I’ve been involved with The Rules pages at Golf Monthly for some 15 years now and earlier this year I finally passed The R&A’s Level 3 Rules exam. I can tell you – It was quite hard. I’ve been listening to and answering Rules queries and writing articles about the Rules for years but I still find certain scenarios confusing and difficult to get right.
Here’s a look at five Rules that I think can cause the most confusion.
Ball Not Found In Penalty Area
You hit what you think is a belter straight over a marker post on a hole with a blind tee shot. But, when you come over the brow of the hill, you see a pond beyond the fairway surrounded by thick grass. “Shouldn’t have hit driver!” you think.
After a search, there’s no sign of your ball. It must be in the penalty area… But is it? You can’t find it but are you 95% certain (that is the threshold) that it’s gone into the penalty area? Could it be lost in the long grass short of the penalty area?
If you can say you are 95% certain it’s gone into the penalty area, you can take relief from a penalty area under Rule 17.1d or 17.2.
But, if you are not 95% certain, then you must take stroke and distance relief under Rule 18.2 (lost ball).
I think too many people just say, “yeah, it’s probably in the penalty area.” When, in fact, they’re not too sure if it is. If you were sure, would you have spent time looking for it outside the penalty area?
Relief from immovable obstruction in penalty area when ball is not in penalty area
This ball is just outside the penalty area… Could have had relief!
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
Your ball has stopped just short of a stream and is not in the penalty area, but your swing, stance or lie is hampered by a bridge crossing that penalty area. You are entitled to relief from an immovable obstruction under Rule 16.1.
I’ve seen people get it wrong, thinking they don’t get relief because the bridge is within the penalty area.
If your ball is in the penalty area, then you don’t get free relief but if your ball is outside the penalty area you do. Rule 16.1(2) describes how relief is allowed anywhere on the course except when ball is in penalty area.
That could save you a shot!
Repairing pitch marks on your line in the fringe
(Image credit: Kevin Murray)
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