FORE Magazine

Top Menu

  • About Me
  • Contact Us
  • Home

Main Menu

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Sign in / Join

Login

Welcome! Login in to your account
Lost your password?

Lost Password

Back to login

logo

FORE Magazine

  • Current Issue
  • Profiles
  • Sustainability
  • Travel
  • 19th Hole
  • Classic Course
  • FORE Her
  • More
    • Know the Rules
    • Handicap Hints
    • SCGA Junior
    • Where Are They Now?
    • News
    • Public Affairs
  • scga.org
Know the RulesSpring 2015
Home›Know the Rules›Helpful Rules: If you think the rules exist to penalize, think again

Helpful Rules: If you think the rules exist to penalize, think again

By Jimmy Becker
April 1, 2015
3660
0
Share:
know the rules

Penalties, penalties, penalties. The mere mention of the word “penalty” in the world of golf makes people sweat. Penalties under the Rules come in four basic categories given the form of play: one stroke (stroke and match play), two strokes (stroke play only), loss of hole (match play) and the dreaded disqualification (stroke and/or match play). Many golfers believe that the Rules of Golf are out there to strictly penalize a player, but that’s not always the case. There are certain Rules that are there to help a player. What? Shocked? Confused? Well, don’t be. Let’s explore some examples.

Rule 3-3 — Doubt as to Procedure

Rule 3-3, Doubt as to Procedure, is a Rule that applies in stroke play only and provides a procedure for a player who is doubtful of their rights or is unsure of the correct procedure to follow. It allows for a player to complete the play of a hole with two balls. There is no penalty in this situation but the player is required to follow a certain protocol. First, after the doubtful situation has arisen and before further action is taken, the player must announce to his marker or fellow competitor that he intends to play two balls and which ball he wishes to count if the Rules permit. The player also must report the facts to the Committee before returning his scorecard. If the proper procedure is followed by the player, then the Committee will determine which ball counts under the Rules.

Rule 7-2 — Practice During the Round

Generally, practice on the course during the round is not allowed and if a player does so, a penalty of loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play would be incurred. There are three times on the golf course where a player can practice putting or chipping with no penalty. A player can practice putting or chipping on or near (a) the putting green of the hole last played; (b) any practice putting green; (c) the teeing ground of the next hole to be played. Practice strokes must not be made from a hazard and cannot unduly delay play. Golf fans often get confused because they never see PGA TOUR players practicing after they finish play of a hole. That’s because the PGA TOUR has adopted, under the Note in Rule 7-2, the prohibition of practice near or on the putting green of the hole last played.

Rule 20-6 — “The Eraser Rule”

Rule 20-6 is a three-line, one-sentence Rule that allows a player to correct or “erase” a ball that has been incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed in a wrong place. Many times, a player makes a mistake when getting the ball back into play, whether it is dropping in a wrong place or dropping the ball in an incorrect manner. If a player has not played a stroke at the ball that was incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed incorrectly, the Rules are going to let you erase your mistake and get it right without penalty.

Miscellaneous

There are also a couple of obscure situations in which a player does not receive a penalty that is not generally known to the golfing public. Did you know that a player can borrow golf balls, tees, gloves or even a distance measuring device from another player under no penalty? Decision 5-1/5 tells us that this is permitted under the Rules.

Throughout the Rules it is noted that players are responsible for the actions of their caddies during a stipulated round. If a caddie commits a rules violation during a round, the player incurs the penalty. However, if a caddie practices on the course or tests putting green surfaces before the competitor tees off, there is no penalty to the player as the player is not responsible for the actions of the caddie before or after a stipulated round (Decision 7-1b/5).

Previous Article

The Alphabet Soup

Next Article

Irish Rover: Visiting a Trio of Emerald ...

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Jimmy Becker

Jimmy's career in golf administration began in 2004 as an intern with the SCGA and spent some time at the NCGA from 2005-2011. Since rejoining the SCGA in 2011, he helps administer SCGA, CGA and USGA qualifiers/championships, and is featured in the Rules Crew video series, teaching the Rules of Golf to SCGA members and its clubs. He is also in charge of the site procurement process for the Championships & Golf Operations department along with managing the exemption and Player of the Year programs. He has served as a Rules Official at numerous USGA National Championships and has achieved the highest level of rating on the PGA/USGA Rules Exam. A native Southern Californian, in his free time he enjoys hanging out with friends, playing sports and going to the beach.

