group, lifts the flagstick that had been removed and placed on the putting green some distance from the hole. Due to the slope of the putting green, Player A’s ball could have reached the original location of the flagstick.
**There is no penalty. A removed flagstick may be moved. See Exception to Rule 11.3.
Incident 2
In four-ball stroke play, as Player C putts from the fringe, Player D, Player C’s partner, marks and lifts his ball on the putting green. Due to the slope of the putting green, Player C’s ball could have reached the location of Player D’s ball.
**There is no penalty. A ball at rest on the putting green may be picked up when a ball is in motion. See Exception to Rule 11.3.
**There is no penalty. When a ball is in motion, equipment may be moved. See Exception to Rule 11.3.
Incident 4
Player J chips his or her ball up a slope towards the putting green. The ball lands short of the putting green and, as the ball rolls down the slope, Player J picks up a bunker rake that lay on the ground that could have affected where the ball would come to rest.
**Player J gets the general penalty for a breach of Rule 11.3 in situations where Player J is aware that the ball is rolling towards the rake and the purpose of the lifting is to avoid the ball being deflected by the rake. See Rule 11.3 and Interpretation 11.3/1.
True or False?
1. Player A’s caddie, without any verbal authorization, marks and lifts Player A’s ball which had come to rest on the putting green. This is permitted by the 2019 Rules.
True False
**See Rule 10.3b(1) and note the Exception in Rule 14.1b
2. In single match play, Player B mistakenly marks and lifts Player A’s ball on the putting green. Player B incurs a penalty of one stroke.
True False
**See Exception 2 under Rule 9.5b
3. In four-ball stroke play, Player A and Player B are partners. During a search for Player A’s ball in the rough, Player B accidentally moves Player A’s ball. Player B replaces the ball on the original spot, estimating the location in the rough. Player A is penalized one stroke for his or her partner’s actions.
True False
**No penalty is incurred. See Exception 2 under Rule 9.4b and Rule 23.5
4. In four-ball stroke play, Player A and Player B are partners. In taking relief from a penalty area, Player A drops the ball in the relief area not in the right way. Player B lifts the ball and drops the ball in the right way; the ball is dropped from knee height, lands in and comes to rest in the relief area. Player A incurs a penalty of one stroke for an incorrect procedure in addition to a one-stroke penalty for relief from the penalty area.
True False
**No penalty is incurred for Player B’s actions. See Rules 14.5a, 14.3b and 14.3c, and Rule 23.5
5. Player A’s tee shot is in a fairway bunker. Player A enters a nearby bunker and makes several practice swings touching the sand prior to returning to play his or her stroke from the fairway bunker. Player A is not penalized.
True False
**See Rule 12.2b(1) – 2nd bullet refers to the bunker.
6. Player B’s approach shot lands in a high-faced bunker adjacent to the putting green. As Player B enters the bunker, Player B strikes the sand with disgust over his previous shot. In match play, Player B incurs a loss-of-hole penalty.
True False
**See Rule 12.2b(2) – 6th bullet.
7. Player C’s ball is in a bunker embedded in the sand in a clearly unplayable location. Player C elects to proceed under Rule 19.2. Player C lifts his or her original ball and drops another ball outside the bunker on the line behind the location of the original ball and the flagstick.
The ball lands close to the line and rolls and comes to rest about two feet behind where it landed. Player C played the ball and completed the hole. Player C incurs the general penalty for playing from a wrong place.
True False
**See Rule 19.3b and Rule 14.3c – two penalty strokes. Player C was permitted to proceed under any of the options for a ball unplayable including the procedure for Rule 19.3.
8. Player D’s ball is embedded in the dirt face of a bunker. Electing to proceed under Rule 19.2, Player D lifts the ball and drops the ball outside the bunker on the line behind the location of the original ball and the flagstick. The ball lands close to the line and rolls and comes to rest about two feet behind where it landed. Player D played the ball and completed the hole. Player D incurred a penalty of one stroke in stroke play or match play.
True False
**See Definition of “Bunker” and Rule 19.2b – the ball was not in the bunker.
9. Player A chips from off the putting green and the ball in motion is deflected by a maintenance vehicle parked behind the putting green and comes to rest about two feet from the hole. Player A’s ball must be played as it lies.
True False
**Rule 11.1a and Rule 11.1b
10. Player B plays a stroke from the putting green and the ball in motion rolls off the putting green and is deflected by the flagstick that was on the fringe, nowhere near where it was expected to be hit by a ball in play. Player B’s ball must be played as it lies.
