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Rules Mailbag: Your Questions Answered

We sent out a call for questions regarding the rule of golf, and you obliged. While many ask the same type of questions (is the one ball rule being used?), we had a surplus of orginal queries. We took your questions to our Rule Co-Chair Lew Gach and graciously answered all of them.

Without further ado, here are the answers to your questions:

Is the one ball rule enforced at the World Am?
No, we do not play the “One Ball Rule” in the World Am.  However, you must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless the ball is substituted under an applicable Rule (i.e. water hazard, out-of-bounds, unplayable ball, etc.).  No “Putting Balls”.

What is the best way to call a rule violation on another golfer and should we? Jim
Yes, you should inform your fellow competitor on the course that you suspect they may be breaching a Rule.  You should also inform the Committee as you could be subject to penalty if you are their marker and knowingly attest a wrong scorecard.

I have a question that goes back (to the slides in the presentation).There was a picture of a guy standing on a bridge over a hazard. I understand he can ground his club and that is what the picture was about. But, if the bridge is within the boundaries of the hazard, the ball lies on the bridge, does the guy get free relief? Rick
No, if a competitor’s ball is in a water hazard they are not entitled to free relief from obstructions or abnormal ground conditions (casual water; ground under repair; or hole, cast or runway made by a burrowing animal, reptile or a bird).  They must play the ball as it lies or proceed under the water hazard Rule (Rule 26).


When hitting a provisional ball from the tee, do you use a tee? When playing a lost ball and returning to a tee, do you use a tee? Don
When a player is required to play from where the original ball was last played (stroke and distance) and that ball was played from within the teeing ground, the player may play from anywhere within the teeing ground and the ball may be teed.

If on a par 3, the ball goes into water between the tee and the green, can the ball be re-teed as one of the options? Jeff
Yes.  Stroke and distance is one of the options under Rule 26.


Can you take the rake into the bunker with you and laying it down prior to making a shot without penalty? Gene
Yes, so long as nothing is done that would constitute “testing the condition” of the hazard.  Setting it down is fine, throwing it down or sticking the handle into the sand would violate Rule13-4


I need to clarify a ruling regarding touching/testing a tree branch as part of a practice swing. I hit a ball that came to rest under a tree. I am NOT in any hazard but the branches of the tree hang low and the branches actually are in my swing's path (back swing). Am I allowed to take few practice swings touching/testing the tree branches? My understanding from Rule 13-2 is that as part of the actual swing ("stroke") you can touch/bend/break the branches but you are NOT allowed to touch/test the branches on your practice swing. I hope you can confirm/clarify this rule for me. Venks
Touching the branches during the course of making a practice swing or making the backward movement of the club for the purpose of making a practice swing is not a violation.  However, if during this process leaves are knocked off the branches and this results in an improvement in the area of intended swing, it would violate Rule 13-2 and result in a two-stroke penalty in stroke play.


Recently , on short putts , I have been "yipping " . To try to beat that ,I have been putting one handed(right hand) and standing side to target as usual with the ball , putter and leg in a straight line. Is that a legal stance and set up? Gerry
I am not certain I understand exactly how you are taking your stance but I will explain Rule 16-1e.  A player must not stand on (touching) or astride their line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball.  An example of a violation would be Sam Snead’s old “croquet-style” putting.   For those of us old enough to remember, he was required to change to a “side-saddle”.


If the bunker is at green and connected to the lake and ball lands in bunker and rolls in to the lake where do you drop the ball?  In the bunker or outside where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard? Jasper
The point of reference for dropping is where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard, not the bunker.  If it is a lateral water hazard, the two club-length option may well be in the bunker.  If the player chooses this option then the player must drop in the bunker.

Re:  Note 2 to Rule 7-2.  Will the committee prohibit practice on the putting green of the hole last played during a round?
No, we have not instituted this condition of competition for the World Am.

What is the proper way to proceed for next shot from a "wrong green?"  Do we play as it lies and tear up surface or do we get free relief? Terry
Relief from interference from a wrong putting green in mandatory; a player must not play a stroke from a wrong putting green.  Interference from a wrong putting green only occurs when the ball lies on the wrong putting green.  Relief without penalty is not granted from interference with stance or area of intended swing.

Can iPhones be used as a GPS for finding distances at the World Am? I had heard that they could not be used because they have the ability to get the temperature. If this is the case 90% of cell phones should be banned as they can access the web to get temperatures. Gene
Access to the web does not render a cell phone non-conforming.  However, phones with temperature, gradient, compass or wind speed applications are non-conforming even if the functions are turned off.   For the device conform it must have the application uninstalled.  iPhones come with a compass function already installed.  To use that particular device, the compass program must be uninstalled (Not turned off).  I understand Droid phones have an automatic temperature display.  This must also be uninstalled (Not turned off) for the device to conform with the Rules.