Related articles More from author

  • penalties
    Know the Rules

    Avoid Those Penalties

    April 1, 2014
    By Jimmy Becker
  • Fazio Golf
    Spring 2015Travel

    Best in Class: The Outstanding Courses of Central Oregon

    April 1, 2015
    By David Weiss
  • Golf Practice Mat
    EquipmentSpring 2015

    Spring Fever

    April 1, 2015
    By Scott Kramer
  • Adidas Climacool Energy Dot Print
    EquipmentSpring 2015

    Rebirth of the Polo: New Generation of the Classic Shirt keeps you cool and dry

    April 1, 2015
    By Scott Kramer
  • Know the RulesSpring 2019

    Rules Mailbag: Our Rules Czars Answer Your Questions

    April 26, 2019
    By The Rules Crew
  • Range TokensSpring 2015

    Drink or Drive: Booze equals lose for this writer

    April 1, 2015
    By Mark Willard

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Recent Posts

  • FeaturedProfilesWinter 2023

    Unbreakable Spirit: The Amazing Journey of Tracy Drake

  • FeaturedSustainabilityWinter 2023

    Sun Spot: Indian Wells Golf Resort Goes Solar

  • FeaturedGolf GroupsWinter 2023

    Club Spotlight: FOREGALS Golf

  • FeaturedThe PodiumWinter 2023

    Changing of the Guard: New Galleri Classic Set to Debut in the Desert

  • FeaturedProfilesWinter 2023

    A Modern Throwback: Cole Young Calls his Own Shots

FOLLOW US

Facebook 0Fans
Twitter 0Followers
Instagram 0Followers
Youtube 0Subscriber
  • Recent

  • Popular

  • Comments

  • Changing of the Guard: New Galleri Classic Set to Debut in the Desert

    By Judd Spicer
    February 7, 2023
  • New Year’s Daze: Looking Forward and Looking Back at your Handicap

    By Kevin O'Connor
    February 7, 2023
  • Grass by Design: Pure Research Yields New Strains of Drought-Tolerant Grass

    By Craig Kessler
    February 7, 2023
  • Best Ball Bar & Grill: Woodley Lakes GC Gets a Big Culinary Upgrade

    By David Weiss
    February 7, 2023
  • Making a Future in Golf a Reality: Skylar Graham and the Pathways Internship

    By Ken Van Vechten
    February 7, 2023
  • The Diva Golfer

    By Azucena Maldonado
    January 31, 2017
  • The USGA’s Major Proposed Changes to the Rules of Golf

    By admin
    December 14, 2017
  • Stand By Me: Temecula Native Joe Skovron On Life As Rickie Fowler’s Caddie

    By Jonathan Coe
    October 26, 2016
  • Watching the Tiger Watchers

    By Andy Brumer
    February 20, 2018
  • Remembering Jim Murray: Best of the Best

    By Bill Dwyre
    February 14, 2017
  • Julie
    on
    November 13, 2022

    The Single Life: The Simple Pleasures of Being “That Guy”

    Thanks for this. I ...
  • free proxy list
    on
    December 5, 2018

    Top 4 College Golf Names You Need To Know

    Hello,I log on to ...
  • Adela C. Garcia
    on
    November 17, 2018

    Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”

    Azucena Maldonado is a ...
  • Rose Sauceda
    on
    November 15, 2018

    Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”

    Congratulations my lovely Amiga ...
  • Judy Carls
    on
    November 15, 2018

    The Gilded One: Eldorado CC

    Excellent magazine..thank you Judy Carls LPGA ...

RECENT COMMENTS

  • Julie on The Single Life: The Simple Pleasures of Being “That Guy”
  • free proxy list on Top 4 College Golf Names You Need To Know
  • Adela C. Garcia on Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”
  • Rose Sauceda on Revolutionizing the “Ladies Club”
  • Judy Carls on The Gilded One: Eldorado CC
© 2016 FORE Magazine About Us | Contact Us | Advertise