Australian Golf Digest
Results for "rules review"
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.
Rules Review: Is your ball on or off? In or out? Understanding course boundaries
“In or out” and “on or off” are good things to know if you want to avoid mistakenly committing a penalty, because the Rules of Golf vary depending on what kind of marker is beside your ball.
Rules Review: Can you get free relief from a sprinkler head on your line of play? Maybe (we’ll explain)
Whether or not you’re entitled to free relief depends on if your course or committee is using Model Local Rule F-5.
Rules Review: Our team conceded a putt but the guy still hit it to help his partner read the line. Penalty?
There is no penalty in this situation, just some bad etiquette.
Rules Review: A tour pro used powder to keep his hands dry on the grip. Is that legal?
If you’ve never seen anyone do this, you might wonder what the Rules of Golf has to say about whether that gives a player an illegal advantage.
Rules Review: If I play this shot left-handed instead of right-handed, I’m stepping on a sprinkler head. Can I get relief?
Although perhaps rare, here’s a situation where you might be able to use the rules to your advantage.
