Rule 13-4

[sawtooth]

For some time now I have not grounded a club in a hazard to the extent of sometimes raising my club off the ground high to avoid touching high grasses. ie club could be waist high off the ground.

I stumbled across this exception and so now realised that I have been getting wrong for years!

"Note: At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for the stroke, the player may touch, with a club or otherwise, any obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing."

Doh!

 

[CliveW]

That would have been interesting to see if you were in long grass in a water hazard.

 

[Foxholer]

That would have been interesting to see if you were in long grass in a water hazard.

All it would mean is that you wouldn't be allowed a practice swing in that area! It's something I have experienced!

 

[sawtooth]

My fault for not reading the rule properly

 

[delc]

Didn't a Tour player once DQ himself because he touched a reed with his backswing when playing out of a hazard? Grounding the club means precisely what it says by the way.

 

[Imurg]

Didn't a Tour player once DQ himself because he touched a reed with his backswing when playing out of a hazard? Grounding the club means precisely what it says by the way.

Twas Brian Davis and he moved a loose impediment in a hazard on his back swing.....if my memory serves he didn't DQ just added the penalty and lost the tournament as a result

 

[Green Bay Hacker]

Didn't a Tour player once DQ himself because he touched a reed with his backswing when playing out of a hazard? Grounding the club means precisely what it says by the way.

Are you thinking of Brian Davis who called a penalty on himself and I think it cost him a title?

Damn, too slow!

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It was in the playoff i believe

 

[Imurg]

Are you thinking of Brian Davis who called a penalty on himself and I think it cost him a title?

Damn, too slow!

A fine effort though Sir!!

 

[sawtooth]

Didn't a Tour player once DQ himself because he touched a reed with his backswing when playing out of a hazard? Grounding the club means precisely what it says by the way.

So as long as the weight of the club is not supported by the ground, you may touch grass no matter how long it is?

Thing is, if the grass is really short it may look like the club is almost grounded - but that is OK?

 

[rulefan]

Yes.

 

[rulefan]

Twas Brian Davis and he moved a loose impediment in a hazard on his back swing...

It was a piece of broken off reed.

 

[delc]

It was a piece of broken off reed.

So if it was still growing and attached to the ground, he would have been alright?

 

[Colin L]

Yes

 

[FairwayDodger]

OK, help me clarify this.... Loose impediments in a hazard, specifically the common one - leaves in bunkers.

Obviously, you can't touch it or move it.

When playing your shot, you can touch it on the forward motion (the stroke) but not the backswing?

 

[guest100718]

OK, help me clarify this.... Loose impediments in a hazard, specifically the common one - leaves in bunkers.

Obviously, you can't touch it or move it.

When playing your shot, you can touch it on the forward motion (the stroke) but not the backswing?

yes thats correct

 

[sawtooth]

yes thats correct

So in normal play from rough you can move any loose impediment near the ball but cannot move anything that is rooted/planted to the ground. In a hazard its more or less the opposite, you can touch grass and such as long its attached, planted, still growing etc. but you cant touch or remove loose impediments in the hazard? - only when in the down/thru swing ie making a stroke.

 

[Foxholer]

So in normal play from rough you can move any loose impediment near the ball but cannot move anything that is rooted/planted to the ground. In a hazard its more or less the opposite, you can touch grass and such as long its attached, planted, still growing etc. but you cant touch or remove loose impediments in the hazard? - only when in the down/thru swing ie making a stroke.

A little exaggeration/extreme to say 'opposite'!

The only (well, major) differences are that, when you are in a hazard, you can't ground you club, nor move a loose impediment (except on the downswing of a stroke).

You can't move something rooted/planted in the ground when in a hazard either! And you are entitled to 'touch grass and such things as long as it's attached, planted, still growing etc. wherever you are, but on a somewhat restricted basis when in a hazard!

 

[sawtooth]

A little exaggeration/extreme to say 'opposite'!

The only (well, major) differences are that, when you are in a hazard, you can't ground you club, nor move a loose impediment (except on the downswing of a stroke).

You can't move something rooted/planted in the ground when in a hazard either! And you are entitled to 'touch grass and such things as long as it's attached, planted, still growing etc. wherever you are, but on a somewhat restricted basis when in a hazard!

Yeah its not opposite , not even close. But hopefully you grasped what I was trying to say.

It should help me to remember in a round about way.