Rules Official
Ed Gowan, Executive Director of the Arizona Golf Association, is a recognized professional with over 30 years of experience in the golf industry. Prior to joining the AGA, Ed was the Tournament Director (1981-1985) for the LPGA and has served two terms helping write the Rules as a consulting member of the USGA's Rules of Golf Committee.
My ball is in a bunker completely filled with water - do I get to drop outside the bunker?
| Answer: | "If your ball is in the bunker, you are entitled to ""casual water relief"" in the bunker without penalty at the point of maximum relief. Otherwise, the player can crop a ball behind the original location of the ball (or if lost, behind the point where it crossed into the casual water) outside the bunker with a penalty of one stroke. Once the player's ball is in the hazard, he cannot remove it from that hazard without penalty." |
Submitted by: Monice Ottiano 3/28/2008
"In stroke play, if another player steps in my putting line, is he/she penalized?"
| Answer: | "The answer depends on the intent of the other player. If it was purposeful (Rules Decision 1-2/1), at a minimum in stroke play it's a two stroke penalty, and in match play it's loss of hole; or, the Committee could disqualify the player. If it was accidental (Rules Decision 16-1a/13), there is no penalty. In both cases, the player is entitled to line he had before the incident, so he can repair it. If it can't be repaired, he can ask to have it declared ""ground under repair"" (or play a second ball and get a ruling later)." |
Submitted by: Mike Glitsos 3/28/2008
What is the penalty for playing the wrong ball?
| Answer: | "If a player plays a wrong ball, the penalty in stroke play is two strokes and in match play is loss of hole. Note that any two stroke in stroke play is loss of hole in match play. There aren't any two stroke penalties in match play, but all one stroke penalties apply in both forms." |
Submitted by: Doug Reichel 3/28/2008
What's the ruling if I accidentally hit the ball with a practice swing?
| Answer: | "A practice swing is not a stroke...the player must intend to hit the ball for it to count as a stroke (Definitions). In this case, the ball at rest is moved accidentally by the player. It's a one stroke penalty, and the ball must be replaced. If it's not practical to replace the ball, as if it was hit into a hazard, then the player can put another ball into play on the original spot." |
Submitted by: Mike Glitsos 3/28/2008
"What do red, yellow and white stakes or lines mean on a golf course?"
| Answer: | "Yellow stakes define water hazards (drop ball behind entry point or replay at a one stroke penalty), red define Lateral water hazards (two club length options for relief in addition to yellow), white is out of bounds. This is covered in the ""Definitions"" section of the Rules of Golf." |
Submitted by: Eric Manmano 3/28/2008