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Your Questions Answered #1 - Golf Rules Explained  

Carl from Instagram - Is the ball considered to be on the green when almost half of the ball is on the green but not touching the green?  

Andresd11 from YouTube - Now on this vid there are two clubs and on the one you just replied said one club length. So is it one or two?  

Lauren from Email - Do you have to write your scores down on a scorecard in match play and hand it into the Committee?  

Kerry from Facebook - A player makes a stroke and out flies two golf balls, is there a penalty for hitting a wrong ball?  

Ani from Ghana on Facebook - I was  99% virtually certain that I hit my ball out of bounds, so I hit another ball off the tee, but announced that it is a provisional ball before I hit it. I walked down to to the fairway, and find my original ball. A group on another hole then tell me that they saw a security guard throw the ball back in bounds. This security guard knows nothing about golf. I continued by playing both my original ball and my provisional ball, but what is the ruling?  

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Stuart McPhee joins us again after spending the last two weeks deeply involved in the Rules of Golf.

His first professional tournament - the Vic PGA is now done, after two days there, with the Port Phillip Open (an amateur event) mixed in amongst it.

Then Stu joined the team in Warragul for the Gippsland Super 6, for two days of roving the fairways (and rough), to assist in pace of play and giving players rulings.

So tune in to hear Stuart's take on refereeing and the differences between the professional and amateur game.

Welcome

Onto our guest: Stuart McPhee

Let’s start at the start:

Trader by day, and desciple of golf Rules by night.

Twice a week

Dabble with internet Rules education and assisting Blakey in creating Rules videos

Sat through a Level 2 Rules course that Blakey presented and have been asking him questions ever since.

What got you into golf, and where did your fascination with the Rules start?

Started with playing competitions and having to know everything there was to know, because I was being given the wrong information by multiple people.

Okay, now the tough questions:

Why are the Rules of Golf important?

The benchmark of how the game is to be played, and how best to measure how you played against previous scores and other players scores.

What is your least favourite Rule?

Advice.

I thank you very much for your time, and would you like to read out Episode 52 GRQOTW:

Marcela plays her ball from a bunker and her ball comes to rest 5cm from the hole. While Marcela is raking the bunker, and so others can putt out, Fraser asks Marcela if he can mark her ball and then does so. After all others have holed out, Fraser replaces Marcela's ball on its original spot and Marcela holes out. On the next tee Marcela realises that the ball she picked out of the hole was not her ball. Fraser had actually replaced his own ball on the green after having holed out, and Marcela hit the ball Fraser had replaced on the original spot.

Episode 51 - Rules Stories with Mr Duffy

In this episode we hear from former USGA Senior Amateur committee member - Jerry Duffy, on how he got into golf, into the Rules of Golf, and his refereeing experiences.

Jerry has some great stories about a player's two options, and neither included free relief.

We hope you enjoy this episode.

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Welcome to Marcela, from Girlfriends Guide to Golf. 

Marcela is based shall, we say in California? We shall get to that.  

Now before we get into the podcast, and hear more about you, let’s get the answer to Ep49 GRQOTW, which was from Gerry Bower, our previous guest.  

Episode 49 GRQOTW: Fraz, Blakey and Rosco are playing the tough 17th hole with a hill on the right that is General Area and below the hill is a small Penalty area that isn’t seen from the tee.   Rosco hits his tee shot down the middle and both Fraz and Blakey pushed their tee shots to the right.   They go down and look around the area and Blakey finds his ball in the penalty area but Fraz can’t find his so says “it must be in the penalty area”.  They both take penalty area relief but Blakey and Rosco aren’t happy with Fraz also dropping as he didn’t find his ball.  They finish the round and Blakey asks for a referee.  How would you rule? 

As Rossco did not have known or virtual certainty that his ball had gone into the penalty area, he was not permitted to take the lateral relief or back-on-the-line as he did.  

Welcome Marcela, have you had a good start to your day?  

Let’s start at the start: 

Explain to the listeners who you are,  

How often you actually play golf 

what you do in the golf world, and 

Most importantly how did you and I become friends.  

So what is Girlfriends Guide to Golf?  

What got you into golf, and where did your fascination with the Rules start?  

Okay, now the tough questions: 

Why are the Rules of Golf important?  

What development in the Rules do you see, and is this good for the game?  

What is your least favourite Rule?  

And if it is different, which is the first Rule you would like to see changed come 2023?  

