The Rules Of Golf

1. You hit a great drive down the 16^th and the ball comes to rest near the road. As you walk down the fairway (thinking, 'that was the best drive I hit all night') you see a dog pick up your ball and walk off the course. What do you do?

Drop a ball a close as possible to where the original ball was lying, without penalty

Chase the dog to get that brand new Pinnacle back and write a strong letter of complaint to the club

Go back to the tee and replay the shot without penalty

Go back to the tee and replay the shot with a one stroke penalty

In this situation, the correct action is to drop a ball as close as possible to where the original ball was lying without penalty. This is in accordance with the rules of golf (Rule 18.1) which allows a player to take relief when their ball is moved by an outside agency, such as a dog. By dropping a ball without penalty, the player can continue the game without being unfairly penalized for the dog's interference.

Explanation

In this situation, the correct action is to drop a ball as close as possible to where the original ball was lying without penalty. This is in accordance with the rules of golf (Rule 18.1) which allows a player to take relief when their ball is moved by an outside agency, such as a dog. By dropping a ball without penalty, the player can continue the game without being unfairly penalized for the dog's interference.

2. You turn up to play the Summer Cup straight after work on a Tuesday night. You rush down to the first tee with your usual 3 ball (not renowned for their fast play) to get ahead of the field. By the time you get to the 4th the whole field is backed up behind you and the group behind have been waiting to play every shot. What is the correct etiquette?

You only let the group behind through if you lose a ball

Do nothing, you got to the tee first

Stand aside to let the group behind play through

You have no idea what's going on behind you

The correct etiquette in this situation is to stand aside and let the group behind play through. Even though you arrived at the tee first, it is important to consider the pace of play and the inconvenience caused to other golfers. By allowing the group behind to play through, you can help maintain a smooth flow of play and prevent further delays for everyone involved.

Explanation

The correct etiquette in this situation is to stand aside and let the group behind play through. Even though you arrived at the tee first, it is important to consider the pace of play and the inconvenience caused to other golfers. By allowing the group behind to play through, you can help maintain a smooth flow of play and prevent further delays for everyone involved.

3. In a match, Billy removed the flagstick, places it on the putting green behind the hole and putts. Alistair, believing that Billy's ball will strike the flagstick, picks it up, allowing Billy's ball to roll beyond the place where Billy and placed the flagstick. What is the ruling?

Billy must replay the stroke

Alistair loses the hole

There is no penalty

Billy loses the hole (and loses the plot, he inserts the flag where the sun don't shine!)

Decision 17-1/7. Prior to 1st January 2008. Alistair would have lost the hole

Explanation

Decision 17-1/7. Prior to 1st January 2008. Alistair would have lost the hole

4. Billy, thinking he was getting a bargain, bought a set of imitation Callaway irons from a golf sale in the Weigh Inn. In the Saturday medal, playing his second shot at the first, the shaft of his 7 iron broke during his downswing. He continued his swing but missed the ball. Unfortunately, the separated fake clubhead fell on the ball and moved it. What is the ruling?

Billy made a legitimate stroke with no penalty

The ball should be replaced with a penalty one stroke

A two stroke penalty

Billy is disqualified for playing with sub-standard equipment

See Rule 14---See Decision 14/5

Explanation

See Rule 14---See Decision 14/5

5. Your exact handicap is 9.4, but you had a poor round in the Saturday competition. When you turn up play on Sunday the revised handicap sheet has not been published and you are not certain of the CSS for Saturday. What handicap do you play off?

9, You are not permitted to put your handicap up, only down.

10, You are responsible for your own handicap adjustment

11, you need every shot you can get

The correct answer is 9 because according to the given information, the revised handicap sheet has not been published and the CSS for Saturday is uncertain. In such a situation, the player is not allowed to increase their handicap, only decrease it. Therefore, the player would continue to play off their exact handicap of 9.4.

Explanation

The correct answer is 9 because according to the given information, the revised handicap sheet has not been published and the CSS for Saturday is uncertain. In such a situation, the player is not allowed to increase their handicap, only decrease it. Therefore, the player would continue to play off their exact handicap of 9.4.

6. At the 7^th hole Willie decides to lay up, but he hits a belter! His ball comes to rest on the bridge over the water hazard. He decides to play the ball as it lies but in so doing, he grounds his club at the address. What is the penalty?