When a course is wet and players are allowed to lift, clean and (re)place do the rules require the ball to be marked prior to lifting?  If so, can a local rule override marking the ball? Does it need to be stated rather than assumed by players?
If weather conditions require the World Am to play preferred lies, the host facility will provide competitors with the proper procedures for lifting and replacing the ball.  We will use the wording as follows: "A ball lying on a closely mown area of the hole being played through the green may be lifted without penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a spot within a scorecard length of and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, Rule 20-3d applies. If the ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it subsequently moves , there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.
If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
Note: "Closely mown area" means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.


Last year in one round I was the marker for a player who shot 91. We both tallied the scores after the round and agreed on all hole scores. I realize we are not responsible for the totals but we knew what they were. That evening when I checked the registered scores his score had magically become 89. I reported the problem to one of the World Am reps at the convention center. He said I should check with the pro at the course we played. I thought there should have been an easier way to determine what happened without my further involvement.  What should I have done? William
It sounds like you did exactly what you should have done but we should have looked into the issue at the convention center.  Anytime there is a discrepancy with scoring, please see us in the Rules office and we will investigate the situation.

Player A marks and lifts his ball on the green, then tends the flag while Player B putts.  While pulling the flagstick, Player A accidently drops his ball, which strikes and deflects Player B's ball.  What is the ruling for stroke play, and/or match play? Decision 19-5/1.7 would seem to apply, unless the exception for Rule 17-3b comes into play. Don
Decision 19-5/1.7 applies.  In stroke play, Player A would be required to cancel his stroke and replay it.  Player B is not subject to penalty.  It is doubtful the exception in 17-3 would come into play as Player B was on the putting green so it would be difficult to show how the flagstick attendance was unauthorized.

A player hits a ball off the Tee that flies into thick grass/bushes. Off the Tee he does not know if it is marked a Hazard, Environmental area or unmarked. Can he hit a provisional, then check the first ball, and if marked a hazard, drop 2 club lengths no closer to hole and proceed with one penalty stroke? Ranga
If the player is unaware the area is a hazard they may play a provisional ball.  If it turns out to be a hazard and it is known or virtually certain the ball is in the hazard, the player must abandon the provisional ball and proceed under the water hazard Rule (Rule 26).

Situation – Player hits a ball that appears to go into a wooded area on the right. He then announces that he is hitting a “provisional ball”.  Upon going to the wooded area, the player discovers that there are red stakes marking the area that his ball went into. Question – Is Player required to play the provisional ball, or may he take a penalty of 1 stroke, and take a drop 2 clubs length from where the ball appeared to cross the red stakes? Bruce
The player is required to abandon the provisional ball and proceed under the water hazard Rule (Rule 26).  If the player makes a stroke at the provisional ball after discovering his original ball is in a hazard he has played a wrong ball and must correct the error.


Will there be someone on each course to help with USGA rules questions? Tom
The host professional is on the Committee and has the authority to make Rulings.  They also are in contact with the Rules Co-Chair during the event.


What penalty is there for the person who is scoring another person’s card and accidentally writes down a wrong score? The player signs and turns in a wrong card, he is disqualified but what about the scorer? Tony
The marker should make every effort to ensure the scores recorded are correct.  However, the player is responsible for the correctness of the scorecard before it is returned.  If the marker accidently writes a wrong score there is no penalty on the marker.  If the marker knowingly attests a wrong scorecard, the marker is disqualified.


A fellow competitor hits his/her ball on the green.  For the purpose of saving a little time, I mark the ball for him.  When it is time to replace the ball on the green, he/she tells me, I have to be the one to replace the ball because I marked it for them and am the only person that can replace it.  I disagree and state that, 1) I can replace the ball where I marked it 2) they can replace the ball where I marked it, or 3) if they were using a caddy, their caddy could remark the ball.  Who is buying the beer because they lost the bet on who is right and who is wrong? Jeff
The ball can be replaced by the player, his partner (if applicable) or the person who moved it.  This can be found under Rule 20-3a.


Will the committee require balls to be on the conforming ball list.  If not explain penalty for using one not ever submitted for approval. Jim
In order to be conforming under the Rules of the World Am, the ball must be on the list of conforming golf balls.  Any ball not on the list is deemed to be non-conforming and any player using a ball not on the list would be disqualified.


Are there any changes to players in this year's World Am pertaining to the new grooves rulings? Jeremy
The new groove rules will go into effect in the World Am in 2024.  No changes for this year.