Referee Challenge: Ball moved by insects

Another one without a video, but I'd be struggling to recreate this situation. Again a real happening, this time from the Wiltshire Ladies at North Wilts. The 11th hole at North Wilts plays downhill and there is a steep bank leading down at the back of the green. I was called down to the green … Continue reading Referee Challenge: Ball moved by insects

Misunderstood Rules 2: Giving or Receiving Advice

Often well meaning comments made by another player in your group, but you can also inadvertently ask for advice without thinking. A player may not give or seek advice to or from anyone except their caddie, partner or partner's caddie (or a nominated "advice giver", if allowed, in a team competition). https://youtu.be/Fiyr2Z06soE Interestingly, the Advice … Continue reading Misunderstood Rules 2: Giving or Receiving Advice

Referee Challenge: How long do you have to look for your clubs?

The Wiltshire refs will recognise this one as it happened at a Seniors Championship a couple of years ago - it should be in the "you couldn't make it up" category! The scenario is that having holed out the player turns round to find that their electric trolley is no longer at the edge of … Continue reading Referee Challenge: How long do you have to look for your clubs?

Misunderstood Rules 3: Nearest or Nicest Point of Relief?

Perhaps every golfer is tempted by this with the following thought process: "It can't be relief if I can't get a swing at it, so I'll find the nearest point where I can actually play the ball" Commonly known as finding the "nicest" rather than "nearest" point of relief. https://youtu.be/StzCioUtteQ Sorry - but that isn't … Continue reading Misunderstood Rules 3: Nearest or Nicest Point of Relief?

Misunderstood Rules 4: Lateral Relief from Red Penalty Areas

Its very easy to take lateral relief from a Red Penalty Area next to where your ball is lying, however your reference point is the point where the ball last crossed in to the penalty area - perhaps a little bit further back as most red penalty areas are to the side. https://youtu.be/M09fG0fnRK0 And don't … Continue reading Misunderstood Rules 4: Lateral Relief from Red Penalty Areas

Referee Challenge: Loose Impediments

We know you can remove loose impediments anywhere on the course now, but we need to take care that our ball doesn't move when doing so - if it does we get a one stroke penalty and must replace the ball exactly where it was. If we don't move it back and then play it … Continue reading Referee Challenge: Loose Impediments

Misunderstood Rules 5: Identifying your ball

I once warned a playing partner not to do this when he picked up a ball which wasn't (but might have been) his during a search, only for him to pick up his own ball to identify it 30 seconds later! https://youtu.be/NzfyTgz9-nY The rule changed in 2019 - previously you had to tell your opponent … Continue reading Misunderstood Rules 5: Identifying your ball

Referee Challenge: Putt deflected by leaf blown by the wind

This doesn't happen every day (and its just as well). I have posted this as it has been the source of much debate amongst the Wiltshire Referees recently - many emails being exchanged without a consensus being reached. It may be one to refer to the R&A. This video from YouTube shows the scenario - … Continue reading Referee Challenge: Putt deflected by leaf blown by the wind

Misunderstood Rules 6: Where is the edge of a Penalty Area?

Most golfers believe that stakes define the edge of a penalty area unless there is a line. While lines would always DEFINE the edge of a penalty area stakes normally only INDICATE there is a penalty area (unless the local rules state that stakes DEFINE penalty areas). The default position is that penalty areas are … Continue reading Misunderstood Rules 6: Where is the edge of a Penalty Area?

Misunderstood Rules 7: Finding the ball after 3 minutes have elapsed

This would perhaps be better titled as a frequently ignored rule. I can also report a strange bit of human nature - the search time was reduced from 5 to 3 minutes at the start of 2019 with the aim of speeding up play. When refereeing we will start a stopwatch at the start of … Continue reading Misunderstood Rules 7: Finding the ball after 3 minutes have elapsed