True False
**Exception 2 under Rule 13.2b
11. Player C plays a stroke from the putting green and the ball in motion is deflected by a wedge that was lying on the green, nowhere near where it was expected to be hit by a ball in play. Player C’s ball must be played as it lies.
True False
**Exception 2 under Rule 11.1b. The stroke is cancelled and replayed.
12. Player D’s ball, played from the putting green, is deflected into the hole by another player’s caddie, who was walking across the line of play unaware Player D had putted. There is no penalty; the ball, is holed.
True False
**Rule 11.1a, Exception 2 under Rule 11.1b and 11.1b/1. The stroke is cancelled and replayed.
Four-Ball Stroke Play
Player A and Player B are partners in four-ball stroke play:
Incident 1
As Player A and Player B approach Player B’s ball on the cart path, Player A picks up Player B’s ball and tells Player B that he or she should take relief from the cart path. Player B explains that the nearest point of complete relief is in a large bush and he or she will play the ball from the cart path. Player B places the ball on its original spot and completes the hole.
**Player A is permitted to lift Player B’s ball, however, when Player B elected to replace the lifted ball and play the ball from the cart path, Player B incurs a penalty of one stroke. See Interpretation 9.4b/6 and Rule 23.5a and Rule 23.5b.
Incident 2
Player A’s ball lies in a penalty area marked with a red line. Player B offers to assist Player A with relief and drops a ball from knee height. The ball hits the ground in the relief area and rolls and comes to rest in the penalty area. Player B retrieves the ball and drops another ball in the right way. Player A plays the dropped ball.
**In 2019, when a ball is dropped or placed when taking relief under a Rule, the original ball or another ball may be dropped or placed by the player or the partner. See Rule 23.5a and Rule 23.5b. The stroke does not count, and the original ball or another ball must be replaced on its original spot and replayed.
Incident 3
As Player A and Player B walk toward the area where their tee shots are likely to be, Player B sees a ball under a bush in the general area. Believing the ball to be a stray ball, Player B picks up the ball and continues the walk toward the putting green. After the 3-minute search time has begun, Player B realizes that the stray ball was Player A’s ball in play.
**Player A incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 9.4b. Actions by Player B with respect to Player A’s ball are as if the actions were taken by Player A. See Rule 23.5b.
Player A’s ball must be replaced by either Player A or Player B (unless Player A elects to proceed under another Rule that applies). The stroke does not count, and the original ball or another ball must be replaced on its original spot and replayed. Failure to replace the ball correctly would result in a two-stroke penalty to Player A.
Stroke Play
Incident 1
Player A lies 2 about 5 yards from the putting green. Player A chips and, as his ball lands on the green and rolls toward the hole, the ball hits a rabbit running across the putting green and comes to rest about 10-feet from the hole. Player A completes the hole in 2 additional strokes.
**Player A scores 5 for the hole. In a situation where a ball in motion hits an outside influence, such as an animal, the ball is played as it lies (except when the ball is played from the putting green). See Rule 11.1a and Rule 11.1b.
Incident 2
Player B lies 2 on the putting green about 20 feet from the hole. Player B putts and the ball in motion hits a rabbit running across the putting green and comes to rest about 15 feet left of the hole. Player B completes the hole in 2 additional strokes.
**Player B scores 6 for the hole. In a situation where a ball is played from a putting green and hits an animal, the stroke does not count and the ball must be replaced on the original spot. Player B’s initial stroke on the putting green is not counted in the score for the hole.
Player B’s play from 15 feet left of the hole was from a wrong place, no serious breach. Player B incurs a penalty of two strokes for play from a wrong place. See Exception 2 under Rule 11.1b and the penalty statement under Rule 11.1. [4s +2p = 6]
Incident 3
Player C lies 2 on the putting green about 20 feet from the hole. Player C putts and the ball in motion hits a rabbit running across the putting green and comes to rest about 1-2 feet left of the hole. Player C completes the hole in 1 additional stroke and continues the round.
**Player C is disqualified. In this situation, where Player C played his or her third stroke that counted in the score for the hole from 1-2 feet left of the hole and not 20 feet from the hole as required by the Exception under Rule 11.1b, the Committee would most likely consider the play from a wrong place to be a serious breach. See Rule 14.7b and Definition of “Serious Breach”. [DQ since the mistake was not corrected prior to beginning the next hole.]