I thank you very much for your time, and would you like to read out Episode 50 GRQOTW: 

Amy and Becky are partners in a four mall match against  Charlene and Debbie. Charlene’s ball is at rest on the green, just past the hole.  Her partner Debbie is about to chip onto the green from the fringe.   Amy asks Charlene to mark her ball on the green.  Charlene refuses to mark and lift her ball. Debbie chips up and her ball hits Charlene’s ball at rest, causing it to roll a few inches further away.   What’s the ruling?  And how would it differ if this were a stroke play event?

Take the Bower Back - Episode 49

I would like to welcome another Rules referee to this week’s podcast, and just like last week with Fraser Nicol, this week’s guest is all the way from the Northern Hemisphere.

Mr Gerry Bower, from Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, not Quebec as Fraser stated. A passionate Rules comrade, and official in many regional amateur and professional tournaments.

Welcome Gerry.

Now before we get into the podcast, and hear more about you, let’s get the answer to Ep48 GRQOTW out of the way.

Episode 48 GRQOTW: Fraz & Blakey are playing against each other in match play. Fraz steps up on the 18th tee all pumped, as he's won the last four holes to get back to all square, and in his excitement plays from the wrong teeing area. His ball goes dangerously close to out of bounds, so Blakey does not recall the stroke. Fraz now realises he has played from the wrong teeing area and declares he will play a provisional ball.

How should Fraz proceed?

Rule 14.6b, Fraz may play a provisional ball, but must drop it within a club-length, no nearer the hole than where the original ball was played from. He is not permitted to tee it up because he didn't originally play from within the teeing area

So Gerry, welcome again, what is the time in Canada right now, and have you had a coffee?

Let’s start at the start:

You run an online Rules meeting/workshop during winter? Who usually joins you and how did you get that started?

Is it invite only?

What are the tournaments that you mainly referee and how did you get yourself into that?

Okay, now the tough questions:

Why are the Rules of Golf important?

What development in the Rules do you see, and is this good for the game?

What is your least favourite Rule?

And if it is different, which is the first Rule you would like to see changed come 2023?

I thank you very much for your time, and would you like to read out Episode 49 GRQOTW:

Fraz, Blakey and Rosco are playing the tough 17th hole with a hill on the right that is General Area and below the hill is a small Penalty area that isn’t seen from the tee.   Rosco hits his tee shot down the middle and both Fraz and Blakey pushed their tee shots to the right.   They go down and look around the area and Blakey finds his ball in the penalty area but Fraz can’t find his so says “it must be in the penalty area”.  They both take penalty area relief but Blakey and Rosco aren’t happy with Fraz also dropping as he didn’t find his ball.  They finish the round and Blakey asks for a referee.  How would you rule?

Episode 48 - If I had a Nicol for every time I heard that one…  

Welcome Fraser Nicol to the GRQ Podcast, Episode 48. Hope you are well.  

Firstly, we need to get the answer to Episode 47 GRQOTW out of the way: 

Stuart and Ray are playing Big P and Gerry in a handicapped four-ball match at Wombat Hills GC. On the second hole of the day, Ray steps on his ball in the middle of the fairway when he was talking excitedly to Stuart about how he was getting 15 shots for the match. Ray replaced his ball where he thought he had moved it from, whilst Stuart and Big P were watching. Although Ray thought he was exempt from penalty under Rule 7.4, Stuart knew this was a breach of Rule 9.4, but said nothing. Big P assumed their was no penalty either. Ray then played an amazing shot which resulted in a conceded putt and what Big P and Gerry thought was a birdie, which they could not beat. On the next teeing area, Stuart played from outside the teeing area, which Gerry pointed out and asked Stuart to cancel the stroke and replay. Big P then joked to Gerry about the side making a blunder on the last hole when Ray stood on his ball in the middle of the fairway. 

Was there any course of action that Gerry could take for Ray’s blunder on the second hole? 

Unfortunately, Gerry and Big P are unable to make a claim for the 2nd hole, because Big P knew of the incident when it happened. The side’s ability to make a claim needed to be before anyone of the group teed off on the 3rd hole. Although Stuart’s shot has been recalled by the opponents and so Stuart’s first shot does not count, it still counts as starting play of the 3rd hole - Rule 6.1a.  

Let’s start at the start: 

Explain to the listeners who you are,  

where in the world you are,  

what you do, and 

Most importantly how did you and I become friends, because I believe that says a lot about the community you have built and are building.  

Okay, now the tough questions: Why are the Rules of Golf important?  

What development in the Rules do you see, and is this good for the game?  

What is your least favourite Rule?  

And if it is different, which is the first Rule you would like to see changed come 2023? 

Finally, what does it feel like to be a social media influencer in the Rules of Golf?  

