Q. Parrish and Karl are playing a match. Before playing from the tee of the par-3 8th hole, Parrish asks Karl which club Karl had just used. Karl replies that he hit 6-iron. What is the ruling?
A. Parrish loses the hole. It does not matter that Karl answered because Parrish lost the hole as soon as he asked for advice from his opponent.
Q. Steve and Frank are participating in a stroke-play competition. Before playing from the tee of the par-3 12th hole, Steve asks Frank which club Frank had just used. Frank replies that he hit 7-iron. Did either player break a rule?
A. Yes, they both did; Steve for asking for advice and Frank for providing it. Each player incurs a two-stroke penalty. (Note the difference in rulings for the second player in the match-play and stroke-play examples.)
Q. On the 4th hole, David hits a poor tee shot and, in frustration, slams his club into the turf, bending the shaft. What is the ruling?
A. While there is no penalty under the Rules of Golf for David’s behavior, he may not use that club for the rest of the round because he changed its playing characteristics outside the normal course of play. Furthermore, he may not carry that club in that condition in a later round because it no longer conforms due to the bent shaft.
Q. In a match between Ben and Jim, Ben loses the 11th hole. After completing that hole, Ben drops a ball into a greenside bunker and replays the bunker shot that caused the loss. Has Ben incurred a penalty?
A. Yes, and it is the loss of the 12th hole. While a player may practice putting or chipping between the play of two holes, he may not practice from a hazard (bunker or water hazard). The penalty is applied to the next hole.
Q. Stephanie is searching for her ball that she believes is covered by leaves in a bunker. She accidentally moves her ball. What is the ruling?
A. She incurs one penalty stroke, and the ball must be replaced. (Note: This ruling reflects a Rules change for 2012. Previously, a player was not penalized for moving a ball in the above situation.)
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