October Rules Quiz 2011 - Answers.

Hole 1, Par 4. Strokeplay.

Billy has just purchased a new Ping G20 driver from Kevin at an unbeatable price. In order to protect his investment, he puts a strip of black plastic tape on the crown to protect it from sky marks. He strikes a drive to the bottom of the hill, chips to two feet and sinks the putt. What should go on Billy's card?

a) 3
b) 4
c) 5
d) DQ

Q.May a player put an adhesive bandage or tape on the clubhead to reduce glare or to protect the club from being damaged?
A. Decision 4-1/5
An adhesive bandage or tape added to the clubhead is considered an external attachment, rendering the club non-conforming (see Appendix II, Rule 1a but see also Decision 4-1/4). However, material attached to the clubhead that does not affect the performance of the club and is semi-permanent, durable, not easily removable and conforms to the shape of the clubhead may be permitted by exception, but an adhesive bandage or tape does not fall under that exception because such items are temporary in nature and easily removable.

Hole 2, Par 3. Strokeplay.

Joe's tee shot kicks off the back of the right hand bunker and ends up tight to the wire fence. After rubbing his smig for a minute, Joe has a bright idea. He takes a 7 iron, goes out the gate and pulls on the ball through the fence. The ball scurries onto the green to 8 feet and the putt was duly sunk. Which of the below is correct?

a) Joe had an unlikely par
b) Joe is penalised 2 shots for having a foreign object (fencewire) between clubface and ball
c) Joe is disqualified for making a stroke while not on the golf course.

Joe did not breach any rules in his clever solution to his dilemma.

Hole 3, Par 4. Matchplay.

Both Margaret and Nora are on the green in three. Margaret's approach putt races past the pin and runs 10 feet by before hitting Nora's ball. Margaret gets the return putt. Nora neglects to replace her ball to the original position and two putts. Which one of the below is correct?

a) Margaret lost the hole as soon as her ball collided with Nora's on the green.
b) The hole is halved in 5.
c) Nora lost the hole for putting from the wrong place.

In matchplay there is no penalty for hitting your opponent's ball when putting (strokeplay penalty is 2 shots) Rule 19-5a. Nora should have replaced her ball to the original position before putting thus losing the hole, Rule 18-5.

Hole 4, Par 4. Strokeplay.

Fintan pulls his drive towards the 8th green and yells a healthy FORE! Although his ball is not on the green, on taking his stance, his feet would be. Which of the below is an option for Fintan?

a) play the ball as it lies
b) take a free drop one club-length from the nearest point of relief so he does not stand on the green
c) either a) or b) is correct

Fintan is not entitled to any free relief just because his stance is on the green. Rule 25-3a.

Hole 5, Par 5. Strokeplay.

Tommy's second ends up stuck to the base of the large ash tree 150m from the green. His ball is unplayable as it is cradled between two roots. He decides to take relief under penalty of one shot. He measures two club-lengths from the ball not nearer the hole and places a marker there. On dropping the ball, it kicks outside the marker but still within two club-lenghts of where it initially hit the ground. Which one of the below is correct?

a) he should play the ball as it lies.
b) he should place the ball on the spot where the dropped ball hit the ground.
c) he should re-drop the ball without penalty.

When taking relief from an unplayable lie, it is a common misconception that the dropped ball must end up within two club-lengths of where the ball originally lay. When taking relief under penalty as above, the ball must be dropped within two club-lengths not nearer the hole, Rule 28-c. It can then roll a further two club-lengths not nearer the hole from where it first hit the ground. Rule 20-2c(vi). Thus relief of nearly four club-lengths is possible under 28-c.

Hole 6, Par 3. Strokeplay.

John cuts his 5 iron off the tee and the ball lands in the right hand side of the hazard near the boundary fence. Fearing he will not be able to find his ball in the long grass, John reloads, declaring the ball a provisiona, and hits the green. John finds his original ball, plays it onto the green and holes out in two putts. What should go on John's card?

a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) DQ

When a ball is likely to be lost in a hazard, you may not play a provisional. Thus when John hit the second ball off the tee, it was the ball in play even though he declared it to be a provisional, Rule 27-2a. He holed out with the wrong ball and did not correct his error before teeing off at the next tee. Penalty is disqualification, Rule 15-3b.c.

