Rules questions.

Darthfader2 · May 31, 2008

Question 1.

Can I mark and pick up another players ball on the green? Like when one of my partners plays a chip from off the green and his ball comes to rest in the line of another players ball. In order to speed up play, I often walk over and mark the chippers ball and throw it to him so the other player can play his shot. Is this legal?

Question 2.

When I play a bunker shot, I always bring the rake in the bunker with me and throw it down behind me. That way after I play my shot I can quickly rake my tracks as I exit the bunker. Instead of having to walk all the way to the edge to get the rake, creating more tracks and wasting time in the process, walk all the way back to the area, then rake. Is this legal?

Thanks

paulyb · May 31, 2008

#1 You must ask the player if they will allow you to mark their ball.

20-1. Lifting and Marking

A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player, his partner or another person authorized by the player. In any such case, the player is responsible for any breach of the Rules.

20-1/2 Player’s Ball Lifted by Opponent Without Authority

Q. In a match between A and B, B, without A’s authority, marked the position of, and lifted, A’s ball on the putting green. Is B subject to penalty?

A. Yes. Under Rule 20-1, a player’s ball may be lifted by his opponent only with the authority of the player. Since B was not entitled to lift A’s ball, B incurred a penalty stroke — Rule 18-3b.

#2 Placing rake is OK

13-4/0.5 Meaning of “Test the Condition of the Hazard” in Rule 13-4a

Q. What is meant by “test the condition of the hazard” in Rule 13-4a?

A. The term covers all actions by which the player could gain more information about the hazard than could be gained from taking his stance for the stroke to be made, bearing in mind that a certain amount of digging in with the feet in the sand or soil is permitted when taking the stance for a stroke.

Examples of actions that would not constitute testing the condition of the hazard include the following:

• digging in with the feet for a stance, including for a practice swing, anywhere in the hazard or in a similar hazard;

• placing an object, such as clubs or a rake, in the hazard;

• leaning on an object (other than a club) such as a rake while it is touching the ground in the hazard or water in a water hazard;

• touching the hazard with an object (other than a club) such as a towel (touching with a club would be a breach of Rule 13-4b); or

• marking the position of the ball with a tee or otherwise when proceeding under a Rule.