Tag: Common Problem

Boundary of a Penalty Area

A decision from a junior competition a couple of years ago. The general view is on the left, while the position of the ball, half under the sleepers edging the path, is shown in the right hand picture. The middle picture shows the plan view with the green to which they were playing. While the … Continue reading Boundary of a Penalty Area

Penalty Area and Immovable Obstruction

A bridge over a penalty area with balls in 5 different positions playing to the green and flag that you can see. What relief can you get for each situation? Ball number 1 is in the Red Penalty Area and as the ditch is dry at this time of year many players would consider playing … Continue reading Penalty Area and Immovable Obstruction

Know the Rules – Save a Stroke

For some reason strange things seem to happen to my friend Lee on the golf course. Here he is with an ambitious attempt at getting a wood to a plugged (embedded) ball on the bank of a fairway bunker. To be fair to him this was before the 2019 rules came into force which now … Continue reading Know the Rules – Save a Stroke

Advice!

https://youtu.be/yCYszCbMF0c I see this so often on the course as golfers try to help one another in the monthly medal or stableford, but you really shouldn't. The advice giver immediately gets the General Penalty (loss of hole in match play - or 2 strokes in strokeplay). The receiver gets no immediate penalty as they didn't … Continue reading Advice!

Taking Relief from a Path

https://youtu.be/a9rr3NW0Axo How to take relief from an artificially surfaced path (an "Immovable Obstruction") or similar "Abnormal Course Condition". Remember to tell your playing partners or opponents what you are doing before you touch your ball. Also, leave your ball where it is until you have established your "Reference Point" and then your "Relief Area". Relative … Continue reading Taking Relief from a Path

Dropping the Ball (Rule 14)

Whenever you need to drop a ball to get it back into play, you first need to find your Reference Point. This is often your Nearest Point of Complete Relief, but it could be where you played from previously, you might be going back on-line, or using another option. Mark your Reference PoInt with a … Continue reading Dropping the Ball (Rule 14)

Lifting Your Ball to Identify It

While searching for a friend’s ball recently I found one of the same make and called him over to identify it. He went straight in and lifted it up to see if his mark was on it before letting me know that it wasn’t his ball. My reaction was to say that "I was glad … Continue reading Lifting Your Ball to Identify It

Standing on or Close to the Line of Play Behind the Ball

While it has always been considered a breach of etiquette to stand on or close to the line of play (unless attending the flagstick) there is now a prohibition on caddies standing in this area after a player begins to take their stance.  This also applies to Partners (and Partner’s caddies) in fourball, foursome, and … Continue reading Standing on or Close to the Line of Play Behind the Ball