Hole 7, Par 5. Matchplay.

Eamonn and Gerry leave their caddycars behind the sixth green and walk to then 7th tee. Eamonn hits the fairway. Gerry hits an awful daisy-cutter that hits Eamonn's caddycar and ricochets back to his feet. Gerry picks up the ball, tees it up again and makes a birdie second time around to Eamonn's par. Which of the below is correct?

a) Gerry wins the hole as Eamonn's equipment interfered with the flight of his ball.
b) Gerry wins the hole with a birdie.
c) Eamonn won the hole as soon as Gerry picked up the ball on the tee.

In matchplay if a player's ball strikes his opponent, opponents caddie or equipment, he has the option of playing the ball as it lies or retaking the shot, Rule 19-3. Gerry obviously chose the latter and won the hole with a birdie.

Hole 8, Par 4. Matchplay.

Peter and Paul are playing Mark and Mathew in a foursome match. As there is a low blinding sun into their eyes, Peter asks Paul to stand behind him to watch his drive into the sun. Peter is pumped as he hits a cracker down the middle putting pressure on the opposition. Which of the following is not an option for Mark whose turn it is to play?

a) Claim the hole as Peter's partner stood directly behind him when making a stroke.
b) Ignore the opposition's actions and hit his drive.
c) Request Peter to retake his drive after he had hit.

In any form of golf a player's caddie, partner or partners caddie may not stand directly inline behind them when making a stroke. Rule 14-2b. Penalty is loss of hole in matchplay or two strokes in strokeplay. In matchplay a player may overlook an opponent's transgression of the rules (note: this is very different to agreeing to waive a rule, Rule 1-3 where both sides would be disqualified). Thus Mark was entitled to do a) or b) but c) was not an option.

Hole 9, Par 5. Stokeplay.

Kevin has hit two fine shots to the green and is looking forward to the eagle opportunity. On his line there is a rectangular mark which was obviously made by someone slamming a putter into the green. He brings this to the attention of his playing partners, repairs the damage and holes out in two putts. What score should go on Kevin's card?

a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) 7

Unfortunately for Kevin, he is penalized two shots for improving his line. The only things you are allowed to repair on a green are ball marks and old cup plugs, Rule 16-1c. His birdie turns into a bogey. (note: Kevin would have been entitled to repair the damage if it was made by one of his playing partners after his ball came to rest on the green).

Hole 10, Par 3. Stableford.

Breda, Trish and Nora scored 6 for 3pts, 6 for 2pts and 7 for 1pt respectively at the 9th. Breda goes to take the honour but is asked by a competitive Trish to stand aside as she (Trish) had the honour on the 9th and should thus retain it on the 10th. Breda claims 3pts beats 2pts and refused to step down. Who should have the honour?

a) Breda
b) Trish
c) Nora, as the other two cannot agree.

Breda is correct to stand her ground. In strokeplay, the best gross score should take the honour as handicap shots are not taken into consideration until the end of the round. In stableford, the best nett score should have the honour as handicap shots are taken on a hole by hole basis.

Hole 11, Par 4. Stableford.

Mick's drive is taken on the wind into the GUR along the right hand side of the hole. Mick takes relief outside the GUR but notices his swing is hampered by some overhanging branches of a tree that is growing in the GUR. Mick re-drops so his swing is clear of the overhanging branches. What shot is Mick playing next?

a) 2nd
b) 3rd
c) 4th

Mick has his head screwed on. The canopy of a tree rooted within GUR is deemed to be within GUR, Decision 25-1a/1 and definition of GUR. In taking relief from GUR, you must take full relief, Rule 25-1b. If Mick had played from where he originally dropped and hit the overhanging branches, he would have been penalized two shots for not taking full relief.

Hole 12, Par 5. Stokeplay.

Tony has a treacherous putt for birdie down the 13th green. In making his customary brisk practice strokes, he clips the ball. The ball narrowly misses the cup and races off the green. He should .....?

a) play the ball as it lies. he would be playing his 5th.
b) replace the ball, he would be putting for a par.
c) replace the ball, he would be putting for a bogey.

Tony did not intentionally hit the ball and thus cannot be counted as a stroke and the ball should be replaced. As his ball was in play there is a penalty of one stroke and he must replace the ball, Rule 18-2.

