Golf Rules Online

No Particular Part

2012 Significant Rules Amendments

Previously this was the taking of one’s stance when in a hazard, and for elsewhere...., also grounding the club.

Now stance is not relevant...., and only the grounding of one’s club, either in front of, or at the back of the ball, constitutes “addressing the ball”. Accordingly, a ball in a hazard, now, never becomes “addressed”.

All who firstly place their putter in front of the ball, will now be in the addressed position from that point.

Previously an automatic penalty.... now no penalty when it is at least “virtually certain” that movement was not caused by the player.

Previously, after start time meant disqualification. Now within 5 minutes, is a 2 stroke penalty, and 5 minutes onwards...... disqualification.

No longer lost through prizes won in hole in one competitions, during a round of golf.

Previously raking or probing in sand, that resulted in the ball moving, incurred no penalty if the ball was in a hazard. This relief has been extended to all parts of the course.

Previously the ball could be searched for, with impunity. Not now, for if ball moves..... penalty 1 stroke.

If the stroke was played from on the green, the stroke is replayed without penalty, as was previously the case.

If played from elsewhere, the place where it is estimated the ball would have come to rest, must be determined, and the ball dropped, if that position is through the green or in a hazard (or placed, if on the green).

If out of bounds, a normal out of bounds option must be selected.

Previously only permitted after stroke played. Now permitted before, provided not done to gain an advantage.

Dropping A Ball (relief situations)

1. comes to rest more than 2 club lengths from where dropped
2. comes to rest nearer the hole than the point of relief or problem point
3. rolls back inside the area from which relief is being taken (other than in the case of “unplayable ball” drops where this misfortune must be accepted)
4. rolls onto a green or into or out of a hazard
5. rolls out of bounds
6. strikes a player or players’ equipment
7. was incorrectly dropped or dropped in a wrong place

Etiquette

Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Don’t disturb or distract other players or in any way interfere with their right to play without harassment or intimidation.

Be safety concious at all times; careful to never endanger others.

Be disciplined, courteous and sportsmanlike; not given to club throwing or other bad mannered or aggressive behaviour.

Be considerate of those following by allowing others to play through if your group is unable to keep up with those ahead.

Take care of the course, minimising damage wherever possible. Repair divot holes you have made, pitch marks on greens and on completion of any hole any damage caused by golf shoes. Bunkers should be smoothed or raked after exiting. Care should be taken not to damage putting greens or putting green holes. Balls should not be removed fom holes with club heads.

Penalty for breach of acceptable etiquette standards.

The committee may:

• for consistent disregard during a round or over a period of time, take disciplinary action including prohibiting an offender from course or competition play for a penalty period.
• for a serious breach, disqualify an offender.

Loose Impediments

Loose impediments are natural objects that are not fixed and not growing.

They include:

• dung
• grass clippings (not piled for removal), leaves & branches
• dead birds & animals
• rocks and stones
• worms and insects (and their mounds)

Loose impediments can be removed without penalty (excepting from hazards)

Loose impediments must be “loose” not solidly embedded and not adhering to the ball. Rocks can be loose impediments and help to remove them is permitted if done without undue delay. Leaves etc. stuck to a ball can only be removed on the green or when cleaning the ball in relief situations.

Sand and soil are loose impediments only on the putting green.

Snow and natural ice are both loose impediments and casual water at the players option.

Frost and dew are not loose impediments and they provide no relief.

If, through the green, a ball rolls as a result of removing a loose impediment a 1 stroke penalty results and the ball must be replaced. On the green - no penalty.

Nearest Point of Relief

In “2 club length” relief situations ”nearest point of relief” is not a consideration, as measurement commences from the problem point, without reference to any nearest point of relief, and can be done with the club of choice; normally the driver.

For “one club length” relief situations, measurement does not commence at the problem point, but at the “nearest point of relief” from the problem point.

How should this position be determined?

