Question 1:
A player purposely positions his golf bag so as to block the sunlight from where he is teeing his ball. If he then makes a stroke at his ball has he breached any Rule?

Answer 1:
Yes.

Note: As the player was not in contact with the golf bag, he accepted protection from the elements in breach of Rule 14-2.


Question 2:
A player holds an umbrella, as shelter from wind and rain, with one hand and putts with the other. Is this permissible?

Answer 2:
Yes.

Note: Unlike Question 1 the player has direct contact with the umbrella. Rule 14-2 does not prohibit a player from protecting himself from the elements.

Part of Rule 14-2 states;

In making a stroke, a player must not:
a. Accept physical assistance or protection from the elements.

Old Hole Plugs

Question 1:
If a player's ball comes to rest on an old hole plug may they take relief from it?

Question 2:
If, on a player's line of putt, there is an old hole plug that they consider is not level may they attempt to raise or lower the edges before making their putt...
a) ... if their ball is on the putting surface?
b)... if their ball is off the putting surface?

Answer 1:
No, there is no relief from an old hole plug.

Answer 2:
a) Yes.
b) Yes.

Part of Rule 16-1c states:


The player may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball, whether or not the player's ball lies on the putting green.


Question 3:
If a player's ball comes to rest behind an old hole that is on their line of putt may they take relief from it?

Answer 3:
No, there is no relief from an old hole plug on the line of putt.



Question 4:
May a player deliberately repair a spike mark that is on their line of putt if it is on an old hole plug?

Answer 4:
No.


However, Decision 16-1a/16.5 rules that if a player steps on the hole plug to make it level with the surface of the putting green and in so doing they press down a spike mark within the hole plug, they do not incur a penalty. Rule 16-1a permits touching the line of putt in repairing old hole plugs.

Artificial Devices

Question 1:
Is a player permitted to use the following equipment on a golf course?
a) Standard binoculars.
b) Compass.
c) Booklet containing illustrations of the holes and providing accurate distances between various identifiable points.
d) Training or swing aid.
e) Hand warmer.

Answer 1:
a) Yes, Decision 14-3/3.
b) No, Decision 14-3/4.
c) Yes, Decision 14-3/5.
d) No, Decision 14-3/10.
e) Yes, Decision 14-3/13. Although a hand warmer is an artificial device, its use to warm the hands is traditionally accepted and a player is not in breach of Rule 14-3 if he uses equipment in a traditionally accepted manner.

Note: A player may not use a hand warmer to heat a ball, Decision 14-3/13.5.


Question 2:

What are the circumstances under which a player is permitted to use a distance measuring device on the course?

Answer 2:
If the Committee has established a Local Rule allowing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only.

Marking Your Ball

Question 1:
May a player use the toe of their putter to mark the position of their ball on the putting green?

Question 2:
May a player use a loose impediment, such as a twig or a leaf that they found lying on the green, to mark the position of their ball on the putting green?

Question 3:
May a player use a blemish on the surface of the putting green to mark the position of their ball?

__________


Answer 1:
Yes (but it is not recommended)
Answer 2:
Yes, (but it is not recommended)
Answer 3:
No, a physical mark must be used.

The Note to Rule 20-1 states;
The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball.

However, the word "should" indicates that this is a recommendation of best practice and a player is not penalised if they use an object that is not similar to a ball-marker or small coin to mark the position of their ball.

Decision 20-1/16 includes these examples of methods of marking the position of a ball that are not recommended, but are permissible;

placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball;


using a tee;


using a loose impediment


Under Rule 20-1 it is necessary to physically mark the position of the ball, so reference to a blemish on the ground does not constitute marking the position of a ball.

Rules Dropped Ball Hits Object

Question 1:

A player drops their ball and it touches their glove, which they are using to mark the outside limit of where they are permitted to drop;
a) Is the ball in play if it touches the glove before striking the course?
b) Is the ball in play if it rolls into the glove after striking the course?
c) Does the player incur a penalty of one stroke because the ball was deflected by their equipment?
d) Must the ball be re-dropped?
e) If the ball touches the glove again when it is re-dropped may the player place the ball where it first struck the course?

Answer 1:
a) No.
b) No.
c) No penalty is incurred.
d) Yes.
e) No.

Note: Part of Rule 20-2a states;

If the ball when dropped touches any person or the equipment of any player before or after it strikes a part of the course and before it comes to rest, the ball must be re-dropped, without penalty. There is no limit to the number of times a ball must be re-dropped in these circumstances.

Decision 20-2a/7 confirms;

A glove is not a "small object" within the meaning of that term in the Definition of "Equipment." Therefore, it is equipment and the ball must be re-dropped.

__________




Question 2:
A player drops their ball and it touches a tee peg, which they are using to mark the outside limit of where they are permitted to drop;
a) Is the ball in play if it touches the tee peg before striking the course?
b) Is the ball in play if it rolls into the tee peg after striking the course?

Answer 2:
a) Yes.
b) Yes.

Note: A tee peg is not part of a player's equipment and therefore a dropped ball is in play even if it touches a tee peg that is being used as a marker before it comes to rest.

Definition of Equipment;

Anything used, worn or carried by the player or anything carried for the player by his partner or either of their caddies, except any ball he has played at the hole being played and any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when used to mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in which a ball is to be dropped.

Miscellaneous re the Flagstick

Question 1:

A player's ball is in motion after a putt. A fellow competitor thinks that the ball might hit the flagstick, which has been removed, and lifts it. What is the ruling?

a) There is no penalty.
b) The fellow competitor incurs a penalty of one stroke.
c) The fellow competitor incurs a penalty of two strokes.
d) The player putting incurs a penalty of two strokes.

Question 2:

What is the penalty if the ball does strike the removed flagstick lying on the putting green?

Answer1:
a) There is no penalty.

Answer 2:
The player incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play, under Rule 17-3a.

Since January 2008, a player is allowed to move the flagstick on the ground if they think that a ball may strike it. Part of Rule 24-1 states;

When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved.
__________



Question 3:
A player has asked for the position of the hole to be marked. The person at the hole does not want to waste time retrieving the flagstick and uses the grip end of their putter in the hole. Is this permissible?

Answer 3:
Yes. Decision 17-3/6.

Note: A club that is used to mark the position of the hole must be treated as a flagstick for the purposes of applying the Rules.