Author: GolfRulesGuru

I've been playing golf for over 40 years, but only in the last few have I studied the rules and discovered a few of the strange things that can happen on a golf course. I'm full of admiration for those who redrafted the rules for 2019 and want to help golfers of all abilities to understand and properly apply the rules by which we play.

Tiger’s Needless Quadruple Bogey

The top Pros spend hours practicing to reach the incredible level of skill they show every week, so you wonder why they (or their caddies) don’t spend a little more time ensuring they know the rules as that knowledge can also save them valuable strokes. Take Tiger’s 7 at the Par 3 17th at Sawgrass … Continue reading Tiger’s Needless Quadruple Bogey

Out of Bounds – Ricky Fowler not thinking clearly

Here is Ricky Fowler last week just about to make us all feel better by shanking it out of bounds. Understandably he was a bit hot under the collar after such a shot, and without stopping to think he immediately dropped from shoulder height and as close to the place from which he had just … Continue reading Out of Bounds – Ricky Fowler not thinking clearly

Rules – Hollow Cored Greens

When you need to place or replace your ball you must do so on a specific spot, for example precisely where it was before it was lifted or exactly where it landed following a re-drop that once again rolled outside the relief area (you might remember Lexie Thompson incurring a very costly penalty for this … Continue reading Rules – Hollow Cored Greens

A Reminder to Drop from Knee Height

After Ricky Fowlers ball at rest rolled into a Penalty Area at the beginning of the month have you heard what happened to him at the WGC-Mexico Championship last Friday?  He shanked his second shot of the day out of bounds, instinctively dropped a ball from shoulder height, hit it on the green and two-putted … Continue reading A Reminder to Drop from Knee Height

Temporary Water (Rule 16)

“Temporary Water” is one of four “Abnormal Course Conditions” and is defined as any accumulation of water on the surface of the ground that can be seen before or after you take a stance – it must remain present either before or after your stance is taken (i.e. it is not enough for it to … Continue reading Temporary Water (Rule 16)

15th Hole – Red Penalty Areas (Rule 17)

Under the old rules you could choose to take lateral relief from either side of lateral water hazard, but the opposite side relief is no longer a standard option under the new rules. You can now only take lateral relief on the side of the Red Penalty Area where your ball last crossed into it. … Continue reading 15th Hole – Red Penalty Areas (Rule 17)

Embedded Ball (Rule 16.3)

At this time of year plugged balls are a possibility and if you do find your ball plugged in its own pitch mark (an Embedded Ball) anywhere in the General Area (i.e. not in a Bunker, Penalty Area, or on the Green – but it could be on the fairway or in the rough) then … Continue reading Embedded Ball (Rule 16.3)

16th Hole – Red Penalty Area (Rule 17)

Alex, Bo, and Chris all got into trouble with their tee shots at the 16th. Alex didn’t get a good connection and ended up in the middle of the lake. Bo under clubbed, and while it just carried the lake it fell back into it from the bank. Chris took an extra club but pulled … Continue reading 16th Hole – Red Penalty Area (Rule 17)