Q. Tom’s ball comes to rest in the branch of a tree near the next tee. He realizes he can stand on a bench that’s below the ball and attempt to play it. He does so successfully. Was that legal?
A. Yes. If Tom had moved the bench to that location and played the ball, he would have been guilty of building a stance and would have lost the hole in match play or incurred a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. But since the bench was already in place, he could stand on it and attempt the shot without penalty.
Q. In a four-ball match, Doug is helping his partner Jim search for his (Jim’s) ball in the rough. Doug accidently kicks and moves Jim’s ball. What is the ruling?
A. Even though Doug moved it Jim incurs one penalty stroke, and the ball must be replaced.
Q. In a stroke-play event, Todd uses a rangefinder to obtain the distance for his approach shot to the 2nd hole. Has he broken a rule?
A. The answer depends on whether there is a Local Rule in effect that allows the use of distance-measuring devices. If there is such a Local Rule in effect, Todd is okay. If a Local Rule is not in effect, he is disqualified for using his rangefinder.
Q. In a match between Brian and Zach, Brian’s approach shot strikes a tree and then strikes Zach’s golf bag. What is the ruling?
A. In this match-play situation, Brian has a choice: he can play the ball from its new location, without penalty, or he can cancel the shot and hit it again from its original location — also without penalty
Q. Brooke’s putt for a birdie 3 comes to rest overhanging the lip of the hole. She walks to the hole, glares at her ball for 12 seconds, and the ball then falls into the hole. What is the ruling?
A. Her score is 4. When her ball dropped after she had reached the hole and an additional 10 seconds had expired, the ball was deemed holed and she incurred one penalty stroke. If the ball had fallen in before the 10-second limit, there wouldn’t have been a penalty and Brooke would have had her birdie.
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