Hole 13, Par 4. Stokeplay.

After a long wait on the tee, the bell eventually rings. Vincent, who has nearly seized-up, takes a few enthusiastic practice swings to loosen out. In the process he clips the ball and sends it flying into the briars on the right never to be seen again. After a few expletives (which were heard in Rooskey) Vincent reloads and makes par with the second ball. What score should he put on his card?

a) 4
b) 5
c) 6
d) DQ

Vincent did not intentionally hit the ball and thus cannot be counted as a stroke. As his ball was not in play, there is no penalty. A ball on a tee is not in play (note: if the player makes a 'fresh air' stroke at a ball on the tee, then the ball is then deemed to be in play).

Hole 14, Par 4. Matchplay.

Jo and Jean are playing Ann and Angela in the club foresome. Jo and Jean hole out for 6. Ann and Angela have two putts to win the hole. Ann hits a long putt to two and a half feet. Jo concedes the putt to Angela and thus the hole. Jean is horrified at her partner's action and insists Angela putts out. Angela, a little confused, misses the putt and then taps in the remaining two inch putt. Which of the below is correct?

a) The hole is halved in 6
b) Ann and Angela win the hole
c) Jo and Jean win the hole as Angela played out of turn in tapping in the putt.

Once a hole has been conceded it cannot be declined or withdrawn, Rule 2-4. Jo had the authority to concede the hole without Jean's consent. (note: Decision 2-4/3.5 rules that a player's caddie does not have the authority to make a concession.)

Hole 15, Par 4. Stableford.

Marion is having a fantastic day on the course, 38pts after 15 holes. As she heads for the 16th, it starts to bucket rain. Not wanting to get her new hairdo wet, Marion, to the relief of her struggling marker decides to call it a day and they head to the clubhouse. Scratches are entered for 16, 17, & 18 and the card is signed by both and entered. Her score is the highest returned on the day. What is the correct result?

a) She has won the competition fairly.
b) She should be disqualified for not completing the course.
c) She should be penalised 2 shots for each hole not completed, thus returning 32pts

Marion did not breech any rule by coming in after fifteen holes in a stableford competition.

Hole 16, Par 4. Stableford.

In fading light, Paddy could hear but not see his 3rd shot clip the trees on the left hand side just short of the green. Having a shot and a score going, Paddy plays a provisional onto the green. After 5 minutes of searching Paddy has no luck in locating his ball. As his marker tends the flag, he discovers Paddy's original ball in the cup. Paddy decides to finish out with the provisional and does so in a single putt. What did Paddy score?

a) does not score any points as he played the wrong (provisional) ball on the green.
b) scores 1 point for a 6.
c) scores 4 points for a birdie.

Paddy is deemed to have completed the hole when he holed out with his third shot. Therefore what he did with the provisional ball is irrelevant.

Hole 17, Par 3. Strokeplay.

On miserable wet day, Kathleen's 6 iron tee-shot to at 17 is the only ray of sunshine in the whole round. It stops just 2 inches from the hole. Sheltering under her umbrella in her left hand, Kathleen taps the ball in right-handed with her 6 iron. Which of the below did she score?

a) 4, as she is penalised 2 shots for not holing out with her putter
b) she is disqualified for sheltering under her umbrella.
d) 2 for a birdie.

Kathleen made a great birdie. There is no rule that says you must use a putter on the green. There is no rule that prohibits Kathleen from protecting herself from the elements Decision 14-2/2 (she would have been penalized if her caddie or playing partners had done so).

Hole 18, Par 4. Strokeplay.

Colm rips a drive down the centre of the fairway on a downright wet day. The ball plugs in the ridge just beyond the 150m mark. He marks the ball, cleans it, repairs the plug mark and drops as close as possible not nearer the hole. His 7 iron finds the green for an easy two putt. What score should Colm put on his card?

a) 4
b) 5
c) 6

Unfortunately a sour 6 must go on Colm's card despite some sweet striking of the golf ball. Colm was entitled to free drop from the embedded ball as he was on the fairway (closely-mown area through the green, Rule 25-2). He made the fatal error of repairing his plugmark before dropping the ball and is thus deemed to have improved the area on which he is to drop or place a ball (Rule 13-2). Penalty is two strokes.

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