I thank you very much for your time, and would you like to read out Episode 48 GRQOTW: Fraz & Blakey are playing against each other in match play. Fraz steps up on the 18th tee all pumped, as he's won the last four holes to get back to all square, and in his excitement plays from the wrong teeing area. His ball goes dangerously close to out of bounds, so Blakey does not recall the stroke. Fraz now realises he has played from the wrong teeing area and declares he will play a provisional ball.  

How should Fraz proceed?

Samuel Ryder Cup - Episode 47  

Now I didn’t get to say the GRQOTW 46 live on air after last week’s tech debacle, that is an tech IVOR, but here it is: 

Between play of holes 9 and 10, Ross took Big P’s putter and hit 3 putts on the practice putting green whilst waiting for the fairway on the 10th to clear so they could tee off. Does Ross incur any penalties for this action? 

Now it does sound quite strange, Ross has borrowed a putter during a round and had a practice putt, which wasn’t on the green of the whole he had just finished on. But the answer which may surprise you is, no penalties to Ross in either match or stroke play. 

Why? Firstly, using someone else’s putter is only a breach if you do it to make a stroke during the play of a hole. As this was between two holes, there is no penalty. Secondly, you are permitted to practice putt or chip on or near the last green played, the next teeing area, and any practice green on the course, this practice must also be between the play of two holes. If you had read Interpretation 4.1b(2)/2 you would have nailed the answer. 

Now speaking of practicing, you will see this week’s tournament is the Ryder Cup, which is an amazing spectacle of team golf and one on one competition in match play. Practicing on the green after a hole has finished is permitted, unlike in most stroke play tournaments around the world. This restriction in stroke play isn’t the Rule but a Term of the Competition, in the effort to speed up pace of play.

Now speaking of the Ryder Cup, firstly let’s chat about the format, and then we will go through some of the more interesting scenarios over the years:

In 1989 Paul Azinger refused to let Seve Ballesteros replace a scuffed ball. Whether the ball was cut/cracked or only scuffed we will never know, but it was the hostility between the two that neither man would give an inch to the other in one of the fiercest rivalries in golf.  Then in 1991 they were to face off again, and this time Ballesteros accused Azinger of changing balls on different holes depending on how they wanted to play, i.e. soft compression balls on holes where the pin was situated at the front and hard compression balls where the pin location was at the back.

So although we wish for a clean and excellent match of character and golf skills in the cauldron that is the Ryder Cup, some of us do enjoy the theatre of a few Rules issues thrown in there.

Now GRQOTW47, is worthy of a match play question: 

Stuart and Ray are playing Big P and Gerry in a handicapped four-ball match at Wombat Hills GC. On the second hole of the day, Ray steps on his ball in the middle of the fairway when he was talking excitedly to Stuart about how he was getting 15 shots for the match. Ray replaced his ball where he thought he had moved it from, whilst Stuart and Big P were watching. Although Ray thought he was exempt from penalty under Rule 7.4, Stuart knew this was a breach of Rule 9.4, but said nothing. Big P assumed their was no penalty either. Ray then played an amazing shot which resulted in a conceded putt and what Big P and Gerry thought was a birdie, which they could not beat. On the next teeing area, Stuart played from outside the teeing area, which Gerry pointed out and asked Stuart to cancel the stroke and replay. Big P then joked to Gerry about the side making a blunder on the last hole when Ray stood on his ball in the middle of the fairway. Was there any course of action that Gerry could take for Ray’s blunder on the second hole?  

Remember without rules, there is chaos.

Separate or Related Acts - Episode 46

GRQOTW 45

ANSWER

Whilst the boundary of the GUR is straight down from the defined line or invisible line between the stakes, it also states that anything rooted in the GUR area is part of the GUR.

So in this case Fraser is entitled to free relief, and IF it was a No Play Zone, he must take free relief due to the interference. He would be breaching Rule 16.1f if he didn’t.

However, although tree roots maybe rooted in the area, as the boundary goes straight down from ground level, should these roots go under the line, they are effectively cut off from being part of the GUR.

I have had a couple of interesting questions come up lately, including from Steve Whiting, which was one of those premonition situations again.

Steve asked about a player who played onto an adjacent fairway, then played a wrong ball, and had to return to the area to find his own ball, with the 3 min search time already elapsed, this player believed that someone from another group had taken his ball. This was proved to be correct, but as the information was found out after the 3 minute search time, his ball should have been deemed lost. Unfortunately the story goes that the decision was made that the player could proceed under Rule 9.6, but still incurred the two stroke penalty in stroke play for hitting the wrong ball.

