Golf Rules

Sure, I'm dreaming when I say my readership consists of the brightest and choicest golfers; the intellectuals; the book-readers; the truly knowledgeable. But sometimes I elicit a response indicating that I might not be simply deluding myself. Indeed, "my guys" out there know their stuff!

Case in point: A fax from T. J. Cutlack, regarding my Jan. 15 column, a part of which I will have to repeat if you are to make heads or tails of the discussion that follows:

Q. [phoned in by Rudy Cabilao] Making a practice swing, the player accidentally struck his ball which in turn hit his caddie. He reteed his ball and penalized himself two strokes. Did he proceed correctly?

A. Yes and no. Yes, it was correct to retee; but no, it was incorrect to give himself a penalty. Why? Because he only made a practice swing. Hence, no stroke should be counted and no penalty imposed.

On the other hand, if he made a "stroke" which by definition is the "forward movement of the club made with the intention of fairly striking at and moving the ball," he would have broken Rule 19-2, which provides a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play, "...if a player's ball in motion after a stroke is accidentally deflected or stopped by [his caddie]..." Furthermore, in match play, since his penalty is loss of hole, he would simply pick up his ball and go on to the next tee; neither may he retee in stroke play, he would have to play the ball where it lies after its accidental collision with his caddie.

Period. End of column.

But Tim Cutlack wrote to say that, if space had been allowed me, I might have added the following: "unless he were to incur a further penalty (e.g., if the ball is deflected out of bounds, or into a water hazard; or if the player declares a ball unplayable). In such circumstances, the player may retee the ball. He would be playing five off the tee."

You're right, Tim. But my editor is also right in detesting extended technical explanations. At any rate, now I have an excuse to provide a more thorough answer.

After its accidental collision with his caddie -- if the ball then got into further trouble -- the player could end up back on the tee under the circumstances you describe: (1) if the ball consequently went out of bounds or got lost, he would be required to play his next stroke from the teeing ground, from which the original ball was last played (Rules 27-1, 20-5); or (2) if the ball came to rest in a water hazard, one of his alternatives would be to go back to the tee (Rules 26-1a, 20-5); or (3) he could simply declare his ball unplayable and tee it up again. Note that a player may declare a ball unplayable anywhere on the course except in a water hazard, and he is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable (Rule 28).

And I agree that under those circumstances he would be playing 5 -- because he would have to count the actual stroke he made at the ball, add two penalty strokes for accidentally hitting his caddie, and another penalty stroke for exercising any one of his options stated above.

Q. [related query from ex-president of the Iloilo Golf & Country Club Dennis Locsin, [email protected]] After replacing your ball on the green and removing your marker (thus placing the ball back in play) would the ruling be the same if you wagged your putter and accidentally moved the ball?

A. No. For a ball in play, the ruling would be different. "A ball is `in play' as soon as a player has made a stroke on the teeing ground. It remains in play until holed out, except when it is lost, out of bounds or lifted or another ball has been substituted..." For accidentally moving a ball in play, you would incur a penalty stroke; and if you failed to replace the ball before your next stroke, your penalty would no longer be one stroke but two (Rule 18-2).

Davis Love III was once disqualified under Rule 6-6d for turning in a bogey 5 score when it should have been a double-bogey 6 -- mistakenly assessing himself one penalty stroke instead of two, for accidentally moving his ball on the green and failing to replace it before putting. Love forfeited over $100,000 sixth place money (that's over four million in Pinoy pesos!).

Nothing like some black humor to brighten your day; here's a sample from Merv Simpson, Philippine amateur golf champion of 1939 (who, despite life's ups and downs, hasn't stopped laughing since). Merv -- like Merlin the Wizard -- doesn't age, he "youthens."

Two cannibals were eating lunch. "You know," said one, "I really hate my mother-in-law."

"That's all right," the other replied. "Just eat the noodles."

Fax questions & comments to 521-8582 or E-mail to [email protected]