Here, we run through the ten Rules that the evidence of our mailbag and Inbox leads us to believe are the most misunderstood ones out there, with the three at the end undoubtedly those we get most correspondence about. Readers sometimes even question whether or not we have made a mistake in something we have either printed or published online when it comes to the ‘accidental movement of your ball’ one!
Of course, you may be reading this and thinking, “I don’t misunderstand any of these Rules.” If so, that’s great – golf needs more ‘yous’!
10 – Sprinkler head on line on the fringe
There is no automatic relief here under the Rules of Golf
(Image credit: Tom Miles)
It’s important to know that this is not an automatic relief scenario under the Rules of Golf. Yes, if your ball actually lies on the sprinkler head or it interferes with the area of your intended stance or swing, you would be entitled to free relief, but not just because it is on your line and you really want to putt it.
However, some courses will have a Local Rule allowing relief if your ball lies within two club-lengths of a sprinkler head on your line that is also within two club-lengths of the putting green. But if no such Local Rule exists, there is no free relief, so always check the scorecard or noticeboard for the Local Rules.
9 – Loose impediments in bunkers and penalty areas
Since 2019 there has been no penalty for removing loose impediments in bunkers or penalty areas
(Image credit: Kenny Smith)
This is an understandable misunderstanding, for the Rules did an about-turn on this in 2019. Prior to that, you weren’t allowed to touch loose impediments in either bunkers or penalty areas. Now, you are. However, it’s worth mentioning that it would still be inadvisable to touch them if things are a little precarious around your ball or it’s obvious that your ball is perhaps resting against a loose impediment on a slope.
Why? Well, you will still be penalised if you cause your ball at rest to move while attempting to remove a loose impediment, so take care not to incur a penalty stroke for such a breach under Rule 9.4b.
8 – Status of white out of bounds posts
Beware! Even though it’s easily movable, the Rules do not allow you to do this
(Image credit: Kenny Smith)
The problem with white out of bounds stakes is that physically they are eminently movable nine times out of ten, yet they are not classed as movable obstructions under the Rules of Golf, even if easily movable. Rather,…
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