Jeff Beyer PGA, Head Golf Professional, Topstone Golf Course
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This week in the Pro's Corner:
Rule 25-3: Wrong Putting Green
October 6, 2017
Believe it or not but often times we hit errant shots during the course of our rounds. Some older courses were built on small tracks of land and their designers utilized every little bit of that space. As a result, other holes come into play and sometimes our shots land on the wrong putting green. When that happens, it is important to know the rules. You may not play your ball from a wrong putting green, you MUST take relief. Failure to do so will result in loss off hole in match play or a two-shot penalty in stroke play; as well as save the course from unnecessary damage.
Rules Of Golf, Definitions: Wrong Putting Green
A “wrong putting green” is any putting green other than that of the hole being played. It includes any practice putting greens or pitching green on the course.
Rule 25-3 Wrong Putting Green
- Interference – interference by a wrong putting green occurs when a ball is on the wrong putting green. Interference to a player’s stance or area of intended swing is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.
- Relief – If a player’s ball lies on a wrong putting green, he MUST not play the ball as it lies. He MUST take relief without penalty.
Here is a video explaining Rule 25-3, Wrong Putting Green.
Rule 27-2: Provisional Ball
September 7, 2017
The Rules Of Golf provides players with an option to help speed up play when you hit a ball that may be lost outside of a water hazard or out of bounds. Utilizing this rule can save you from having to walk back to the tee or area of your last shot to put another ball into play.
To learn more about Rule 27-2: Provisional Ball PLEASE SEE VIDEO HERE
Consider marking your provisional ball differently than your original in the event that you hit your provisional in the same proximity as your first ball.
Rule 24-1 Movable Obstructions
August 28, 2017
Definition: An "Obstruction" is anything artificial, including artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:
- Objects defining OB, any part of an immovable obstruction that is OB or any contruction considered to be an integral part of the course.
- An obstruction is considered movable if it is able to be moved without unreasonable effort, without causing delay and without causing damage.
Click here for a short video explaining Rule 24-1, Movable Obstructions
Basically, any object that is man-made and easily moved is a movable obstruction. Remember the time that Tiger Woods got the fans to move a boulder during an event…it was large but easily movable.
Rule 23 Loose Impediments
August 23, 2017
Definition: "Loose Impediments" are natural objects, including:
- stones, leaves, twigs, brances and the like.
- dung, and
- worms, insects and the like, and the casts and heaps made by them.
Provided they are not fixed or growing, solidly embedded or adhering to the ball. Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere. Click here for a video explaining Rule 23: Loose Impediments.
Rule 28 Ball Unplayable
July 27, 2017
Watching Jordan Spieth declare his ball unplayable during the Open Championship and take nearly 30 minutes to play his next shot made this rule an easy choice to present today. The rules of golf are not all about penalites…having knowledge of the rules can help you in many situations.
Definition: The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.
Click here for a quick video explaining Rule 28: Ball unplayable.
Rule 27-1 Ball Lost or Out of Bounds, Provisional Ball
July 20, 2017
Definition: A ball is deemed lost if:
- It is not found or identified within 5 minutes after search has begun
- The player has made a stroke with a "Provisional Ball" from the place the original ball is likely to be or closer to the hole
- The player has put another ball in player under the penalty of stroke and distance
- The player had make a stroke at a substituted ball
Click here for a quick video explaining what to do if you encounter any of this situations.
Rule 25 Abnormal Ground Conditions
July 17, 2007
Do you know how to identify abnormal ground conditions and the rules related to taking relief if permitted? Abnormal ground conditions are addressed by Rule 25 of the Rules of Golf, and the USGA has published this video to explain those conditions, declare if relief is permitted, and the procedure related to taking relief.
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