There is no penalty

One stroke penalty

Two stroke penalty

Willie is disqualified and must repair the damage he caused to the bridge

There is no penalty. He does not get a free relief from an immovable obstruction in a water hazard, but grounding his club on it, does not count as grounding his club in the hazard. Decision 13-4/30

Explanation

There is no penalty. He does not get a free relief from an immovable obstruction in a water hazard, but grounding his club on it, does not count as grounding his club in the hazard. Decision 13-4/30

7. You're on the 8^th green with a long putt down the hill. After setting the ball in motion you hear a shout of 'FORE' off the 10^th tee. The ball from the 10^th rolls onto the green and collides with your ball, knocking it off line (it was probably on the wrong line anyway!). What should you do?

Shout some verbal abuse down to the player on the 10th

Replace you ball as close as possible to the original spot, with no penalty

Play your ball from where it lies, with no penalty

Play your ball from where it lies, with a one stroke penalty

If another player's ball interferes with your ball on the putting green, you are allowed to replace your ball as close as possible to the original spot without incurring any penalty. This is covered under Rule 9.6 in the Rules of Golf, which states that if a ball at rest is moved by another ball, the moved ball must be replaced. In this situation, shouting verbal abuse or playing the ball from its new position would not be the correct course of action.

Explanation

If another player's ball interferes with your ball on the putting green, you are allowed to replace your ball as close as possible to the original spot without incurring any penalty. This is covered under Rule 9.6 in the Rules of Golf, which states that if a ball at rest is moved by another ball, the moved ball must be replaced. In this situation, shouting verbal abuse or playing the ball from its new position would not be the correct course of action.

8. A player and fellow competitor signed his score card in the wrong place. What is the ruling?

They are both disqualified

The committee should accept the card

The player is disqualified

Both players should be sent for basic literary training

According to the rules of golf, if a player and fellow competitor sign the scorecard in the wrong place, the committee should still accept the card. This is because the signing of the scorecard is a formality to verify the player's score, and as long as the score is accurate, the committee should not penalize the players for signing in the wrong place. The focus is on the accuracy of the score, not the placement of the signature. Therefore, the committee should accept the card.

Explanation

According to the rules of golf, if a player and fellow competitor sign the scorecard in the wrong place, the committee should still accept the card. This is because the signing of the scorecard is a formality to verify the player's score, and as long as the score is accurate, the committee should not penalize the players for signing in the wrong place. The focus is on the accuracy of the score, not the placement of the signature. Therefore, the committee should accept the card.

9. In a stroke play competition a competitor returns his scorecard correctly signed by his marker and himself. The hole by hole scores is correct, but he records a total score, which is two strokes lower than his actual score. What is the ruling?

The competitor is disqualified

The penalty is disqualification but this may be waived by the committee

The committee must correct the error, without penalty to the competitor

Your name is entered on the 'Disco King' leaderboard

See Decision 6-6d/2

Explanation

See Decision 6-6d/2

10. In a stroke play competition, Billy snap-hooks his drive off the first towards the out of bounds. To play his next shot he removes a white stake, defining out of bounds, which is interfering with his swing. What is the ruling?

A penalty of one stroke

A penalty of two strokes

There is no penalty

Billy is disqualified and joins the disco king leaderboard

See Decision 13-2/25

Explanation

See Decision 13-2/25

11. In a stroke play competition, before he plays, Alistair looks into Billy's bag to see which club Billy has used for his last stroke. What is the ruling?

There is no penalty

Alistair is disqualified

Alistair incurs a penalty of two strokes

Billy gets a free hit at Alistair with the said club

See Decision 8-1/10

Explanation

See Decision 8-1/10

12. In a stroke play competition, Alistair slices his drive up the 14^th and lands in a rabbit scrape. Having told Billy his intentions to take relief from the scrape, he removes sand and loose soil from the area where he intends to drop the ball. What is the ruling?

There is no penalty

Alistair incurs a penalty of one stroke

Alistair incurs a penalty of two strokes

Alistair must re-drop the ball in a different location

See Decision 13-2/11

Explanation

See Decision 13-2/11

13. In a handicap match play competition, the conditions provide that the full difference between handicaps would be used. However the players in one match, unaware of conditions, use three-quarters of the difference between handicaps and the lower handicap player won giving his opponent 9 shots instead of 12. What is the ruling?

Both players are disqualified

The match stands as played

The match should be replayed

They work out the probable result of the match over a pint in the clubhouse

See Decision 6-2a/6

Explanation

See Decision 6-2a/6

14. In a stroke play event, a pool of casual water on the putting green lies between Colin's ball, which is on the green, and the hole. Rather than move his ball, Colin mops up the casual water with his conveniently placed towel. What is the ruling?

