The Kevin Na slow play phenomenon at the Tournament Players Championship has everyone in the golf community talking about slow play. Na has become the poster-boy for slow play and has been torched in the locker room and in social media. He was put on the clock in the third round of the tournament and then recorded a bad time, which means by PGA Tour Pace of Play guidelines, he is likely subject to an automatic fine.
Rule 6-7 in the Rules of Golf covers Undue Delay; Slow Play. The Rule states: “The player must play without undue delay and in accordance with any pace of play guidelines that the Committee may establish. Between completion of a hole and playing from the next teeing ground, the player must not unduly delay play.” Note 2 under this Rule says: “For the purpose of preventing slow play, the Committee may, in the conditions of a competition (Rule 33-1), establish pace of play guidelines including maximum periods of time allowed to complete a stipulated round, a hole or a stroke.”
The normal penalty for a breach of Rule 6-7 would be two strokes in stroke play. In stroke play, the Committee may, in such a condition, modify the penalty for a breach of this Rule as follows:
First offense – One stroke
Second offense – Two strokes
For subsequent offense – Disqualification
In Michigan PGA events, we define undue delay as taking more than 40 seconds to play a stroke. Other than on the putting green, the timing of a player’s stroke will begin when he and his caddie have had a reasonable opportunity to reach his ball, it is his turn to play, and he can play without interference or distraction. Time spent determining yardage will count as time taken for that stroke. On the putting green, timing will begin after a player has been allowed a reasonable amount of time to lift, clean and replace his ball, repair his ball mark and other ball marks on his line of putt and remove loose impediments. Time spent looking at the line from beyond the hole and/or behind the ball will count as time taken for that stroke. Our Pace of Play Policy has been adopted from USGA and PGA Tour events.
If you have any questions on the Rules of Golf you can submit them to “Ask The Pros” @new.mikefaygolf on Twitter or you can contact me direct at [email protected] I hope you are “Playing by the Rules.”
We will continue our journey through the principal Rules changes introduced for 2012 by discussing Rule 20-7c Playing from Wrong Place; Stroke Play. Note 3, under Rule 20-7c has been amended so that if a player is penalized for playing from a wrong place, in most cases the penalty will be limited to two strokes, even if another Rule has been breached prior to his making the stroke.
Note 3 now states: “If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for:
(a) Substituting a ball when not permitted;
(b) Dropping a ball when the Rules require it to be placed, or placing a ball when the Rules require it to be dropped;
(c) Dropping a ball in an improper manner; or
(d) A ball being put into play by a person not permitted to do so under the Rules”
If you would like to learn more about the Rules of Golf please follow me on Twitter @fgcards. I usually Tweet out some Rules and Decisions on the Rules of Golf each day.
Rule 19-1, Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped by Outside Agency, now includes an expansion to the Note to prescribe various outcomes when a ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency. To quote the Rule Book:
“Note: If a player’s ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency:
(a) After stroke from anywhere other than on the putting green, the spot where the ball would have come to rest must be estimated. If the spot is:
(i)through the green or in a hazard, the ball must be dropped as near as possible to that spot;
(ii)out of bounds, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1; or
(iii)on the putting green, the ball must be placed on that spot.
(b) After stroke on the putting green, the stroke is cancelled. The ball must be replaced and replayed.
If the outside agent is a fellow-competitor or his caddie, Rule 1-2 applies to the fellow-competitor.
(Players ball deflected or stopped by another ball – See Rule 19-5)”
Formerly, Rule 19-1 provided that if a players ball was “purposely” deflected or stopped by an outside agency (eg: a spectator), the principles of equity were applied to determine the point from where the ball was to be played. A number of rules decisions provided guidance. The new note to 19-1 clarifies this situation. Thomas Pagel, the Senior Director of Rules of Golf for the USGA, explained that these changes were driven by a desire to add more certainty to the rule.
Our articles on the principal changes in the Rules of Golf for 2012 – 15 continues as we discuss “Rule 6-3a Time of Starting”. Rule 6-3a has been amended to provide that the penalty for starting late, but within five minutes of the starting time, is reduced from disqualification to the loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Previously, this penalty reduction could be introduced as a condition of competition.
Though many golfers will notice this revision, the Rules will be more forgiving to players who get to the tee late, but within five minutes, of their starting time. In the past, if a player arrived late to the tee, they were disqualified unless the Committee had added a condition of competition that allowed for a five minute grace period, which would modify the penalty to two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play. The 2012 revision modifies the rule to match the current condition of the competition. Now, only players that arrive more than five minutes after the starting time will be disqualified.
"What a stupid I am to be wrong here," De Vicenzo said after realizing his misfortune.
The Masters has been the scene for some of the greatest victories in golf, but it has also been the scene of one of the most crushing defeats due to a golf ruling. In 1968, Argentinean Roberto DeVicenzo, the reigning British Open Champion, finished the final round of the Masters with what seemed to be a 65 to tie for the lead and the promise of a playoff. Tommy Aaron, who kept DeVicenzo’s score, mistakenly marked down a four for the 17th hole instead of a three, which was DeVicenzo’s actual score.
DeVicenzo signed the card, and when he did that, he signed for 66 instead of a 65, thus giving the 1968 Masters to Bob Goalby. DeVicenzo had become the victim of Rule 6-6d which states: “The competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his score card. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified. If he returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands.”
The Masters has also provided other memorable Rules incidents and I will highlight a couple of those for your interest. In 2008, Padraig Harrington penalized himself one stroke because his ball had moved after he addressed it, even though the movement was obviously caused by a gusting wind (Rule18-2b).
Also in 2008, Rory McIlroy failed to hit his ball out of a bunker and then kicked/smoothed the sand. If it had been ruled that he kicked the sand out of frustration he would have been disqualified, as Decision 13-4/0.5 states that kicking the ground in the hazard constitutes testing the condition. Fortunately for Rory, the Committee accepted his explanation that he was just smoothing the sand with his foot, which does not incur a penalty, as per Exception 2 to Rule 13-4.
Amateur players are going to be pleased with some of the rule changes for 2012. Amateur golfers all over the world will now be allowed to play for unlimited hole – in – one prizes.
In the past, the rules allowed for amateurs to receive only small prizes, and that accepting something of greater value would force golfers to surrender their amateur status. In one high profile instance, Derek Lawrenson, a golf writer for The Daily Mail newspaper in London, England won a Lamborghini but had to forfeit his amateur status. The governing bodies of the USGA and R & A have determined that “the special nature of a hole – in –one during a round of golf means that restrictions on the prizes offered have been lifted.”
In addition, the new Rules of Amateur Status include changes for elite amateur golfers aimed at easing the move from amateur to professional. It follows a far-reaching four-year review of amateurism in golf, which even questioned the need for a set of rules and has resulted in the first-ever uniform worldwide code for amateur status.
“We felt the time was right to carry out a fundamental review of the Rules of Amateur Status”, said R & A Director of Rules David Rickman. “We were conscious that many sports had done away with amateur status rules and we felt that was an appropriate question for us to ask. We concluded that it is very important that golf retains its amateur regulations, mainly because of the self-regulating nature of the game both in terms of the playing rules and handicapping,” he added. “We felt that uncontrolled financial incentives could place too much pressure on these important features.”
Excluding hole – in – one prizes from the general prize limit and allowing high value prizes, including cash, to be awarded brings the R & A in line with the USGA.
Also under the new rules aimed at amateurs thinking of a professional career, players will now be able to enter into an agreement with an agent or sponsor as long as they do not receive any financial gain while still and amateur.