• Take the stance, direction of play and the club that would have been used, if the problem area had not existed.
• Swing the club, and determine the nearest point, from where a ball could be struck without interference to swing or *stance by the problem area. That point must not be nearer the hole nor on a putting green or in a hazard... except when taking relief in a hazard.
• The point where the ball would lie in that swing, is the “nearest point of relief”, and the one club length measurement can be measured from that point with any club; usually the driver. It should be noted that we are not seeking the nearest point where an unrestricted stroke can be made.....only the point where the problem area does not interfere. That point may be in the middle of a bush or tree from which the 1 club length may still leave the player with little or no swing.

When taking relief from a staked tree the nearest point of relief will often bring the ball into proximity of another staked tree. The procedure cannot be abbreviated into finding nearest point of relief from the forest but must be done tree by tree. In some instances the nearest point of relief will be on an immovable obstruction such as a path. The ball must be dropped on the obstruction from which immovable obstruction relief can be then taken.

* When taking relief from a “wrong green”, stance is not relevant, only swing.

Obstructions - Movable

Movable obstructions are similar to loose impediments in that they are easily movable, the principal difference being that loose impediments are natural and movable obstructions artificial. Movable obstructions include:

• bottles and cans
• hoses
• ice (manufactured)
• planks
• * stakes - easily moved (internal only, not out of bounds)
• tools

* Unless declared immovable by local rule

Obstructions - Immovable

These are artificial obstructions not easily moved, such as:

• internal fencing, sheds
• roads and paths (containing artificial materials)
• sprinkler heads, taps (faucets)
• stakes not easily moved (internal only - not O.O.B.)

Ball in, on, or swing or normal stance interfered by.

Relief - Where a ball is in:

1. A water hazard - no free relief available.
2. Any other part of the course - free relief - excepting, that:

1. Where it is clearly unreasonable to play a stroke because of some other factor such as a tree or roots, or
2. The obstruction only interferes as a result of taking an abnormal stance, swing or direction of play, then . . . free relief is not available.

The “where is your ball” pages record the manner in which relief is to be taken.

On the green, relief is also available from an obstruction on the line of putt.

Stakes (other than o.o.b. stakes) can be movable or immovable depending on how easily removable. Many clubs declare stakes to be immovable by local rule.

Paths and tracks of natural materials (dirt/clay) are not obstructions and no relief is available.

When taking relief, stance must be clear of the obstruction.

When a ball is lost in an immovable obstruction (other than in a water hazard) no penalty results and normal relief applies - relief is from estimated last entry point.

No relief is available for “line of sight”. One club length from nearest point of physical relief is all that is available. Line of sight is only available where provided by local rule.

Golfs Penalties (Single Stroke & Stableford)

The penalty for infringements, where not otherwise stated in the rules, is “2 strokes.” The incidences where other penalties apply include:

1. Ball moved or caused to be moved by player
2. Ball strikes the player or his/her equipment
3. Casual water or immovable obstruction in bunker - dropping outside of bunker
4. Cleaning ball when not permitted
5. Double (or multiple) hit
6. Dropping ball - in incorrect manner (if not corrected)
7. Lifting ball without marking, or not giving marker or fellow competitor the opportunity to observe, or lifting when not necessary
8. Marked ball replaced by wrong person - if not corrected
9. Using a tee other than from teeing area
10. Putt drops after 10 seconds of overhanging hole
11. Replacing a moved ball when not entitled
12. Unplayable ball relief option
13. Water hazard relief option

