Last week, I received a query on the web site I use to promote my book, Golf Rules Questions. It was from Margaret, who said that she is still not sure when she incurs a one stroke penalty. This is an area of the Rules that puzzles many golfers. When I participated in the Royal & Ancient’s Quiz on the Rules for Golf Clubs in the UK and Ireland (discontinued in 2007), I put together a table, broken down into three distinct sections with catchy, descriptive headings to help me remember which breaches incur the penalty of one stroke. I have updated it for the changes introduced in January 2008 and am reproducing it here in the hope that it will assist readers.

‘Buying’ a Stroke:
Rule 26-1&2: Ball in Water Hazard.
Rule 27-1: Ball Lost or Out of Bounds.
The ‘stroke and distance’ penalty.
Rule 28: Ball Unplayable.
Rule 25-1: Abnormal Ground Condition.
When a player elects to take relief outside of a bunker filled with water they incur a penalty of one stroke.

‘Ghost’ Strokes:
Rule 14-4: Striking the Ball More than Once.
Rule 16-2 Ball Overhanging Hole.
Ball drops in after more than 10 seconds.
Rule 18-2 Ball at Rest Moved by Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment in Match Play.
Moving the ball (accidentally), or touching it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it).
Equipment of the player, or their partner, causes their ball to move.
Rule 18-3 Ball at Rest Moved by Opponent, Caddie or Equipment in Match Play.
Unless it is moved accidentally during search.
Rule 19-3 Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped by Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment.
E.g. when, after making a stroke, the ball rebounds of an object and hits the player.

Lifting Infringements:
Rule 5-3: Ball Unfit for Play.
Failure to comply with the correct procedure (i.e. announcing intention to lift the ball to opponent or marker, marking its position and not cleaning it beyond the extent necessary to confirm that it is damaged).
Rule 6-8: Discontinuance of Play.
If a player lifts the ball without a good reason to do so (e.g. bad weather) fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it or fails to report the lifting to the Committee.
Rule 12-2: Identifying Ball.
Failure to comply with the correct procedure, as above.
Rule 20-1 Lifting and Marking.
Lifting a ball under a Rule that requires it to be replaced, without first marking the position of that ball. N.B. Accidentally moving a ball marker incurs a one stroke penalty if it is not directly attributable to the act of marking the ball.
Rule 20-2: Dropping and Re-dropping.
Dropping the ball incorrectly (e.g. by the wrong person, or not at arm’s length or shoulder height).
Rule 20-3a: Placing and Replacing.
Wrong person places or replaces a ball.
Rule 21: Cleaning Ball.
When not permitted having lifted it correctly under the Rules to determine whether it is fit for play for identification because it is interfering with or assisting play.

An important point to remember regarding these one stroke penalties is that they apply to both stroke play and match play, whereas the general penalty in stroke play is two strokes and in match play is loss of hole. The other penalty is disqualification and I will cover this in a future blog.

Save strokes with a better knowledge of the Rules.

Barry Rhodes
Author of ‘999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’ a book to help players of all capabilities to understand the Rules.
999Q on Twitter

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Hello again! This is Carling Coffing blogging straight from The Duramed Futures Tour, and I just finished up my 12^th tournament of the year. This is the part of the season where you really have to grind because there are six straight weeks of tournaments with NO off-weeks! A lot of players are choosing to not play all six events because it is too hard on their games, bodies, spirits, etc. But I’m just a rookie, and I look forward to experiencing these mistakes all on my own, so for this last stretch of six I say, “bring it on!”

We started out in Connecticut. It was a beautiful course with sloping greens and big fairways. I hit the ball like unbelievably great. No really—I couldn’t have hit it better even if magical pin-seeking fairy dust was sprinkled all over me. I had a lot of trouble making putts though. It was okay though because I felt like it was improving and all I had to do was make the cut so I could put it all together on the final day. So with 2 holes to play on Saturday, I’m five over for the two days. I hear through the grape-vine that they think the cut will be four over. I need a biride! Of course…like it was destiny…I lipped out on 17. No biggie. Do not panic. I can birdie the last hole, it’s just a tiny, little, simple 185 yard sloping par three—easy, right?

I’m excited to even get the ball on the green to 35 feet. I have a shot at it. This is my time to make history. So I charge the hole like a rhinoceros on safari. Bam! Missed! I not only missed the putt, but hit it eight feet by the hole. So I make a lousy attempt at my second putt, and as I tap in for a three-putt bogey I think, “oh well, I missed the cut anyway. Nice try.”

So I congratulated my opponents and made a joke in the scoring tent about wanting to save my win for a week with a bigger purse – haha. Then I headed to the next location. Three hours into the trip I decided to check the scores of the tournament. And then I notice something very, very….very strange. The grapevine was wrong! My grapes had gone sour! The cut-line ended up being 5 over. The very score I was at until I magically turned into a safari animal with a putter in her hand. All I needed to do was 2 putt the last hole. Just two easy putts from 35 feet. How could I be so ridiculous?? I felt like a big flashing neon “ROOKIE” sign was plastered straight across my forehead.

I’d like to just say, “well you live and you learn” and move on…but this one hurt, it stung me bad. I can feel the pressure building up as the season is quickly coming to an end. There are only so many opportunities left, and it’s time for everyone to start making their move. It may have taken a day or so, but I did end up moving on from my rookie mistake and going at my tournament in New Hampshire full force! I made the cut, and brought home a little paycheck that next week. But there was room for improvement and I think that this third week in Syracuse, NY is going to be great!

My mom and dad had business to take care of back in Ohio, so I will be doing this one all by myself! I know—don’t forget to floss your teeth, eat your vegetables, clean your rental car, and register on Tuesday. I’m expecting these mother’s text messages haha. I’m a little nervous to go out there without a caddy this week, but I’m going to give it my all and see what happens. I’ll let you know how it goes! See you next time

Carling

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