Rules Question

pmas93 · June 12, 2006

Practice Swings in a Hazard????

Hello All,
I played in a tournament this past weekend and had a question about a rule. I was the guest in a member guest and this guy was the member on another team, who happens to be the head of the Tournament committee so when I inquired with the member I was playing with, he said to not say anything unless I was positive of the rules violation.
The players ball was lying inside the boundary of a lateral hazard clearly marked on both sides with yellow stakes. He said he was going to play the ball rather than take the stroke and drop. My question is this, before playing his shot he took practice swings that never hit the ground much like you would do in a bunker, only this hazard had tall, thick weeds all around his ball and he was hitting weeds and taking them out with each practice swing, Is this a penalty? I have always been in the understanding that you don't touch anything with the club inside a hazard until you are making your swing to play your shot.
I wanted to ask in case I am in this situation again I'll know the answer and not have to say I think.
Thanks for any help.

housey · June 12, 2006

I think the rules state if you hit the weeds it is ok same as a tree branch, if you remove weeds etc it would be a penalty.

golfernut78 · June 12, 2006

I think the rules state if you hit the weeds it is ok same as a tree branch, if you remove weeds etc it would be a penalty.

no, i'm pretty sure that in a hazard hitting anything in a practice swing is a rules violation. hitting a tree branch in a practice swing isn't allowed either that why so many times you see the pros take the slow practice swings watching the club to see how far they can take it back.

again, not positive, but i am pretty sure he broke the rules.

taylormadefan · June 12, 2006

I think the rules state if you hit the weeds it is ok same as a tree branch, if you remove weeds etc it would be a penalty.

no, i'm pretty sure that in a hazard hitting anything in a practice swing is a rules violation. hitting a tree branch in a practice swing isn't allowed either that why so many times you see the pros take the slow practice swings watching the club to see how far they can take it back.

again, not positive, but i am pretty sure he broke the rules.

No penalty for touching grass on practice swing in a hazard provided he wasn't testing the hazard or improving his lie:

13-4/4 Touching Grass with Club During Practice Swing in Hazard

Q. A player takes a practice swing in a water hazard without grounding his club, but his club touches some long grass. Is there a penalty?

A. No, provided the player did not improve his lie or test the condition of the hazard — see Note to Rule 13-4.

takenitlow · June 12, 2006

Definite rules violation! Although I am unclear about the exact circumstances surrounding this incident anytime you are inside the perimeter of a hazard disturbing the grounds is a clear penalty. Especially if the practice swings were removing or in anyway improving the intended swing plane or lie. Also practice swings inside bushes or near tree's are permitted as long as they do not improve the intended swing plane. If for example in the course of a practice swing you happen to touch the tree and a branch or even leaf for that matter fall a penalty is incured. This is to insure that people do not remove or hack away pesky branches or tall grass around a potentially tough lie to make shots a little easier

pmas93 · June 13, 2006

So in the course of his practice swings, he took out weeds which improved his swing path, that would be a violation, correct?

takenitlow · June 13, 2006

yes definite penalty

housey · June 13, 2006

So in the course of his practice swings, he took out weeds which improved his swing path, that would be a violation, correct?

definite penalty

ce_me_golf · June 14, 2006

I know there are rules against ground you club in a hazard but I'm not sure taking practice swings. I would bet there is at least one rule against either improving your lie. Check the USGA website, they have a on-line rule book there.

wmann · June 16, 2006

I was party to the same thing in a member guest were there was a playoff and on of the guys hit into a hazrd and decided to play out. He was taking numerious practice swings in the hazzard in 18 inch high grass. My dad was playing against the guy (2 man best ball event) and asked me about it. I mentioned to the pro following and he asked the guy about it. He then came back to me and the pro said that "its ok...he said he wasn't near the ball, he just wanted to see how hard he needed to swing to get thru the grass" I replied that wasn't that testing the conditions of a hazzard? to which the pro responded "well he has a high handicap and he can't be expected to know the rules" I just about sh*t myself.....

it was just about the dumdest thing I heard the pro say.

the dumbest was while he was explaining the markers at our course which at the time was blue, white and red stones at 200,150,100 yards.

he told a new member that blue was 200, white was 150, and the reds were the ladies 150....

SadTrombone · August 3, 2006

I was party to the same thing in a member guest were there was a playoff and on of the guys hit into a hazrd and decided to play out. He was taking numerious practice swings in the hazzard in 18 inch high grass. My dad was playing against the guy (2 man best ball event) and asked me about it. I mentioned to the pro following and he asked the guy about it. He then came back to me and the pro said that "its ok...he said he wasn't near the ball, he just wanted to see how hard he needed to swing to get thru the grass" I replied that wasn't that testing the conditions of a hazzard? to which the pro responded "well he has a high handicap and he can't be expected to know the rules" I just about sh*t myself.....

it was just about the dumdest thing I heard the pro say.

Rule number 1 when being a pro at a private club

"KEEP THE MEMBERSHIP HAPPY"

-mini