Tee Time mailbag questions answered
HAL LENOBEL
Contributing Columnist
golf@lbknews.com
Reader’s questions have been accumulating on my desk, and I will take this opportunity to answer a few.
Q. A and B are partners in a better-ball stroke play tournament. On the third hole, A discovers that he has 15 clubs in his bag. Since his partner, B, had the low scores on the first two holes and A’s scores did not count, is there any penalty?
A. There is a penalty. In accordance with Rule 31-3, the penalty of one of the partners carrying extra clubs is incurred by “the side.” As for the breach of Rule 4-4, the team is therefore penalized and two strokes must be added to each of the first two holes.
Q. In the same circumstance as above, in four-ball match play, would the “side” be penalized for one of the partners carrying extra clubs, assuming A & B won the first two holes?
A. The “side” once again would be penalized. In other words, A & B would go from two up, to even, and the player must immediately rid himself of the extra clubs.
Q. Adele and Grace were playing in a tournament. It had rained heavily for two days before the day they played. Adele hit her second shot into water, however her ball though submerged at the water’s edge, was in an area that was outside the red stakes that defined the margin of the hazard. Was Adele entitled to relief without penalty?
A. Since Adele’s ball was outside the margin of the hazard, although under water, she was entitled to free relief from casual water. Therefore, she was permitted to drop her ball within one club length of her nearest point of relief from the casual water, no nearer the hole.
Q. A player, while attending the stick, pulls out the stick and with it removes the hole liner just as a competitor’s putted ball reaches the hole and strikes the hole liner being removed. Does the putt count as being holed?
A. In accordance with Decision 17/8, if the hole liner was in motion as the ball struck it, the stroke would be canceled and must be replayed. If the putt had been holed after the flagstick was pulled, even with the liner attached, the stroke would count and there isn’t any penalty, since “a hole need not contain a liner.”
Q. What happens if a putt is made from off the green and gets wedged between the unattended flagstick and the side of the hole?
A. The putt is not considered holed unless the entire ball rests below the lip of the hole. However, the player who putted has the opportunity of removing the flagstick and then should the ball fall into the hole, he would have been deemed to hole out on his previous stroke. On the other hand, if the ball pops out of the hole when removing the stick, the player would have to place the ball on the lip of the hole and knock it in, for another stroke.
Q. Can you always clean your ball when the Rules permit the ball to be lifted?
A. No. There are three occasions when you are permitted to lift a ball, but are not permitted to clean it (Rule 21-c):
a. When determining if a ball is fit for play.
b. For identification.
c. If the ball interferes with or assists play of another competitor.
Q. After taking relief from a cart path, can you play your next shot even though one foot is still on the cart path when you assume your stance?
A. No. You must take total relief, which means neither foot may be on the cart path when taking your stance.
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Sam Snead: “No matter what happens, never give up on a hole. When you give up on a hole after a bad beginning you undermine your whole game, because to quit between tee and green is more habit-forming than drinking a highball before breakfast.”
