64°F
 San Diego
[Change Community]
Sat 66/61
Sun 67/63
Get 5 Day Forecast | Current Local Time: 2:06am
Member:  Guest [Sign In]
Community:  San Diego [Change]
Language:  English [Change]
Sign Up | Customer Support | Contact Us
Ask The Rules Official
From Ed Gowan
Executive Director of the Arizona Golf Association
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.
Your Rules Questions:
 1  2  3  4  Next ›  » 
If a course has small bushes as 150 yard markers, is this considered an immovable obstruction and relief provided for any balls which are either in the bush or where the bush impedes the swing Thanks in advance for response
Answer: Bushes growing on the course are natural objects, and no relief is permitted no matter what the reason or location on the course.
On a drive, ball comes to rest next to a retaining wall. Is there relieve from this man made object or does it need to be determined if this is "on the course?" No OB markers just retaining wall separating golf course from private property.
Answer: The answer is not so simple, though one should presume it's a boundary wall and not take relief. It's the club's responsibility to define its boundaries and publish local rules. When it does not, it's difficult to give a rules opinion, as there is no basis. I can only say that objects defining property lines are almost always declared boundaries when proper rules are written.
OK, this probably seems pretty basic, but I am a pretty new golfer as far as "official rules" go, and have had to bend a few just to keep up play. Now, trying to play by all of the rules, no matter the advantage or penalty. So... My Father-in Law (pretty good golfer for 75+ years) hits an uncharacteristic tee shot straight up in the air and what appears to be OB 20 yards past the box. Hits a "provisional" that also goes straight up and left and bounces off the roof of a house. Pissed off, he says lets go. We find his 1st ball laying on the lawn in the guys back yard. He takes a drop and plays the hole. Question: what was he hitting on the dropped ball, 3 or 6? Since he found his 1st ball, does the provisional count? What about the rule about having to put a ball in play? Just trying to learn and have fun at the same time!
Answer: As I understand the situation, your Father-in-Law "took a drop" with a ball that was out of bounds. If it WAS out of bounds, he played a wrong ball (Rule 15), and had no score for the hole. In match play, as soon as he hit the wrong ball, he lost the hole. If the provisional that hit the house remained out of bounds, his only legitimate play was to put a third ball into play from the tee, playing 5. Otherwise, there is no score for the hole.
When I arrived at my drive the ball rested in a ball sized depression looking like it was caused when it landed. Half of the ball was above the grass. Could I have picked it up and dropped it and called it a ball in a pitch mark? Thanks. (I played it as it was and topped the shot).
Answer: It’s a question of fact whether the ball is in its own pitchmark. There would have to be some evidence that was the case. The player also may lift the ball to determine if it has broken the ground (depressions in grass alone would not qualify), provided he announces his intent and gives his opponent or fellow competitor an opportunity to observe. The ball may not be cleaned in the process.
if your ball is directly behind a large sprinkler controller that impedes with your ball flight and sight line do you get relief? Or a man made structure like a enclosure for a power tranformer?
Answer: Any permanent obstruction must interfere with the ball, stance or area of intended swing in order for a player to have relief. There is no relief under the rules for line-of-sight except for temporary obstructions.
 1  2  3  4  Next ›  » 
Got a rules question? Send it to the Ask The Rules Official!
 Help  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms & Conditions  |  Cancel Tee Time © 1999-2010 GolfSwitch. All Rights Reserved.