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Pace of Play

Rules Seminar held March 14, 2009

Rule 22.1 Ball Assisting Play

What are you options if you think your ball might assist another player?

Read on.

Rule 2-5 Match Play

What happens if you witness a violation of the rules and there is no official around at the time?

See the answer.

Rule 1- 4 Points Not Covered by Rules

If a player’s partner, opponent or fellow-competitor plays a stroke from near a bunker and the divot comes to rest near the player’s ball lying in the bunker. May the divot be removed?

Answer: A player is entitled to the lie which his stroke gave him. Accordingly, in equity (Rule 1-4), the divot may be removed without penalty.
The same would apply if the player’s ball was lying in a water hazard

Enjoy the Game.

By Ross Sheflott

2009 Local Rule added

This spring the club installed irrigation around the greens on holes 7 and 11.  The areas where the pipes were spliced into the ground are in the process of healing. 

Therefore, we are instituting a local rule that states; On holes 7 and 11 if a players ball lies on a irrigation seam the player may, without penalty, determine the nearest point of relief, lift the ball and drop it within one club-length, not nearer the hole. 

Rule 4-1: Form and Make of Clubs

What is the penalty for carrying, but not using, a non-conforming club in stroke and match play? 

See the details

Rule 4-4. Maximum of 14 Clubs

a. Selection and Addition of Clubs

The player shall start a stipulated round with not more than 14 clubs. He is limited to the clubs thus selected for that round except that, if he started with fewer than 14 clubs, he may add any number provided his total number does not exceed 14.

The addition of a club or clubs must not unduly delay play and must not be made by borrowing any club selected for play by any other person playing on the course.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 4-4a

Match Play - At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match shall be adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred. Maximum deduction per round: two holes.

Stroke Play – Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes.

Rules 12-2 and 15-3 - Identifying a ball in a hazard

Picking up a ball to identify it is now allowed, as long as it is replaced

Playing a wrong ball from a hazard now incurs a two stroke penalty

Read on for the full details and USGA rule citations

Rule 16-1E: Standing Astride or on Line of Putt

A player must not stand astride, or on, the line of his/her intended putt while making his/her stroke.

Exception to the rule only if the player is attempting to avoid standing on another player’s line.

Breach of the rule is a two-stroke penalty in Stroke play.

See the details and decisions

Rule 19-2: Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped

What happens if my ball hits my bag?

See the details

Rule 20-3: Placing & Replacing

Who can replace your ball? See the details

Rule 24-1: Movable Obstructions

a flagstick, whether attended, removed, or held up, to be moved when a ball is in motion even if the act could influence the movement of the ball.

See the details

Is a player allowed to move a water hazard stake before playing a shot?

See the details

Rule 30-3C: Match Play; Wrong Ball

In the spirit of the Three Day Member-Guest, what does Rule 30-3C say the penalty is for a player making a stroke at a wrong ball? Does that player’s partner incur a penalty?

See the details

Dropping Your Ball Appendix I-B-8 addresses the specifics

See the details