Grab a pencil—it’s time for a golf quiz!

HAL LENOBEL
Contributing Columnist
golf@lbknews.com

The heat of summer provides me with an excellent opportunity to offer a golf quiz to my readers. The following 15 questions should present a means of determining how well you understand the Rules of the game and how you might be able to cope with unusual situations, which always seem to arise on the course during a round of play. Try not to peek at the answers that appear at the end of the column until you have responded to all of the questions. Here goes:

1. If a player’s ball lies in a bunker, he may not lift it to determine if it is unfit for play without penalty. True or false.

2. A stake, wall or fence defining out of bounds is not an obstruction. True or false.

3. If a dispute arises between the players in match play and a member of the Committee is not readily available, they may discontinue play until a member of the Committee is available. True or false.

4. A water hazard is any sea, lake, pond, river, ditch or other open water course whether or not containing water. True or false.

5. In stroke play, a player unwittingly carries a non-conforming club but does not use it. He discovers his mistake before completing his round. What is the ruling? (a) There is no penalty, (b) there is a two-stroke penalty or (c) he is disqualified.

6. In both match & stroke play, if the player accidentally touches his ball in play, he incurs a penalty stroke. True or false.

7. The Rules do not entitle a player to place his feet firmly in taking a stance. True or false.

8. All grass-covered ground within a bunker is part of the bunker. True or false.

9. Which does not result in the player incurring a penalty? (a) Swinging at and missing a wrong ball, (b) making a stroke at his ball and dislodging a hidden ball which lay underneath it or (c) making a stroke at a piece of an abandoned ball mistaking it for his ball.

10. Which is correct regarding a club that a player may use for measuring? (a) He may use a spectator’s club, (b) he may only use his own or his partner’s club or (c) he may only use a club he has selected for play during the stipulated round.

11. The honor is determined by gross scores when playing: (a) in a match play event on a handicap basis, (b) in a stroke play event on a handicap basis or (c) in all forms of competition.

12. In a match, B uses a wooden tee to mark the position of his ball. A’s ball is deflected by the tee. Which is correct: (a) Player A incurs a one-stroke penalty and must play the ball as it lies, (b) Player B incurs a one-stroke penalty and A must play his ball as it lies or (c) there is no penalty and A must play his ball as it lies?

13. Sand & loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green but not elsewhere. True or false.

14. A ball is deemed to have moved if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place. True or false.

15. A player can take a practice swing in a water hazard without grounding his club but may touch some long grass without incurring a penalty. True or false.

Answers:
1. False. Rule 5-3.

2. True. Definition of “Obstruction.”

3- False. Rule 2-5.

4. True. Definition of “Water Hazard.”

5. (c) Rule 4-1/1.

6. False. Rule 18-a.

7. False. Rule 13-3.

8- False. Definition of “Bunker.”

9. (b) Decision 15/2.

10. (c) Decision 20-1.

11. (b) Decision 10-2a/l.

12. (c) Rule 19-1 & Decision 20-1/17.

13. True. Definition of “Loose Impediments.”

14. True. Definition of “Move or Moved.”

15. True. Rule 13-4 & Decision 13-4/4.

How did you make out? Twelve or better correct is excellent. Ten correct is adequate. Eight correct is a barely passing grade. Less than eight correct needs further study.