Steven Rules
Well-known member
A while back, one of the articles I wrote for our club's monthly newsletter was 'The seven most common Rules breaches at [our club]'
By popular(?) demand I have been asked to share it here. I hope you are not underwhelmed. The original article was two pages long. Under each heading I outlined the common faults and misconcepitions, and then summarised or quoted the correct way to proceed under the Rules.
For the purposes of making this post a manageable size, I have edited it down to barely more than the headings in most cases. I think that should be sufficient for you to get the idea. I suspect the issues will be pretty common and recognisable across most clubs. Maybe some clubs have some other 'niche' issues that arise from something unique or specific to their layout or culture.
I am happy to hear your experiences and if you think there are others that could go on the list. At the risk of stating the obvious - let's have a discussion.
The seven most common Rules breaches at [our club]
1. Advice (See Definitions and Rule 10.2a)
2. Dropping in, and therefore playing from, a wrong place. Main causes:
• Choosing incorrect reference point.
• Not taking complete relief.
• Adjusting the reference point or relief area so as to avoid dropping in an unfavourable position, such as behind a tree.
• Dropping or placing the ball closer to the hole than the reference point or the original spot.
3. Failing to mark the ball when touching or lifting it to identify it. (Rule 7.3)
4. Removing sand or loose soil other than on the putting green. (Rule 8.1a(4))
5. Marking and lifting another player's ball without the authorisation of the other player (Rule 14.1b)
(Disclosure - this one is a personal pet peeve of mine.)
The player’s ball may be lifted under the Rules only by the player, or anyone the player authorises, but such authorisation must be given each time before the ball is lifted rather than given generally for the round.
6. Failing to properly or clearly announce a provisional ball (Rule 18.3b)
7. Overlooking breaches of the Rules (Rule 20.1c(2))
To protect the interests of all other players in a stroke play competition if a player knows or believes that another player has breached or might have breached the Rules and that the other player does not recognise or is ignoring this, the player should tell the other player, the player’s marker, a referee or the Committee. If the player fails to do so, the Committee may disqualify the player if it decides that this was serious misconduct contrary to the spirit of the game.
By popular(?) demand I have been asked to share it here. I hope you are not underwhelmed. The original article was two pages long. Under each heading I outlined the common faults and misconcepitions, and then summarised or quoted the correct way to proceed under the Rules.
For the purposes of making this post a manageable size, I have edited it down to barely more than the headings in most cases. I think that should be sufficient for you to get the idea. I suspect the issues will be pretty common and recognisable across most clubs. Maybe some clubs have some other 'niche' issues that arise from something unique or specific to their layout or culture.
I am happy to hear your experiences and if you think there are others that could go on the list. At the risk of stating the obvious - let's have a discussion.
The seven most common Rules breaches at [our club]
1. Advice (See Definitions and Rule 10.2a)
2. Dropping in, and therefore playing from, a wrong place. Main causes:
• Choosing incorrect reference point.
• Not taking complete relief.
• Adjusting the reference point or relief area so as to avoid dropping in an unfavourable position, such as behind a tree.
• Dropping or placing the ball closer to the hole than the reference point or the original spot.
3. Failing to mark the ball when touching or lifting it to identify it. (Rule 7.3)
4. Removing sand or loose soil other than on the putting green. (Rule 8.1a(4))
5. Marking and lifting another player's ball without the authorisation of the other player (Rule 14.1b)
(Disclosure - this one is a personal pet peeve of mine.)
The player’s ball may be lifted under the Rules only by the player, or anyone the player authorises, but such authorisation must be given each time before the ball is lifted rather than given generally for the round.
6. Failing to properly or clearly announce a provisional ball (Rule 18.3b)
7. Overlooking breaches of the Rules (Rule 20.1c(2))
To protect the interests of all other players in a stroke play competition if a player knows or believes that another player has breached or might have breached the Rules and that the other player does not recognise or is ignoring this, the player should tell the other player, the player’s marker, a referee or the Committee. If the player fails to do so, the Committee may disqualify the player if it decides that this was serious misconduct contrary to the spirit of the game.