1. Ball out of bounds
2. Lost ball

1. Agreeing to waive rules
2. Agreeing to play out of turn to secure an advantage
3. Ball played from wrong place - if significant advantage obtained and not corrected
4. Deliberately influencing position or movement of the ball or deliberately deflecting or stopping a ball
5. Failing to hole out
6. Having more than 1 caddie at any one time
7. If Committee so decides... For:
   1. agreeing with other competitors to not mark a ball that could assist another player if not marked.
   2. a serious breach of etiquette
   3. exerting influence on a ball where a significant advantage/disadvantage has resulted
8. Playing holes outside correct order
9. Practising on course on day of play prior to round - other than as permitted
10. Refusing to comply with a rule affecting another players rights
11. The tee
    • failing to arrive within 5 minutes of time appointed
    • deliberately moving tee markers
    • playing from outside teeing area (if not corrected)
12. Score card
    • failing to record handicap
    • recording higher than actual handicap
    • failing to record score
    • recording a lower than actual score for any hole
    • failing to sign card
    • failing to have marker sign card
13. Second ball - having played but not reported to committee
14. Unduly delaying or discontinuing play
15. Using non-approved artificial devices, non-conforming balls or equipment, or clubs with deliberately changed characteristics
16. Wrong ball played - failing to re-play with correct ball

Provisional Ball

When to play: A provisional ball may be played, if it is considered that the ball played may be out of bounds or may be lost outside of a water hazard.

When not to play: A provisional ball cannot be played if:

1. The ball played is definitely in a water hazard, or
2. The player has gone forward to search for the ball.

It is not possible to “go back” to play a provisional ball. Any ball played in such circumstances becomes the ball in play regardless of the status of the previous ball. The point at which the original ball becomes “out of play” is when a stroke is made at another ball or the five minute search time has elapsed.

If a provisional ball is played, and it is subsequently determined that the original ball was lost in a water hazard, there are no repercussions. The original ball is in play under the water hazard rules and the provisional ball is picked up without cost.

Where a provisional ball has been played, it may be hit as a provisional ball until the anticipated position of the original ball is reached. If the original ball is then found, it is the ball in play, whether desired or not, and the provisional ball ceases to exist (with no cost). If it is not found, the provisional ball is the ball in play. The penalty for the loss of the original ball, the stroke that caused it to be lost, and the stroke with the provisional ball result in the player recording 3 strokes, for a distance hoped for in 1 stroke.

When first playing a provisional ball, it is essential to advise ones marker that a provisional ball is to be played. Failure to do so results in the ball becoming the ball in play and the original ball being treated as lost.

The Golf Stroke

A forward movement of the club at the players own ball made with the intention of hitting and moving the ball; but not including any swing voluntarily aborted. The backswing is not part of a valid stroke. Any infringements incurred in the backswing such as moving loose impediments in hazards, result in a penalty - 2 strokes. Strokes made other than “as defined” are not counted. An unintentional hit such as during a practice swing (at a ball in play) is not a valid stroke, nor is a swipe in anger. In both cases the stroke is not counted, but a 1 stroke penalty is incurred and the ball is replaced.

The manner of striking the ball is also regulated. The ball must not be pushed or scooped and must be struck at with the head of the club (either front, back or side). The penalty for infringing the striking regulations is 2 strokes.

The Score Card

The player is responsible for the accuracy of the score recorded for each hole on any lodged card, and for ensuring that both the player and marker have signed the card.

Should a score for any hole be recorded as less than what was actually taken the player is disqualified. Should a score for any hole be recorded as more than what was taken the player is not disqualified but the higher score stands. Failure by the player to sign the card results in disqualification.

Errors of addition or in applying the handicap shown on the card do not result in penalty. Responsibility for such lies with the committee.

Unplayable Ball

A ball can be declared unplayable anywhere on the course excepting when in a water hazard - penalty one stroke.

To do so provides the following options:

1. drop within two club lengths of where ball rests (not nearer the hole). For relief from large trees or bush areas this may not provide adequate relief.
2. drop behind where the ball rests (no limit on distance) keeping that point between the drop point and the flag.
3. play from place of previous shot.

If option (1) is taken but the drop does not result in full relief, a free re-drop is not permitted. This is the case even should the ball return to its original unplayable position.

Same as above excepting under options (1) and (2), the ball must be dropped in the bunker.