2 Rules Questions

[roccokj]

have two rules questions from a round today.

1. As part of his routine, my playing partner addresses the ball and then swings through on the ground beside the ball, without hitting the ball. I said this should count as a stroke as he addressed the ball and swung. Am i correct?

2. My playing partners ball landed in long grass beside a hazard. The ball was not in the hazard and he said he would take an unplayable. He said he could drop the ball as far back as he wanted. I didn't think this was correct as your only option for taking an unplayable outside a hazard was two clublengths. Who is correct?
Thanks

 

[bobmac]

1. You are wrong as he made no attempt to hit the ball
2. He is right. He can go back as far as he wants, keeping the position of the ball and the fag in a straight line

 

[RGDave]

1. You are wrong as he made no attempt to hit the ball
2. He is right. He can go back as far as he wants, keeping the position of the ball and the fag in a straight line

It sounds like he sets up and then swings down deliberately missing the ball. Not a good recipe surely.

Sometimes I put the club behind the ball sometimes (to "feel" the lie), then shuffle back 1/2 a pace and practice swing. Maybe this is what he does? Doesn't everyone do this from time to time?

 

[Leftie]

Sometimes I put the club behind the ball sometimes (to "feel" the lie), then shuffle back 1/2 a pace and practice swing. Maybe this is what he does? Doesn't everyone do this from time to time?

Maybe everyone else, but not me. Why would you want to do that?

 

[bobmac]

At a guess, to check the height of the tee and no rough ground behind the ball?

 

[Smiffy]

He can go back as far as he wants, keeping the position of the ball and the fag in a straight line

What if he doesn't smoke?

 

[bobmac]

He can go back as far as he wants, keeping the position of the ball and the fag in a straight line

What if he doesn't smoke?

Then he cant have a drop, unless he drinks alot.
Oops

 

[cassius]

I think there is an anomaly with one of the golf rules which should be addressed by the Golfing Authorities. In particular, I refer to rule 19-5 (a) which addresses putting. In my view, this rule, is abuntantly clear for stroke play(2shot penality) which covers balls collisions whilst all players on the putting green. However, it is not,(in my view)explicit for match play, but at the end of rule 19-5(b) it does state match play = loss of hole!!??

During the last two weeks I have done my own little survey and asked fellow golfers their considered opinion for match play in the event players hits a partners/opponents ball and without hesitation, the concensus is loss of hole in match play and 2 stroke penality in stroke play. Can you proffer any advice to this rule please. I have asked the same question to 2 County Golf Referees and without hesitation they BOTH said loss of hole in match play.
Personally, I don't think there should be any format of golf which would allow players to hit partners/opponents ball whilst on putting green and I full appreciate that players have the right to ask for balls to be marked but I think the use of DELIBERATE back stops is not in the spirit of the game.
thanks.

 

[clubchamp07]

In this months mag there is a debate about putting. You cant touch the line of putt (between ball and hole). But you can and some top Pro's do it, put their putter infront of the ball, before making their stroke. It says that as long as you dont press down on the line. Who is to tell if your pressing down or not?
I cant see how this works for some people, I have tried it and found it strange.

 

[SammmeBee]

I think there is an anomaly with one of the golf rules which should be addressed by the Golfing Authorities. In particular, I refer to rule 19-5 (a) which addresses putting. In my view, this rule, is abuntantly clear for stroke play(2shot penality) which covers balls collisions whilst all players on the putting green. However, it is not,(in my view)explicit for match play, but at the end of rule 19-5(b) it does state match play = loss of hole!!??

During the last two weeks I have done my own little survey and asked fellow golfers their considered opinion for match play in the event players hits a partners/opponents ball and without hesitation, the concensus is loss of hole in match play and 2 stroke penality in stroke play. Can you proffer any advice to this rule please. I have asked the same question to 2 County Golf Referees and without hesitation they BOTH said loss of hole in match play.
Personally, I don't think there should be any format of golf which would allow players to hit partners/opponents ball whilst on putting green and I full appreciate that players have the right to ask for balls to be marked but I think the use of DELIBERATE back stops is not in the spirit of the game.
thanks.

I think you need to buy a ball marker, or better still use a 2p piece to save you some money....

In general, most rule infringements in match play end up with loss of hole.... the bit you're on about applies to Rule 19 as a whole not just the bit at the end....

 

[Mike_j_golf]

for the first question harrington dose this all the time when he is putting address the ball and then has a pratice beside it.
Mike

 

[roccokj]

Sometimes I put the club behind the ball sometimes (to "feel" the lie), then shuffle back 1/2 a pace and practice swing. Maybe this is what he does? Doesn't everyone do this from time to time?

No he stays in the exact same position since he addressed it
just to make it clear, he takes his backswing as if he is going to hit the ball and then swings down beside it...like as if he completely made a airshot!

 

[muttleee]

just to make it clear, he takes his backswing as if he is going to hit the ball and then swings down beside it...like as if he completely made a airshot!

What's the point of a practice swing if it's deliberately different from the actual swing?