It has been estimated that if golfers learned the “10 Golden Rules” they would be able to resolve 90% of the situations routinely encountered on the course. So, for this year’s New Year Teaser here are 10 questions on these “10 Golden Rules” in the hope that they might also highlight some common misconceptions.
The answers are at the end. Try not to look at them before you have answered all questions. New Rule Books are available in the Clubhouse to update us on all the new rule changes that are in effect from the 1st January 2016.
Play the ball as it lies. A player’s ball is at rest in a bunker. As they walk into the bunker a twig is blown from a tree and comes to rest over their ball. They may remove the twig without penalty. True or False?
Improving a lie or stance by bending or breaking anything growing or fixed. Prior to chipping to the hole a player may repair damage made by a ball to the fringe of the putting green that is two club-lengths in front of where their ball lies and on their line of play. True or False?
Loose Impediments Before dropping a ball under the Rules a player may sweep away twigs, leaves and loose soil with their hand to clear the area of drop. True or False?
Movable and Immovable Obstructions If a player is not able to move an obstruction on their own it is an immovable obstruction. True or False?
Abnormal Ground Conditions a player may take relief from footprints made by a burrowing animal in a bunker. True or False?
Touching the Ground in Hazards A player may not touch the sand on the back slope of a bunker during their backswing. True or False?
Relief from (Lateral) Water Hazards If you cannot find a ball that is known to have come to rest in a lateral water hazard there are options to drop a ball under penalty of one stroke on either side of the hazard. True or False?
Ball Lost or Out of Bounds A player finds their ball lying 6 inches beyond an out of bounds margin. If they have not played a provisional ball they may drop the ball within two club-lengths or where it crossed the boundary for a penalty of two strokes, so as not to delay play.
Deeming a Ball Unplayable A player may deem their ball unplayable anywhere on the course, except when it is in a water hazard, even if it is quite obviously playable, e.g. at rest on a putting green. True or False?
Repairing Damage on the Putting Green Players may repair spike damage to a hole providing it is not on their line of putt. True or False? Answers:
- False. Decision 13-4/18 The principle that a player is entitled to the lie that they had when their ball came to rest, only applies in cases where the lie of a ball has been altered as a result of an act by another player, caddie, spectator or other animate outside agency, not when the lie was altered through natural causes.
- False. Decision 13-2/0.5. A player must not improve their line of play by eliminating an irregularity of surface, except that damage on a putting green made by a ball, or an old hole mark on a putting green, may be repaired.
- False. Definition of Loose Impediments. Twigs and leaves may be carefully removed but not loose soil, which is not a loose impediment unless it is on a putting green.
- False. Definition of Obstruction. Providing the obstruction can be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage the player may obtain the assistance of others to move it.
- False. Decision 25/19.5. A footprint is an irregularity of surface from which there is no relief without penalty.
- True. Rule 13-4b and Decision 13-4/31.
- True. Rule 26-1c(ii).
- False. The player must return to where they last played from under penalty of stroke and distance.
- True. Rule 28.
- False. Decision 16-1c/4. A player may not repair any spike mark anywhere in the vicinity of the hole, as it might assist them in their subsequent play of the hole.