Obscure Rule on the green

gslabbert · January 31, 2006

Beware of the wind

For you guys who play in the wind be careful of this rule.

If your ball is oscillating on the green due to the wind moving the ball, do not strike the ball or you will be penalized for striking a ball in motion, (pretty obvious) but if you press the ball into the green to keep it from moving, you incure a 1 shot penalty under rule 18-2 for altering the lie if you then proceed to putt the ball without recreating the lie prior to pressing the ball into the ground (I tiny indent mind you) you then incur a second penalty of 1 stroke for playing the ball from the alterd lie (rule 20-3). A total of 2 strokes in stroke play and a loss of hole in match play. If the player then signs his card he is DQ-ed fro signing an incorrect card.

gslabbert · January 31, 2006

You are correct.

italianstallion · January 31, 2006

Is this true for balls being replaced on downhill slopes? For instance, the ball comes to rest on a slope, and the player marks it and picks it up. If he then goes back to replace the ball, but it keeps rolling instead of staying still, and the player pushes the ball slightly into the ground, would the same rule be in effect? (take a deep breath, that was a long one!) I would imagine, right? If so, I could've nailed many people this past season with that.

gslabbert · January 31, 2006

Itallionstallion you are absolutely correct, it does not matter, uphill or downhill or whatever the slope or reason is. By pushing the ball into the green to make it stay you are violating the rule by changing the lie. The player after attempting a few times to make the ball stay and cannot, he / she must find a place where the ball will stay that is no closer to the hole and is the nearest point of relief. If this is 25 ft further from the hole then so be it.The rule for this is Rule 18-2 IF he then putts the ball he has then violated rule 20-3b and incurs an additioanl stroke for a 2 stroke penalty.

italianstallion · February 1, 2006

Thanks alot, I'll highlight that in my new rule book, so it's ready to go. Alot of kids try to cheat in my league, and I'm more than happy to hand them the penalties, even though I look like an idiot for doing so. But, keep the integrity of the game intact, and I won't bother you. Thanks again.

gslabbert · February 2, 2006

Thanks alot, I'll highlight that in my new rule book, so it's ready to go. Alot of kids try to cheat in my league, and I'm more than happy to hand them the penalties, even though I look like an idiot for doing so. But, keep the integrity of the game intact, and I won't bother you. Thanks again.

You do not look like an idiot, rules are there for betterment of the game, (some rules are ridiculous imo) and part of your resposibility while playing is to protect the rest of the filed from rules violators. With that being said we all break rules unintentionally, so maybe a warning for the 1st offense, have the player correct it prior to making the stroke, if he makes the stroke however, all bets are off.

I would suggest that everyone get to know the rules, they are there for a reason and if you know them properly you can use the rules to your advantage.

I will try and dig up one of these each week, well at least for awhile !

italianstallion · February 2, 2006

Thanks gslabbert. I plan on reading the entire rule book this year to educate myself. I do give warnings the first time, just to let them know I'm watching.