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SITUATION: If a ball lands in a foot print in a bunker, is there any relief? SOLUTION: NO, the player must play it as it lies. It certainly was poor etiquette from the player who left it unraked, don't do the same. If the player's ball is lifted due to interference, it must be replaced in the foot print. RULE 4: Clubs CLUBS: CONFORMING CLUB If you ever have a question whether a club is conforming or not, conult with the USGA. All clubs used must be conforming otherwise the penalty is DISQUALIFICATION. Keep in mind a conforming club is made up of a shaft and head which are fixed as a single unit. The shaft must be straight and attached to the clubhead at the heel, while a putter shaft can be attached to the head at any point. The grip cannot be molded to fit the hands and should extend to the end of the shaft. The head of the club must only have one striking face except the putter may have two faces. DAMAGED CLUB OR PLAYER CHANGES OR MODIFIES CHARACTERISTICS OF A CLUB: if a club no longer conforms through damage or modification in the normal course of play (i) the player can use the club only for the remainder of the round in which the damaged occurred in the damaged state. Or (ii) repair the club as long as the player does not delay play. If damaged other than in the normal course of play the club no longer may be used. NOTE: the player may not apply any material to the club face that could influence the ball's movement. PENALTY DISQUALIFICATION; for a breach of the above. PERMITTED NUMBER OF CLUBS: FOURTEEN (14) is the maximum allowable number of clubs a player may carry at the start of a stipulated round. The player may only play with the clubs selected prior to the beginning of the round. EXCEPTIONS: Without delaying play (i) if the player starts the stipulated round with less than 14 clubs, he may add any number of clubs without exceeding 14. (ii) the player may replace any club that becomes unfit for play (in the normal course of play) with any club. If a 4 iron breaks on the downswing while hitting a ball against a tree root, the player may replace it with a 5 iron. NOTE: the player may not add or replace a club by borrowing any club selected for play by another person playing on the same course. SHARING CLUBS: Clubs may be shared by partners only if the total number of clubs carried by both players is no more than 14. PENALTY FOR CARRYING MORE THAN 14 CLUBS: (This can get confusing) MATCH PLAY one hole for each hole a breach had occurred with a maximum of two holes. In other words, at the end of the 4th hole it was discovered that more than 14 clubs were carried (doesn't matter if 15 or 18 clubs, the penalty is the same) loss of two holes. STROKE PLAY two-stroke penalty for each hole a breach occurred with a maximum of four-strokes. NOTE AFTER A BREACH IS DISCOVERED ANY CLUB OR CLUBS CARRIED MUST IMMEDIATELY BE DECLARED OUT OF PLAY, IF USED THEREAFTER THE PENALTY IS DISQUALIFICATION. RULE 14: Striking the Ball STRIKING THE BALL:To understand this rule, the definition of a STROKE must be understood. There are several key points in the definition that must be present for a stroke to have been made: PENALTY FOR STRIKING THE BALL IMPPOPERLY: TWO STROKES IN STROKE PLAY AND LOSS OF HOLE IN MATCH PLAY. DISQUALIFICATION PENALTY FOR USING ARTIFICIAL DEVICES. A common situation is when a player strikes his ball more than once in the course of a stroke. If this occurs, the player must add one penalty stroke, making two strokes total. The ball is played where it lies. An example would be hitting a ball out of a bunker or high grass. I'm sure we all have hit the ball straight up where the club hit the ball once again on follow through. A player is not allowed to play a moving ball. PENALTY: TWO STROKES IN STROKE PLAY AND LOSS OF HOLE IN MATCH PLAY. The exceptions without penalty would be a ball falling off the tee in the process of a stroke, striking a ball more than once in the process of a stroke (mentioned above), playing a moving ball in a water hazard. NOTE: There is also no penalty under this rule if a ball moves after the player begins his swing, however, the player would be penalized if he is responsible for the movement of the ball other than the situations listed above. In other words if your ball is in high grass, and after you begin your backswing your ball moves. If your swing is continued, you are not penalized for playing a moving ball but you are penalized one stroke for moving your ball after address. NOTE: Strokes taken while playing a wrong ball do not count towards the players score. |
