The most commonly misunderstood rules
HAL LENOBEL
Contributing Columnist
golf@lbknews.com
There are 34 official USGA Rules, but attached to them are thousands of decisions, definitions, notes, exceptions and appendixes. Even the best players struggle to understand them, hence it isn’t surprising that recreational golfers have misconceptions that are so entrenched you could swear they are true. As a consequence, I thought it might be a good idea to list some of the most commonly misunderstood Rules of Golf.
1. A player is permitted to remove stones of any size from bunkers.
Leave all stones unturned, no matter how small. Stones are, by definition, loose impediments and according to Rule 13-4, when a player’s ball is in a hazard, a stone lying in or touching the hazard may not be touched or moved. A few years ago the USGA appended the Rule to allow courses to add a local rule that says golfers can remove bigger rocks that could cause injury if a player were to strike one with his club (Appendix 1, Part B,4). Many golfers take this as carte blanche to perform spring-cleaning every time they step into a bunker. However, remember, it is only a local rule and many courses still don’t use it. Bear in mind pebbles have to remain in the bunker.
2. A golfer can trample grass, break tree branches and bend weeds when setting up to hit his ball, as long as the ball doesn’t move.
Tall grass, bushes and trees are on the course because they are part of the design. Rule 13-2 reads: “A player must not improve or allow to be improved the position or lie of his ball, the area of his intended stance or swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or the area in which he is to drop or place a ball, by moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including removable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds).” The answer: if it is growing, be careful. You are entitled to take a stance, but do not bend any living thing beyond what is necessary to set up at the ball and make a stroke. If, during a practice swing, you break a branch or a bunch of leaves are knocked off, add two strokes to your score.
3. Placing or dropping clubs in a bunker prior to making your stroke from the hazard is against the rules.
You may place your entire bag in the bunker if you want, as long as you don’t ground your club, test the conditions of the hazard or improve your lie (Rule 13-4, exception 1). Testing conditions would consist of using a club to determine the texture, dampness or weight of the sand. The exception also states: “there is no penalty if the player (a) touches the ground in any hazard…as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any rule or (b) places his clubs in a hazard.”
4. A player is entitled to relief without penalty from a sprinkler head near the putting green if it interferes with the line of play.
You may take relief from a sprinkler head only if it interferes with your stroke or stance. According to Rule 24-2a: “Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction or when the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing…otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.” So just because you are putting from the fringe and the sprinkler head is on your line, you do not get a free drop.
5. A player can lift his ball anywhere on the course to identify it.
There is a one-stroke penalty for moving a ball at rest without announcing and marking it, no matter where on the course it is. Rule 18-2b states: “if the player, his partner or either of their caddies lifts or moves the ball, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule, or equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.” That goes for the fairway, the rough and the putting green. Telling your playing partners, “Let me just check to see if this one is mine,” won’t let you dodge a penalty. Stick your tee in the ground behind the ball, lift the ball and identify it as yours, then place it back into its original position.
Hal Lenobel was a member of the United States Golf Association Rules and Tournament Committee for 25 years. He officiated at more than 150 tournaments during his tenure.
