Another round of golf questions
HAL LENOBEL
Contributing Columnist
golf@lbknews.com
I’d like to share a few questions with you that have been sent in by readers. Please keep them coming—they provide fodder for these columns.
In a match, B uses a wooden tee to mark the position of his ball. A’s ball is deflected by the tee. Is there a penalty, and if so, who receives the penalty and how many strokes?
There is no penalty, and A must play his ball where it lies after striking the tee. Rule 19-1 and Decision 20-1/17. The tee is not “equipment.”
A player’s tee shot comes to rest in a wooded area, where a twig lies directly behind his ball. Not able to tell if the twig is loose or attached, he pulls on it and discovers it is attached. Is there a penalty?
There is no penalty provided the player had not detached the twig when he pulled on it and the twig is returned to its original position prior to the next stroke. Rule 13-2 & 23. Decision 13-2/26.
A player lifts his ball from a paved cart path and then finds that the entire area within a club length of his nearest point of relief is probably unplayable. Can the player replace his ball and then play it without penalty.
A. No. The player may replace his ball on the cart path with a one-stroke penalty. Rule 18-2a; Decisions 18-2a/12 and 18-2a/12.5.
A player plays a provisional ball with the same markings as his original ball. He finds both balls, one playable, one unplayable. What options does the player have?
He must select one of the balls, treating it as his provisional and abandon the other ball. The Decision, 25-2 and 27/11, is based on equity.
In individual stroke play, A, who had holed out, demonstrated to B, whose ball was just off the green, how he should play his chip shot. Is there a penalty for giving or taking advice in this case?
Based on Decision 8-1/14, B incurred no penalty, as he did not seek advice. A incurred a penalty of two strokes for giving advice to B. Since both competitors had not completed the hole, the penalty would be applied to the hole being played.
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Bob Hope once said, “I’d give up golf if I didn’t have so many sweaters.”
“The practice tee is the place where golfers go to convert a nasty hook into a wicked slice.”
-Henry Beard
“Golfers play golf to prove that they can mentally overcome the pressures that golf puts upon them. The fact that if they didn’t play golf at all they would not have to endure or overcome its pressures may not occur to them.”
-Peter Gammond
Said John to Frank after playing golf together: “Frank, I know 217 is a helluva lot for nine holes, but I also think your caddie left a great deal to be desired.”
Kate walked up to the golf pro. “I’ve been playing golf now for nearly a year. Can you give me some advice on how to lower my score?”
“Yeah. Just play the front nine.”
