Rules question....

I emailed the R&A earlier and just got a reply:

Q: A player hits a tee shot which may be out of bounds. He does not leave the tee, but tees up another ball. Before hitting it, another player in the group asks "Is that a provisional?", and the player responds "Yes". Has the player adequately declared his intention to play a provisional?

Also, is asking the question “Is that a provisional?” offering advice?

A: In the case that you describe, the player has adequately declared his intention to play a provisional ball by answering “yes” to the question and the question itself is not advice.
 
He established it was provisional when you asked him; he should have mentioned the p word but got away with it. Rules abided by.
You must have meant opponent not partner....
 
Does this have anything to do with PN Wokingham's post about betting on the winner of the match between the two of you? ;)
 
Your playing partner has stuffed his first drive into the trees.
He doesn't say anything but just pulls out another ball and tees it up.
As he is about to play his shot, you ask him "Is this a provisional?"
He just replies "Yes".
Is it a provisional? He hasn't "declared" it. You have.
:D :D :D :D

Simple answer - don't ask and don't get involved, if he doesn't declare a provisional then it's the ball in play - lesson learnt.
 
Your playing partner has stuffed his first drive into the trees.
He doesn't say anything but just pulls out another ball and tees it up.
As he is about to play his shot, you ask him "Is this a provisional?"
He just replies "Yes".
Is it a provisional? He hasn't "declared" it. You have.
:D :D :D :D

Simple answer - don't ask and don't get involved, if he doesn't declare a provisional then it's the ball in play - lesson learnt.
im with you on this.. but ..Thats fine until this person finds the 1st ball and you have to tell him he cant play it because he didnt declare provisional then you have a very aquward scenario..
 
I emailed the R&A earlier and just got a reply:

Q: A player hits a tee shot which may be out of bounds. He does not leave the tee, but tees up another ball. Before hitting it, another player in the group asks "Is that a provisional?", and the player responds "Yes". Has the player adequately declared his intention to play a provisional?

Also, is asking the question “Is that a provisional?” offering advice?

A: In the case that you describe, the player has adequately declared his intention to play a provisional ball by answering “yes” to the question and the question itself is not advice.

IMHO; all damn obvious. Rules merely say player must inform... that he intends to play a provisional. You ask a clear question about a provisional, he responds with a clear answer. That informs you of his intention. Doesn't matter which person used which precise words - after the exchange, you are in no doubt about whats happening. Nuff sed.
 
I emailed the R&A earlier and just got a reply:

Q: A player hits a tee shot which may be out of bounds. He does not leave the tee, but tees up another ball. Before hitting it, another player in the group asks "Is that a provisional?", and the player responds "Yes". Has the player adequately declared his intention to play a provisional?

Also, is asking the question “Is that a provisional?” offering advice?

A: In the case that you describe, the player has adequately declared his intention to play a provisional ball by answering “yes” to the question and the question itself is not advice.

IMHO; all damn obvious. Rules merely say player must inform... that he intends to play a provisional. You ask a clear question about a provisional, he responds with a clear answer. That informs you of his intention. Doesn't matter which person used which precise words - after the exchange, you are in no doubt about whats happening. Nuff sed.

I agree, and was pretty confident that the reply would confirm that. I was pleasantly surprised the R&A responded so quickly!
 
I emailed the R&A earlier and just got a reply:

Q: A player hits a tee shot which may be out of bounds. He does not leave the tee, but tees up another ball. Before hitting it, another player in the group asks "Is that a provisional?", and the player responds "Yes". Has the player adequately declared his intention to play a provisional?

Also, is asking the question “Is that a provisional?” offering advice?

A: In the case that you describe, the player has adequately declared his intention to play a provisional ball by answering “yes” to the question and the question itself is not advice.

IMHO; all damn obvious. Rules merely say player must inform... that he intends to play a provisional. You ask a clear question about a provisional, he responds with a clear answer. That informs you of his intention. Doesn't matter which person used which precise words - after the exchange, you are in no doubt about whats happening. Nuff sed.

I agree, and was pretty confident that the reply would confirm that. I was pleasantly surprised the R&A responded so quickly!

Interesting in that I didn't realise that the R&A answered what one might call "casual queries". Who/how did you contact them?
 
When I worked in a pro shop and there was a rules dispute, it was normally sorted out in house as it were. If the players still weren't happy, the head pro would contact a PGA referee at the R&A for a final ruling.

If every golfer who had a rule question phoned a referee, he would be on the phone 24/7
 
Interesting in that I didn't realise that the R&A answered what one might call "casual queries". Who/how did you contact them?

If you look at Rules on the R&A website, in the rule book below each rule is a 'query' link which opens up a dialogue box for you to enter a query. It asks if the query concerns a competition, to which I answered 'No' assuming that I would be directed back to the Competition Committee is I answered otherwise.
 
IMHO; all damn obvious. Rules merely say player must inform... that he intends to play a provisional. You ask a clear question about a provisional, he responds with a clear answer. That informs you of his intention. Doesn't matter which person used which precise words - after the exchange, you are in no doubt about whats happening. Nuff sed.

Fair enough
;)
 
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