Daft question...

[Bunkers]

Howdy chaps,

A rather odd rules question here.

On the green, i know that the line of the putt is sacred and cannot be touched but that leaves etc can be lifted. My question is this...if there was a pocket leaf blower developed to "clean" the line of sand/leaves etc, would this be allowed as it doesn't touch the green stuff?

(You can tell i've had far too much time recently to think up such nonsense!!)

Your thoughts please....

 

[Robobum]

As long as it fits in your pocket with the mini lawn mower and mini strimmer.

Please refer to the thread title

 

[KeefG]

Is this going to replace your Powakaddy?

 

[pokerjoke]

Yes rather daft question,i know boredom can get all sorts of mad ideas in peoples heads but this is crazy mad,surely in scotland the wind will do the job for you,lol

 

[CliveW]

Not such a daft question. In a lot of major competitions the green staff blow leaves off the green before the players arrive. They also squeegeee the greens if there is excess water, so why shouldn't you be able to do it if such a gadget existed?

 

[USER1999]

Equally well, if pulling out a tuft of grass is improving your lie, and a one shot penalty, and knocking a leaf off a tree with a practice swing is a one shot penalty, what is the penalty for chopping the whole flipping tree down?

 

[bobmac]

Not such a daft question. In a lot of major competitions the green staff blow leaves off the green before the players arrive. They also squeegeee the greens if there is excess water, so why shouldn't you be able to do it if such a gadget existed?

Time?
Unduly delaying the following group I guess would be a reason.

 

[KeefG]

knocking a leaf off a tree with a practice swing is a one shot penalty

Sorry???? Run that one by me again!!!

I presume you're taking the proverbial....at least I hope you are?

 

[bobmac]

knocking a leaf off a tree with a practice swing is a one shot penalty

Sorry???? Run that one by me again!!!

I presume you're taking the proverbial....at least I hope you are?

Not exactly.
If you address the ball and then go slowly into your backswing to test if there's anything in your way and you hit a branch, twig, stick and a leaf falls out of the tree, it's a penalty and loss of hole in match play

 

[freddielong]

It happened to Tiger in the WGC matchplay thing that Darren Clarke won, Tiger hit it into some trees (at least on the edge of them) whilst he was seeing if he had enough room he nocked some leaves down, and as he made no attempt to play the ball he lost the hole.

 

[KeefG]

knocking a leaf off a tree with a practice swing is a one shot penalty

Sorry???? Run that one by me again!!!

I presume you're taking the proverbial....at least I hope you are?

Not exactly.
If you address the ball and then go slowly into your backswing to test if there's anything in your way and you hit a branch, twig, stick and a leaf falls out of the tree, it's a penalty and loss of hole in match play

OMG!!!!!!!!!

I do that alllllllllll the time

 

[bobmac]

knocking a leaf off a tree with a practice swing is a one shot penalty

Sorry???? Run that one by me again!!!

I presume you're taking the proverbial....at least I hope you are?

Not exactly.
If you address the ball and then go slowly into your backswing to test if there's anything in your way and you hit a branch, twig, stick and a leaf falls out of the tree, it's a penalty and loss of hole in match play

OMG!!!!!!!!!

I do that alllllllllll the time

You're a very naughty man

 

[KeefG]

knocking a leaf off a tree with a practice swing is a one shot penalty

Sorry???? Run that one by me again!!!

I presume you're taking the proverbial....at least I hope you are?

Not exactly.
If you address the ball and then go slowly into your backswing to test if there's anything in your way and you hit a branch, twig, stick and a leaf falls out of the tree, it's a penalty and loss of hole in match play

OMG!!!!!!!!!

I do that alllllllllll the time

You're a very naughty man

Rest assured, i'll not be doing it again!

 

[Fyldewhite]

....knocking a leaf off a tree with a practice swing is a one shot penalty...

This is commonly believed to be true but is a bit of a golfing urban myth. It can be a penalty but in most cases it won't be. There is a decision (13-2/22) which says:

The answer depends on whether the area of the intended swing is improved. In some cases, the knocking down of a number of leaves would not improve the area of the intended swing as the player still has to swing through a number of remaining leaves when making his stroke. In such circumstances, there would be no breach of the Rules. In other cases, the knocking down of one leaf might improve the area of the intended swing, in which case there would be a breach of Rule 13-2.

So, if you catch a branch and knock a few leaves off but essentially don't really change anything then no penalty. On the other hand if your backswing catches a couple of leaves and once they've gone you now won't catch anything then clearly this would be a penalty.

There's obviously some middle ground where it's a question of judgement but the principle is that if you have made your shot easier then it is a penalty. In most cases, knocking off a couple of leaves wouldn't do this.

 

[bobmac]

There's obviously some middle ground where it's a question of judgement but the principle is that if you have made your shot easier then it is a penalty. In most cases, knocking off a couple of leaves wouldn't do this.

Would you risk it in a match or comp?

 

[Fyldewhite]

If I thought it was a situation where I may improve my swing then I'd be very careful, a bit like when addressing a ball that looks like it may move.

Most players (including myself) would usually be pretty careful anyway and I'm not suggesting it's OK to have a good thrash around before the shot by any means. The point I'm making is that if, despite being careful, you do knock off a leaf then it isn't automatically a penalty (and usually wouldn't be) whereas a lot of players think it is.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I understand the decision but would you really risk it in a big event with the supposition of most players being a penalty or loss of hole. Even if you agreed to play two balls (stroke play) and record both scores and refer back to the committee it would destroy your composure. To be honest since the widespread exposure of the Woods incident I'd assumed there was not other decision anyway and hadn't heard of 13-2/22

 

[viscount17]

If I thought it was a situation where I may improve my swing then I'd be very careful, a bit like when addressing a ball that looks like it may move.

Most players (including myself) would usually be pretty careful anyway and I'm not suggesting it's OK to have a good thrash around before the shot by any means. The point I'm making is that if, despite being careful, you do knock off a leaf then it isn't automatically a penalty (and usually wouldn't be) whereas a lot of players think it is.

and given that most players won't be aware of that ruling (and not having a referee handy), there'll be some rare old squabbling going on, unsigned cards and decisions taken back to the committee. just what you'd want in the middle of a medal.

 

[bobmac]

and given that most players won't be aware of that ruling (and not having a referee handy), there'll be some rare old squabbling going on, unsigned cards and decisions taken back to the committee. just what you'd want in the middle of a medal.

Thats what I was wondering Steve.
Better to be safe than sorry.

 

[drawboy]

There is some very serious stir craziness setting in on here recently,judging by the recent posts if some of us don't play this weekend we may as well stick underpants on our heads,pencils up our noses and say "Wibble"