Match Play
Incident 1
As Player A and Player B walk up the slope to an elevated green, Player A marks and lifts Player B’s ball on the green believing the ball was Player A’s ball.
**See Exception 1 under Rule 9.5b and Rules 9.5a and 14.2b. No penalty is incurred by Player A for moving Player B’s ball. The ball must be replaced by placing the original ball on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) by Player A or Player B.
Incident 2
Both balls of Player A and Player B are on the green and the order of play is not obvious. As Player A uses the flagstick to measure the distances from the hole for each ball, Player A accidentally moves Player B’s ball
**See Exception 3 under Rule 9.5b which also refers to several Exceptions listed under Rule 9.4b. No penalty is incurred by Player A for moving Player B’s ball. The ball must be replaced by placing the original ball on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) by Player A or Player B.
Incident 3
Player A’s ball is on the fringe farther from the hole than Player B’s ball which is near the hole on the green. As Player A considers his next stroke, Player A says to Player B, “I need to change clubs. Go ahead and play your ball if you like”. Player B responds, “OK, I will” and plays his or her ball.
**See the Exception under Rule 6.4a(2). In match play, players may agree to play out of turn for the next stroke to be played, without penalty.
Incident 4
Player A’s ball is on a sprinkler head near the putting green. Player A correctly determined the reference point for relief and measured a one club-length relief area, not nearer the hole than the reference point, with his or her driver. Player A drops a ball from knee height and the ball hits the ground on the putting green within the measured area and comes to rest on the putting green in the measured area. Player A plays the dropped ball.
**Player A has played from a wrong place in breach of Rule 16.1 and incurred the general penalty under Rule 14.7a. As Player A’s ball was in the general area, the ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the general area – see Rule 16.1b.
Incident 5
Player B decides to proceed under Rule 19 for an unplayable ball in a bush in the general area close to a bunker. Player B chooses the lateral option and measures a two club-length relief area, not nearer the hole from the reference point (the spot of the original ball), with his or her driver.
Part of the measured relief area includes the bunker and the remaining part of the relief area is in the general area of the course. Player B drops a ball from knee height and the ball hits the sand in the bunker within the measured relief area and comes to rest nearer the hole than the reference point.
Player B picks up the dropped ball and drops another ball from knee height in the general area. The dropped ball hits the ground in the general area within the relief area and comes to rest in the general area. Player B plays the dropped ball.
**Player B has played correctly. Although the statement in Rule 19.2c states that the ball when dropped must come to rest in the same part of the course that the ball first touched when dropped in therelief area, the statement is clarified in Interpretation 14.5b(3)/2:
“For example, a player chooses to take unplayable ball relief under Rule 19.2c (Lateral Relief) and his or her relief area is partially in the general area and partially in a bunker. The player’s drop first touches the bunker in the relief area and comes to rest in the general area or outside the entire relief area, so the player must drop again. When doing so, he or she may drop the ball in the general area portion of the relief area.”
Cart Path Obstruction
In each of the following incidents, the player’s original ball is on a paved cart path, listed on the Notice to Players as an obstruction. The player has correctly determined the reference point and relief area for free relief from an immovable obstruction:
Incident 1
Player A drops the original ball from knee height and the ball hits the ground outside the relief area and comes to rest in the relief area. Player A plays the ball as it lies.
**Player A gets a penalty of one stroke for not dropping the ball in the right way. See Rule 14.3b; particularly the 3rd bullet in Rule 14.3b(3).
Incident 2
Player B drops a substituted ball from knee height and the ball hits the ground in the relief area and rolls and comes to rest outside the relief area. Player B plays the dropped ball.
**Player B gets the general penalty. See Rule 14.3b; particularly the 4th bullet in Rule 14.3b(3). Player B was permitted to substitute a ball – see Rule 14.3a.
Incident 3
Player C drops a substituted ball in the right way and, after hitting the ground in the relief area, the ball comes to rest outside the relief area. Player C decides to substitute another ball and, absent-mindedly, drops the ball from shoulder height. The ball lands in and comes to rest in the relief area. Player C plays the dropped ball.
**Player C gets a penalty of one stroke for not dropping the ball in the right way. Player C was permitted to substitute a ball for the re-drop – see Rule 14.3a.
Incident 4
Player D, absent-mindedly, places a substituted ball in the relief area and plays the ball.
**Player D gets the general penalty. See Rule 14.3b; particularly the 4th bullet in Rule 14.3b(3).