| |
|
[Handicap Chairman’s note:
the question below was submitted by a British
visitor to the BGC web site.]
Dear Rules Chairman:
I have two rule queries for you please.
The first regards getting relief from staked trees. Do the rules say
the
stake must be attached to the tree in order to get relief of is the mere
presence of a stake near the tree sufficient?
The second regards lateral water hazards. If a player hits his ball
directly into the lateral water hazard from the tee, can a player come out
sideways or must he play from the route of the ball flight?
Thanks and good golfing,
Alan Dransfield
United Kingdom
* * * * * *
Alan,
First of all, it’s really cool the way you say “queries” instead of
“questions” -- so very British and proper. And let me say one more
thing
before I answer your “query.” We here are at the BGC are happy to
answer questions from our British friends, but if your French neighbors
start e-mailing us, don't expect that we'll be responding.
With regard to your first question, the USGA rules of golf (or, in your
case, the Royal & Ancient rules) do not allow relief from staked trees.
However, almost all golf courses have adopted this as a local rule in order
to protect young saplings. Since the intent of such a local rule is to
protect the young trees, if a tree has become inadvertently untied from its
stake, I believe the correct interpretation is to take relief. If you
are in competition I would ask for a ruling before taking relief.
With regard to your second
question about line of flight into a water
hazard, this is a really important rule for all BGC members to understand,
since so many of us find the water. When you hit into a lateral water
hazard (marked by red stakes), you basically have four options:
(1) If you can play your ball from inside the hazard, you may do so with no
penalty.
(2) You can play the ball from
where you originally hit it (in your example, the tee box) and take a one
stroke penalty.
(3) You can play the ball two club lengths from where the ball entered the
water hazard, but no closer to the hole, and take a one stroke penalty.
(4) You can play the ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at
which the original ball last crossed the water hazard directly between the
hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far
behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped. Take a one stroke penalty.
To understand this fourth
option, if the later hazard is a creek running
along the right side of the fairway, you have to cross to the far side of
the creek and line up the flagstick with the point where your ball crossed
the water and then play the ball anywhere along the line going back.
This
option, in reality, is often impractical.
In the vast majority of playing situations, the third option is preferred.
It is a common misconception that
the rules allow you to play your ball
anywhere along the line from where you hit to where it entered the lateral
water hazard. This is NOT an option.
As always, in BGC competition, if you are unsure of your options or where
to drop, seek clarification from a knowledgeable playing partner.
Hope this helps,
Darin Miller
Bro Rules Chairman* * * * * * *
Dear Rules Chairman:
I would like two clarifications. First, I hit my ball into a hazard
(lateral), that has sparse but long weeds/grass and I address my ball
to hit it out of the hazard, am I allowed to touch any of the growth
in the hazard with my club prior to beginning my swing?
Second, if I am playing in a tournament and one person from my
foursome yells in the middle of my swing, which startles everyone in
the group and affects my shot, do I get relief?
Thanks,
Hank Bryan
2003 and 2004 Des(s)ert Classic Champion
* * * * * * * * *
Dear Hank:
Hitting it into hazards is a BGC tradition Hank, so this is an important
rule to know. My first advice, naturally, is to keep it out of the hazard.
If you can't do that, it's OK to brush against the sparse grass/weeds or
even a branch of a tree or bush during your swing, butyou cannot ground your
club or break a branch or weed/grass blade to test your swing.
To answer your second question about etiquette: If a player consistently
disregards etiquette guidelines during a round or over a period of time to
the detriment of others, it is recommended that the Tournament Committee
consider taking appropriate disciplinary action against the offending
player. Such action may, for example, include prohibiting play for a limited
time on the course or in a certain number of competitions. This is
considered to be justifiable in terms of protecting the interest of the
majority of golfers who whish to play in accordance with etiquette
guidelines.
In the case of a serious breach of eiquette, the Committee may disqualify a
player under Rule 33-7.
Basically tell Ish to be quiet. But otherwise you're screwed.
Darin Miller
BGC Rules Chairman
* * * * * * * * *
Dear Rules Chairman:
Can you help with the following situation? In the Orange County Open
I smoked a drive down the middle of the fairway only to have my ball come to
rest in a deep divot. One of my playing partners (who will remain nameless
since he is the President of the BGC) was walking across the fairway, not
looking where he was going and accidentally kicked my ball out of the divot.
What is the proper
ruling? Was I required to place the ball back in the divot?
Thank you,
Pops Frohoff
* * * * * * * * *
Dear Pops,
I understand Houndy doesn't see many fairways, so as he was looking for his
third shot in the rough he passed by your drive in the fairway and
accidentally moved your ball. Rule 18-4 states that if a
fellow competitor, his caddie or his equipment moves your ball, touches it
or causes it to move, there is no penalty. If the ball is moved it must be
replaced to the original spot. In this case the divot.
Darin Miller
BGC Rules Chairman
* * * * * * * * *
Dear BGC Rules Chairman:
I need a rule clarification on a staked tree. The situation is as follows:
there is a staked tree between my ball and the green. When testing to
see if the tree inhibits your swing, i.e. follow through, do you test with
the club you intend for the shot? If I use a driver to test for the
obstruction, can I then hit a 3 wood? And to muddy the waters, who's to say
after you get relief and make your drop, the new lie dictates an entirely
different club selection then initially intended? Any feedback would be
appreciated
Sincerely,
Kevin Nolan
* * * * * * * * * * *
Dear Kevin:
First of all let me apologize for how long it has taken me to answer your
question. Under rule 24-2 a player may seek relief from a staked tree if it
interferes with that player's swing or stance. If by taking the free drop
the player now has a different line or angle to the pin they can play that
new line or angle thru the green. So, Kevin if a player was going hit a
driver to go low thru the trees and their follow thru touches a branch of
the staked tree, that player may take relief, with no penalty. After taking
relief that player now has a shot over the trees, they may play that shot
and may use any club that they desire. Let me point out that a player may
not take relief if that player was obtaining it thru an unnecessarily
abnormal stance, swing or line of play. Since most of the BGC members have
abnormal swings you may have a harder time.
I hope this answers your
question.
Darin Miller
BGC Rules Chairman
Have a rules question? E-mail the Rules Chairman at rules@brogolfclub.com
|
|
|
|
