31 Jul Simple Rules and Clarifications
These are things you might do which you don’t think are a concern but which actually mean you are breaking the rules.
- Sand and loose soil are classed as loose impediments only on the green …but not on the FRINGE . The only time you are entitled to brush away sand on the fringe is it it arrived there AFTER your ball had come to rest ( eg if another player’s bunker shot resulted in sand being sprayed over your line before your turn to play)
- Slope facility on range finders are acceptable for PRACTICE ROUNDS but must be turned off during a competition.( RULE 4.3a )
- When dropping from a path or other immovable obstruction , it is necessary to understand what it is you are taking relief from and what the consequences may be. You don’t get relief from trees , bushes, bad lies, poor angles to the green etc so if that is where your nearest point of relief from the immovable obstruction would put you , it maybe better to play the ball as it lies. Remember it is “nearest point of relief … not nicest” So be very careful to ascertain where your nearest point of relief would put you when you are deciding whether or not to take relief.
- Putting out or tapping in out of turn during a MATCH ( Match Play Rules) .You can’t do this as you do in Stoke Play because it is always the turn of the player or team furtherest from the hole to play next .If a putt has not been conceded, you are not allowed to tap it in . If you do your opponent is quite within their rights to ask you to replay the stroke . It’s all part of the psychological dynamics of Match Play and you should not feel aggrieved if you are asked to do so.
With Championships and Match Play events coming up in the next few weeks, these are just a few simple situations you can be aware of and save yourself angst.
