Australian Golf Digest
Results for "Rules review"
Rules Review: I carefully tried to pick up a rake but I accidentally moved my ball. Is that a penalty?
Justin Thomas was penalised after his ball moved while removing a loose impediment. It’s a common situation, but the rules aren’t always clear. Here’s what you need to know to avoid the same mistake.
Rules Review: What happens when someone tending the flagstick deflects your ball from going in?
There are a lot of little nuances to removing the flagstick or leaving it in that you might want to know.
Rules Review: I took the club back and my ball dropped further into the rough. Is that a penalty?
If your golf ball moves before you make a stroke, you could face a penalty – or not. Here’s how the Rules of Golf determine whether natural forces or player actions caused it.
Rules Review: I hit into a group and I think one of them threw my ball into the water. What do I do now?
If another player moves your ball or knocks it away, are you penalised? We break down the Rules of Golf and exactly what to do in each scenario.
Rules Review: I took an unplayable and picked up my ball but realised I was entitled to free relief. Am I stuck with my original decision?
You declare an unplayable lie, pick up your ball, then realise you had free relief. Are you stuck with the penalty? We break down the ruling.
Rules Review: Here’s the right way to mark and move your ball when it’s on another player’s line
Don’t get penalised for not taking this process seriously.
Rules Review: My opponent says I can’t take relief from a hole dug by the club’s working dog. True?
What happens when your tee shot ends up in a hole dug by a dog? Or perhaps it comes to rest in the dirt pile that was created by the paw-driven frenzy?
Rules Review: My opponent dug his feet in a bunker, then got another club and did it again. Isn’t that building a stance?
You can’t get in there with a shovel and carve out a nice hole to swing from. But shuffling your feet back and forth more than once to ensure decent footing is allowed.
Rules Review: I just played from the wrong tee and pumped it OB. Do I have to hit it again from the correct tee?
As awkward as it might be, you can refuse to cancel the stroke. If you do, your opponent now has to take a stroke-and-distance penalty and play again from the wrong tee.
Rules Review: Before taking a drop, can you ‘clean up’ the area of loose impediments to ensure a better lie?
The answer comes down to whether you are replacing, dropping or placing the ball.
Rules Review: Can you probe a bunker to see what’s really underneath your ball?
The thing to remember when you’re in a bunker is you can’t do anything that can be construed as improving your lie or testing the conditions. If you’re not sure what that means, Rule 12.2 covers when touching the sand does or does not result in a penalty.
Rules Review: In foursomes competitions, who plays the provisional ball, me or my partner?
It’s important to know that foursomes is covered in the Rules of Golf.
Rules Review: We agreed on a ruling in our match but found out we handled it wrong. What happens now?
You can’t ignore the rules in a match, but what if you don’t know a rule and proceed incorrectly?
Rules Review: The group ahead left the flagstick lying on the green. Do I have to replace it before hitting my approach shot?
One of golf’s principles is to play the course as it’s found. This includes where golfers in the group before you left the flagstick.
Rules Review: Another golfer found my ball and propped it up in the rough. Can I play it like that?
Can you play it as it lies? After all, you had nothing to do with the action. Several Rules of Golf come into play on this one.
Rules Review: When does ‘tidying’ a bunker turn into improving your line of play?
Where the Rules of Golf can be a little unclear concerns actions taken in a bunker that some might consider testing the surface or improving the conditions affecting the stroke. Let’s review what is and isn’t a penalty.
Rules Review: My opponent purposely putted away from the hole to show his partner the line. Can he do that?
The topic of purposely putting away from a hole to show someone else in the group how his or her putt will break is a bit of a grey area for the Rules of Golf.
Rules Review: After a rain delay, I found my plugged ball under water. I get relief, right?
How can you recreate your lie when that lie doesn’t exist anymore?
Rules Review: I played a range ball on a par 3 over water. My opponent says it’s a penalty to use it. True?
If you’re guilty of pulling a practice ball out from time to time, you might wonder if you’re running afoul of the rules in terms of potentially using a non-conforming golf ball. And what about those X-out balls you can get for $20 a dozen?
Rules Review: He took the penalty but dropped in the wrong place. Now what?
Rule 14 helps you find out what should happen to that guy you saw attempt to take a penalty drop but didn’t get it exactly right.
