Line of play question

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

Accidental or not, is it against the rules to have something on the ground behind you (down the line) when you play a stroke? Specifically, a head cover that fell off the bag after the bag was picked up?

[sui generis]

9 minutes ago, 5 O'Clock Charlie said:

Accidental or not, is it against the rules to have something on the ground behind you (down the line) when you play a stroke? Specifically, a head cover that fell off the bag after the bag was picked up?

 

Does reading 10.2b3, No Setting Down Object to Help with Aiming, Taking Stance or Swinging help?

 

https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=fr&section=rule&rulenum=10&subrulenum=2

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

3 minutes ago, sui generis said:

 

Does reading 10.2b3, No Setting Down Object to Help with Aiming, Taking Stance or Swinging help?

 

https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=fr&section=rule&rulenum=10&subrulenum=2

 

Yes sort of. What I saw was during the coverage of the Travelers. It seemed odd, because you typically don't see this on tv during tournaments. 
In the first photo, the bag was picked up and the hybrid cover was on the ground, it's still there when the stroke is made.

Not trying to stir the pot, it was just an observation and was curious if this was a violation, even if the cover was not left there "on purpose".

 

 

[Newby]

Did he put the headcover there in order to help with alignment?

Edited June 26, 2023 by Newby

[Augster]

20 minutes ago, Newby said:

Did the put the headcover there in order to help with alignment?

This. 

[st1800e]

😳

[rogolf]

Not likely put there as an aid.  Does it matter now?

[Newby]

3 hours ago, rogolf said:

Not likely put there as an aid.  Does it matter now?

Perhaps it does to the OP.

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

9 hours ago, rogolf said:

Not likely put there as an aid.  Does it matter now?

 

Like I said, I am not trying to stir the pot, or to go back and assess a penalty as I don't care about that. I'm just asking a question. Lots of things are not done intentionally in golf, yet still yield infractions. Just trying to understand the context on this. In fact, I led my question with "Accidental or not...." so I concede it was not done intentionally. 

 

If no one know the answer, that is ok. If intent is the key item here, that's fine as well.

[Mr. Bean]

20 minutes ago, 5 O'Clock Charlie said:

 

Like I said, I am not trying to stir the pot, or to go back and assess a penalty as I don't care about that. I'm just asking a question. Lots of things are not done intentionally in golf, yet still yield infractions. Just trying to understand the context on this. In fact, I led my question with "Accidental or not...." so I concede it was not done intentionally. 

 

If no one know the answer, that is ok. If intent is the key item here, that's fine as well.

 

Intent is the key.

 

Say you have lifted your ball on the green and accidentally drop it. That ball is not in play as you had no intention of putting it into play. Same thing with your case. No intent, no penalty.

 

Btw, sui generis pointed you to the Rule that gives the correct answer. Did you read it?

[5 O'Clock Charlie]

5 minutes ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

Intent is the key.

 

Say you have lifted your ball on the green and accidentally drop it. That ball is not in play as you had no intention of putting it into play. Same thing with your case. No intent, no penalty.

 

Btw, sui generis pointed you to the Rule that gives the correct answer. Did you read it?

 

I did, thanks for asking. It doesn't specify intent - (nothing on the page says intent anywhere if you search for that word)

 

(3) No Setting Down Object to Help with Aiming, Taking Stance or Swinging. A player must not set an object down to help with aiming or to help in taking a stance for the stroke to be made (such as a club set down on the ground to show where the player should aim or position their feet).

“Set an object down” means that the object is in contact with the ground and the player is not touching the object.

Edited June 26, 2023 by 5 O'Clock Charlie

[davep043]

1 minute ago, 5 O'Clock Charlie said:

to help with aiming or to help in taking a stance

That's the part that gets to intent.

[iacas]

1 minute ago, 5 O'Clock Charlie said:

to help with aiming

 

Right there is the "intent" part.

[Mr. Bean]

8 minutes ago, 5 O'Clock Charlie said:

 

I did, thanks for asking. It doesn't specify intent - (nothing on the page says intent anywhere if you search for that word)

 

(3) No Setting Down Object to Help with Aiming, Taking Stance or Swinging. A player must not set an object down to help with aiming or to help in taking a stance for the stroke to be made (such as a club set down on the ground to show where the player should aim or position their feet).

“Set an object down” means that the object is in contact with the ground and the player is not touching the object.

 

It says clearly "must not set down to help". That contains intent.

 

Edited June 26, 2023 by Mr. Bean