In the Rules of Golf an obstruction is a movable obstruction if it can be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an immovable obstruction and the player may seek relief when his ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing. The player must find the “Nearest Point of Relief” and proceed from that point.
The Note to the Definition of “Nearest Point of Relief” provides that the player should determine this point by using “the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such stroke.” This does not mean that the player may use any club, address position, direction of play or swing in determining the nearest point of relief.
In determining the nearest point of relief accurately it is recommended that the player use the club, address position, direction of play and swing (right or left – handed) that he would have used had the obstruction or condition not have been there. For example, the player has interference from an immovable obstruction and, were it not for the obstruction, he would have used a right – handed stroke with a 7 iron to play the ball from its original position towards the green. To determine the nearest point of relief accurately, he should use a right – handed stroke with a 7 iron and the direction of play should be towards the the green.
If you have any questions regarding the Rules of Golf please submit them to @new.mikefaygolf and we will get them answered for you. Here is hoping that you are “Playing By The Rules.”
This is the next in the Playing By The Rules Video Series. Mike and Frank discuss the proper way of using a provisional ball. We discuss what the rule states and how to go about it properly, because it matters to your score!
Announcing your intentions to hit a provisional ball is so important because if you don’t that next ball you do hit becomes the ball in play. This leaves you no chance to find the original ball.
If you have questions on the Rules of Golf or comments on this video please leave them below. As always, here is hope that you are Playing By The Rules!
Losing a golf ball in the leaves can be frustrating and it is that time of the year when the leaves are falling and it can become difficult for you to find your golf ball due to the accumulation of leaves. The Committee may make a temporary Local Rule declaring accumulations of leaves through the green at certain holes to be ground under repair and Rule 25-1 (Abnormal Ground Conditions) will apply and the player would get swing relief and one club length no nearer the hole.
The Local Rule should be restricted to the hole(s) at which the trouble with leaves occurs and it should be withdrawn as soon as conditions permit. Particular attention should be paid to the opening paragraph of Rule 25-1c; unless, it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in the leaves, it must be treated as lost elsewhere and Rule 27-1 (Ball Lost) applies and this becomes a stroke and distance penalty.
This problem comes up often. You are trying to putt your ball and someone’s ball is in your way. What do you do? Frank and Mike discuss how to move your marker so you are Playing By The Rules.
If you would like to see other videos or articles that Frank has done concerning the rules of golf, click on the “Playing By The Rules” section of the website.
As always, please leave your comments below.
[/vc_column_text][vc_btn title=”Playing By The Rules” color=”green” align=”center” css_animation=”fadeIn” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fmikefaygolf.com%2Fcategory%2Fplaying-by-the-rules%2F||target:%20_blank|”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Rule 13 – 2 deals with Improving Lie, Area of Intended Stance or Swing, or Line of Play. The Rule prohibits a player from improving certain areas. What, specifically, does “improve” mean? Decision 13-2/0.5 in the Decisions on the Rules of Golf gives an excellent clarification of the term “improve”.
“Improve” means to change for the better so that a player would get a potential advantage with respect to the position or lie of his ball, the area of his intended stance or swing, his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or the area in which he is to drop or place a ball. Thus, merely changing an area protected by Rule 13 – 2 will not be a breach of Rule 13 – 2 unless it creates such a potential advantage for the player in his play.
Examples of changes that are unlikely to create such a potential advantage are if a player:
*repairs a small pitch-mark on his line of play five yards in front of his ball prior to making a 150 yard approach shot through the green;
*accidentally knocks several leaves from a tree in his area of intended swing with a practice swing, but there are still so many leaves or branches remaining that the area of intended swing has not been materially affected; or
*whose ball lies in the thick rough 150 yards from the green, walks forward and pulls a few strands of grass on his line of play and throws them in the air to determine wind direction.
Examples of changes that are likely to create such a potential advantage are if a player:
*repairs a pitch-mark through the green five yards in front of his ball and on his line of play prior to making a stroke from off the putting green that might be affected by the pitch-mark(e.g., a putt or low running shot);
*accidentally knocks down a single leaf from a tree in his area of intended swing with a practice swing, but, as this was one of very few leaves that might either interfere with his swing or fall and thereby distract him, the area of intended swing has
*pulls strands of grass from the rough a few inches behind his ball to test the wind, but thereby reduces a potential distraction for the player, or resistance to his club, in the area of his intended swing.
The determination as to whether a player has gained a potential advantage from his actions is made by reference to the situation immediately prior to his stroke. If there is a reasonable possibility that the player’s action has created a potential advantage, the player is in breach of Rule 13 – 2.