There is no penalty

Colin is disqualified

A penalty of one stroke

A penalty of two strokes

See Decision 13-2/34

Explanation

See Decision 13-2/34

15. In preparation for the Safari Open, Ewan has been practicing all week. On the day of the competition he walks on to the fourth tee after a level par start, only to discover he has left his spare wedge and driver in his bag and is carrying a total of 16 clubs. What is the ruling?

A two stroke penalty for every club over 14, giving a 4 stroke penalty

A two stroke penalty for every hole played under breach, giving a 6 stroke penalty

A two stroke penalty for every hole played under breach up to a maximum of 4 strokes

Ewan is disqualified and must explain his misdemeanour to the rest of his Safari team mates

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Explanation

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16. In a stroke play Open competition, visitors Richard and Dick are confused after finishing the 7th hole and play from the 12th tee instead of the 8th. After much scratching of heads they realised their error, collected their balls (that they had hooked onto the 11^th fairway) and played from the 8^th tee and completed their round. What is the ruling?

Richard and Dick are disqualified

Richard and Dick each incur a penalty of two strokes at the 8th

Richard and Dick should have completed the 12th hole before returning to the 8th tee

There is no penalty

see Decision 11-5/4

Explanation

see Decision 11-5/4

17. At the 3^rd hole, Fred played his third shot into a stiff breeze and the ball came to rest a 6 feet from the hole leaving a tricky downhill putt. Fred marked the position of the ball, lifted and cleaned it, then replaced it. Without lifting the marker, the Fred prepared to make a nervy par putt, but before he had addressed the ball, it rolled into the hole. What is the ruling?

There is no penalty and the ball must be replaced at the marker

The ball is deemed to have been holed by the last stroke for three

The ball is holed and the player must add a penalty stroke, making the score for the hole four

Rule 20-3d. The fact that the marker was left in place is irrelevant

Explanation

Rule 20-3d. The fact that the marker was left in place is irrelevant

18. Elsie misses her birdie putt at the 10th, and in a fit a rage lashes out at the ball. The ball comes to rest on the 14th fairway. What is the ruling?

There is no penalty and Elsie must play her 5th shot from where the ball lies

Elsie must replace her ball and incur a 1 stroke penalty

Elsie must replace her ball and incur a 2 stroke penalty

Elsie is disqualified and must attend anger management counselling and be forced to wear a tartan mirkin

According to the rules of golf, when a player's ball is moved by the player in anger, the player must replace the ball to its original position and incur a one-stroke penalty. Therefore, Elsie must replace her ball and add one stroke to her score.

Explanation

According to the rules of golf, when a player's ball is moved by the player in anger, the player must replace the ball to its original position and incur a one-stroke penalty. Therefore, Elsie must replace her ball and add one stroke to her score.

19. In a foursome stroke play competition, at the 9^th hole Murray puts his tee shot into the right hand bunker. His partner, Lee, fails to get the ball out of the bunker with his shot and in throwing a tantrum hits the sand with his club. Murray rakes over Lee's footprints in the sand (without improving the lie of the ball or the area of his stance) before playing the ball from the bunker onto the green, where Lee holes out with a single putt. What is their score for the hole?

5

6

8

10

tee shot + bunker shot + 2 PS by Lee hitting sand while still in bunker + 2PS by Murray for raking sand before playing a shot from bunker + bunker shot + putt
See Rule 13-4 and Decision 29/5

Explanation

tee shot + bunker shot + 2 PS by Lee hitting sand while still in bunker + 2PS by Murray for raking sand before playing a shot from bunker + bunker shot + putt
See Rule 13-4 and Decision 29/5

20. In a stroke play competition, Murray moves one of the tee-markers before playing a stroke from the teeing ground because, in his view, the tee-markers are aimed in the wrong direction. The tee-marker is not replaced. What is the ruling?

There is no penalty

He incurs a penalty of two strokes

He is disqualified and joins the masses already on the Disco King leaderboard

He's the Captain (allegedly!) and has the right to alter anything on the course (and are you going to argue?)

According to the rules of golf, moving a tee-marker before playing a stroke without replacing it is considered a breach of Rule 8.1a. This rule states that a player must not take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play or alter physical conditions with the potential to affect the playing of a hole. In this case, Murray's action of moving the tee-marker without replacing it is a violation of this rule. As a result, he is disqualified from the competition.

Explanation

According to the rules of golf, moving a tee-marker before playing a stroke without replacing it is considered a breach of Rule 8.1a. This rule states that a player must not take an action with the intent to influence the movement of a ball in play or alter physical conditions with the potential to affect the playing of a hole. In this case, Murray's action of moving the tee-marker without replacing it is a violation of this rule. As a result, he is disqualified from the competition.