Masters Week 2021   

GRQotW35 - Steve and Mary are partners in a foursome. Steve tees his ball up within the Red teeing area and hits his ball towards the boundary fence where it may have come to rest inside or outside the fence. Mary, who has been playing from the White tees all day, thinks they should play a provisional. Who must now hit the provisional ball and where must it be hit from?   

Mary is required to hit the provisional ball if they choose to play one, and this would be from where the previous stroke was made. In this case, Steve played from the Red teeing area. Rule 18.3 and 22.3   

Lena Selberg let me know that she has passed her Level 1 Rules of Golf through the Swedish Golf Federation, so shout out to all the swedes who listen to the podcast, and well done Lena. 

Lena also had a follow-up question to the GRQotW35: What if this occurred in a greensome? 

Next we have Charlie Tebbs - Four quick questions

1. Player accidentally causes their ball that is at rest in the general area e.g. by accidentally knocking it with their club (but not while taking practice strokes).     

1. If the player's ball is in the general area, a penalty area, or a bunker, then accidentally causing their ball to move is a penalty of one and the ball must be replaced. Exceptions:  Player allowed to lift or move ball (e.g. replacing ball) During a search When applying a Rule (e.g. lifting ball to take an unplayable)   

2. Player accidentally moves their ball by hitting it during their practice swings when in the general area.    

2. This is the same answer as 1. A practice swing doesn't count as a stroke, so the player has accidentally caused their ball to move, they incur a one stroke penalty, and the ball must be replaced.   

3. Player accidentally causes their ball to move as they start their backswing, continues the stroke and hits the moving ball.    

3. It depends where the ball was at rest as to what the answer is: If the ball was at rest in the teeing area, then there is no penalty for causing it to move, and no penalty for hitting a moving ball. At rest in the general area, then there is no penalty for hitting a moving ball, but there would be a penalty IF it was determined that the cause of the ball moving was by the player. On the green, if the movement was accidental, no penalty, and no penalty for hitting a moving ball.   

4. If a ball is at rest in the general area, but part of the ball is above the line defining the edge of a penalty area.   

4. Yes, the ball is in the penalty area. The boundary of a penalty area is the outside edge, and goes both straight up, and straight down.  When taking a drop, what is the relief area? Don’t need to stand in or outside to drop the ball Tees and clubs that are still on the ground marking the area are considered equipment. Did it come to rest within the relief area? Yes, ball is back in play. Did it roll outside, then re-drop the ball.  

Background bingo 

Rossco - Lahinch  Blakey - Paraparaumu Beach  

GRQotW36 

Fraz has Webbo caddying for him during the first round of the club championships. On the 9th tee, after Fraz has teed off, Webbo runs off to talk to a man about a dog. Fraz doesn’t want to carry his heavy golf bag (many golf balls weighing it down), so he gets Steve to carry his bag to where his ball is at rest. Steve tells Fraz the distance and that he should hit a 7 iron with a wee bit of a draw. After Fraz hits his second shot, Webbo reappears and takes over caddying duties. Steve continues to walk beside Fraz and Webbo and holds Fraser’s jacket and umbrella for the rest of the round. Does Fraz incur any penalties?