Repairing Damage on your line of Play

You are just off the green, quite close to the hole so your first choice is to putt, but there is a big pitchmark on the apron directly on your line just in front of your ball. What can you do about it? https://youtu.be/QgSxzTw9RTA Well the short answer is - not a lot! Improving your … Continue reading Repairing Damage on your line of Play

Embedded Ball

This should be easy - Rule 16.3 allows you to take relief whenever your ball lies in its own pitchmark in the general area. "Embedded" means that part of the ball is below the level of the ground (so not if is just "sitting down" in a grassy lie. The reference point is immediately behind … Continue reading Embedded Ball

Temporary Water in the General Area

The standard procedure when you are in a puddle in the General Area is to find your nearest point of complete relief within the general area which is not nearer the hole than where your ball is, and then to drop within 1 club length of (and again not nearer the hole than) that point. … Continue reading Temporary Water in the General Area

Temporary Water in a Bunker

We play golf in (almost) any weather and the rules need to take this into account. While we can get puddles on the course at any time of year, we are perhaps more likely to need to cope with them through the winter months - what relief is available? Playing out of a puddle should … Continue reading Temporary Water in a Bunker

Bryson’s Lost Ball

The best in the world don't often have to look for their ball - they hit it straighter than most and usually have a good number of marshals and spectators to see where the ball landed. So Bryson probably has a good excuse for being a little hazy on the lost ball rule. If it … Continue reading Bryson’s Lost Ball

The Referee Gets in the Way

A true tale from a recent competition. When refereeing a stroke play (or matchplay) competition you do your best to keep out of the players way and not to interfere unless you are called in or spot a situation where a player may need a bit of help to apply the rules correctly. It doesn't … Continue reading The Referee Gets in the Way

9th @BrokenhurstGC – No Play Zone

The 9th at Brokenhurst is a Par 5 for ladies and a tough Par 4 for men to finish the front nine. Playing slightly up hill and often into the wind you need to be on your game. https://videopress.com/v/YmjP5U4r?preloadContent=metadata One of the delights of playing the course is the wildlife you will see on your … Continue reading 9th @BrokenhurstGC – No Play Zone

8th Hole @BrokenhurstGC – Two Identical Balls

A long par 4, seemingly always into the wind and the first of 3 very testing holes in a row. Escape from the 8th, 9th, and 10th level to your handicap and you are most likely playing well. Even a good drive will probably leave a semi-blind second over the fairway bunker to a green … Continue reading 8th Hole @BrokenhurstGC – Two Identical Balls

When is a ball not a ball?

A real scenario which is causing a bit of discussion, so one for those who know the rules in depth. As follows: A group of players are playing in a Stableford Competition. Half way down a hole, Player A declares that they cannot now score any Stableford points and therefore they have ‘completed the hole‘ … Continue reading When is a ball not a ball?

7th Hole @Brokenhurst – Unplayable Lie

The start of the middle loop of 6 - the most difficult loop and level to handicap through these holes is normally a good result. The 7th at 376 yds from the white tees and 344 from the reds is possibly the easiest of the six. https://videopress.com/v/zcBMtuPe?preloadContent=metadata Driving over the road, the only trouble is … Continue reading 7th Hole @Brokenhurst – Unplayable Lie