Steve asked this question prior to the Bryson Dechambeau disappearing ball incident. The big difference there is that the Committee knew/were virtually certain that the ball had been picked up by a spectator before the 3 minutes was up. So a huge difference, and I would say the player that Steve is speaking of, got away with one there.

Another incident that popped up in front of me was the difference between separate acts and related acts, and this is certainly one that gets my head spinning.

The situation was whether determining the yardage of your shot by using a distance measuring device that also has a slope function, playing your shot, and then going through the process again before another shot was a separate or related act.

It is an act that is similar, and on the same hole, but because of the intervening act - the stroke, then it is seen as a separate act, and the player incurs the general penalty for the first act, and then disqualification for the second.

A note there, there aren’t many occasions where you can get disqualified from a match, but that would be one of them.

Just quickly back to separate and related acts, what breaks up a related act is one of three actions:

I could make a whole episode on related acts vs separate acts, so maybe we delve into it a bit deeper soon.

Lastly, I wanted to speak about Rule 18.2/18.3 and 14.4/6

I’ve had the same question asked of me in recent weeks about dropping a ball into play and then the original ball being found, which ball is in play:

As soon as you dropped your ball (in the fairway/rough/penalty area/bunker) under Rule 18.2/14.6, that was the ball in play. So subsequently finding the original ball does not entitle you to continue with the original ball.

Between play of holes 9 and 10, Ross took Big P’s putter and hit 3 putts on the practice putting green whilst waiting for the fairway on the 10th to clear so they could tee off.

Does Ross incur any penalties for this action?

Firstly, the GRQOTW for week 44 

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GRQOTW 44 

The Answer is: 8

Stuart hit his tee shot, that is 1 He hit his second shot from the fairway, that is 2. He couldn’t find his second, so had to go back to where he played his stroke from in the fairway and drop a ball for a penalty of 1, that is 3. He placed it instead of dropping it, so effectively he has breached Rule 14.3b(3) and incurs a general penalty, we are up to 5. He then has a further 3 shots, so total 8.  

Bryson’s scenario at the Tour Championship. He hit his ball well left off the 18th during round 3, even left of the 9th hole, which I thought was about 70 yards, but someone on YouTube thought it was more like 200 yards. 

He wasn’t able to find it within the 3 minute search time, but after this had elapsed, the Committee were able to get a message out to him through their referee on hand that video coverage had picked up that a spectator had moved the ball, hence why it couldn’t be found. They applied the exception to Rule 18.2b and allowed Bryson to replace a ball on the estimated spot where it had been moved from for no penalty under Rule 9.6. Bryson went on to hit the green in two, one of only a handful of people to have done that all week, and two putt for a birdie.

On the saturday afternoon during the four-ball competition, Nelly Korda attempted an eagle putt, which sat on the edge of the hole. The referee thought it was overhanging, and as Madelene Sagstrom picked it up before the permitted time that Nelly was entitled to wait and see if her ball would fall in, Nelly was given the putt as holed, her eagle counted and the US won the hole. So let’s unpack this: Rule 13.3 is very clear about what the player is entitled to when their ball is overhanging the hole. Even in match play they are permitted the reasonable time it takes to get to the hole, including Nelly falling to her knees and then get back up and starting her journey, and then from there she would be able to wait ten seconds beside the hole to see if the ball will fall. Sagstrom took away this right by conceding the putt and picking up her opponent’s ball, and throwing it to her. So in that instance, there is no penalty applied, but the ball is considered holed. As that was the lowest score on the hole, the US won. The real answer all comes down to whether the ball was actually over hanging the hole. The referee thought it was, and the tv referee  (who I am led to believe was John Paramor) believed that too. So there was no other ruling that could be applied. The question was asked, well did Nelly and Team USA have to make a claim? Well no they didn’t but that wouldn’t have mattered. Because the referee was an allocated referee, it is up to the referee to decide what the correct outcome is. This is different when it is a roving referee, who should not get involved unless they have been asked by one of the players, or they see a situation under Rules 1.2, 1.3, 5.3, 5.6a, and 5.6b. So the referee had to rule as it was seen or reported to her. If she had missed it, then that’s good/bad fortune for someone.

Fraser has interference with the branches of a tree that are outside of a ground under repair area. This ground under repair area is defined by a white line. However, the tree is rooted in the ground under repair area. So the branches overhang outside the GUR, and fraser’s swing is hitting them, but none of the branches that interfere with his swing are inside the GUR area, but the tree is rooted inside the GUR area, is Fraser entitled to free relief?