General Manager's May Journal
The Rules of Golf “As they pertain to Southern Pines”
Over the next few months we thought it would be fun to review the rules of golf as they pertain to our golf courses. We will be putting different characters in separate situations on different holes at each course and allow you, the reader to figure out the correct rulings.
Enjoy.
One nice Saturday morning our good friend and member; Paul “Fair Shake” Fryer walks to the tee box of Calvert’s par 5, 14th hole. Paul has just come off a triple at 13 with several bets being lost so he has a good case of the “reds” as he prepares to launch. He hits a boring 208 yd tee shot down the right side, striking a tree careening the ball to a location which no one has any idea. Frustrated, Paul hits another ball declaring it a provisional. It center cuts the fairway at a massive 210 yds. from the tee. As the others (Sammy, DA and Mickey) each drive the center of the fairway at a perfect 290 yds., they collectively go in search of Paul’s first ball. Upon a short look they find his first ball laying on the white out-of-bounds line with most of the ball off the line on the out of bounds side of the stakes. An argument ensues as Paul deems his ball to be in bounds but his opponents feel differently claiming it is out and he should play his provisional. Paul agrees to play both balls and get a ruling later in the clubhouse. As Paul prepares to play his first ball, he notes that the out of bounds stake is interfering with his back swing so he removes it allowing him freedom to hack away. Paul takes a mighty blow and pulls the shot into the hazard left of the cart path where there is a natural ditch marked by red lines surrounding the hazard. He also plays his provisional and drives it to a comfortable 140 yds from the green.
As he reaches his original ball Paul sees it is in the hazard at a point on the far side of the ditch away from the cart path. Being an “expert” in the rules, Paul knows he has several options here. Because he can drop laterally close to the cart path and have an open shot, even though his nearest point of relief from the hazard is on the other side, he chooses this option. He takes his driver and from the point where the ball entered the hazard, marks 2 club lengths and drops within that area outside the hazard. Paul then chooses an 8 iron to layup. However, upon taking his stance, he has his feet inside the hazard. Grounding his club behind the ball, Paul plays the stroke.
The shot just clears the ditch but unfortunately spins back into the hazard into the creek which is now a foot deep from a recent rain. Paul ain’t happy. He is now in a yellow marked hazard and ponders his new options. He decides since his ball cleared the hazard initially he is within the rules to take a drop at the point where his ball cleared the hazard. He does so and from 155 yds out takes a mighty blow with his 4 iron unfortunately cold topping it. As he watches with great anticipation he sees his ball racing on a worm burner flight toward the pond right of the green.
Not forgetting his provisional and now hoping that he was wrong in his earlier assessment of the out of bounds ruling, Paul plays a 7 iron to the green with the provisional one hopping it into the hole!
His original ball however, is now lying on the red hazard line 2” from a red stake. Since he is on the line, Paul determines he is not in the hazard. Noticing that the red stake is interfering with his stroke, he removes it to play his shot. He sets his club down in the grass behind the ball and hits a beautiful chip onto the green where he manages to 2 putt.
Paul counts his strokes and determines he has a scored a 9 with his original ball and a 5 with the provisional.
Question 1: Has Paul counted correctly?
Question 2: Which ball counts; the original (9) or the provisional (6)?
Question 3: Did Sammy, DA and Mickey who all made pars give Paul a fair shake stroke adjustment?
What are the correct answers?
Let us start by stating a few simple reminders of the rules. Did you know that as the color of the stake gets darker, you are presented with more options:
1. White Stakes: 1 option. 1. Re-hit from the place that you originally played from. Penalty: 1 Stroke
2. Yellow Stakes: 3 options. 1. Re-hit from the place that you originally played from. Penalty: 1 Stroke
2. Play from the hazard. No Penalty
3. Take a drop, no nearer the hole, keeping the point where the ball crossed the hazard between you and the flag and go as far back as you want. Penalty: 1 Stroke
3. Red Stakes: 4 options. 1. Re-hit from the original place that you played from. Penalty: 1 Stroke
2. Play from the hazard. No Penalty
3. Take a drop within two club lengths, no nearer the hole from the other side of the hazard and play from there. Penalty: 1 Stroke
4. Take a drop within two club lengths, no nearer the hole where the ball entered the hazard. Penalty: 1 Stroke
So let’s look at Paul.
1. Was Paul out of bounds? NO. A ball is deemed out of bounds if the entire ball is out. The white line is an inbounds line and a ball which touches any part of the line is deemed in bounds. Paul was therefore in bounds. His provisional ball is no longer valid for use however.
2. Was there any penalty for removing the White Stake to play his shot? NO. A white stake is considered a movable obstruction much the same as a rock or leaf that is not in a hazard is moveable. Paul once again is correct. Good job Paul!
3. Did Paul take a correct drop in the red hazard? YES. Paul has 4 options and correctly chose one of his 4. In addition because he had to stand inside the hazard to play his shot, there was no infraction. Because his ball was now outside the hazard he was free to ground his club as well. He is assessed one penalty stroke for taking the original drop however.
4. Did Paul take the correct drop in the yellow hazard? NO. Paul had 3 options. Just because his ball cleared the hazard initially, that did not give him the right to play from that point. When you are in a hazard, always remember that there is never a reason where you can place the ball nearer the hole no matter how many penalty strokes you would like to be assessed. Big mistake here Paul!
5. Was Paul in the red hazard by the greenside pond? YES. Since his ball was touching the red line, Paul’s ball was deemed in the hazard. Unlike a white line, Red and Yellow hazards denote the start of the hazard and are therefore part of the hazard. Paul was wrong in grounding his club behind the ball AND he was wrong in removing the red stake to play his stroke. Hazard (red and yellow) stakes are considered part of the hazard and are not movable obstructions. Paul should have been assessed ??? penalty strokes here.
So what was Paul’s final score on the hole? Because Paul improperly placed his ball outside the yellow hazard, he played from the wrong position. Since Paul was playing match play, he forfeits the hole. Had he been playing stroke play, he would have been disqualified. In either event, he could not record a score. Sorry Paul… No amount of Fair Shake can be given buddy. You lose.
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