In response to several queries that have been made over the last year or so, I have decided to utilise this page to address some of the different scenario's relating to certain golf rules. It is intended to help not hinder members. A full explanation of all golf rules can be seen on the following website http://www.theinternetgolfclub.com/golfrules.asp
The rules are very "wordy" so I've listed certain scenario's below with our take on it!!!
LOST BALL
The bain of any golfers round, looking for a lost ball!!! Now there is really only 1 rule that should be applied. (http://www.theinternetgolfclub.com/rules-balllost.html)
If you lose a ball (other than in a hazard) then you should return to the spot of the last shot and play another ball under a 1 stroke penalty. This can prove to be a real pain, especially if you've got a 4ball up your backside so to speak!!! There are several "myths" surrounding what to do if you lose a ball. Stroke and Distance is one, and dropping in the area where the ball is presumed lost for a 1 stroke penalty is another. However Societies, to help with speed of play, do use either of these rules.
So our take on it is this.....
If a ball is lost, other than in a hazard, then you have 2 options:-
1) Go back to the previous spot and play another ball under a 1 stroke penalty or
2) Drop a ball in the vicinity of where the ball was presumed lost under a 2 stroke penalty. This does not mean that if a ball was lost in heavy rough you then drop for a 2 shot penalty in semi rough or on the fairway!!! You have to drop in exactly the same conditions in which the ball was lost. This has to be fully agreed with your playing partners.
The decision is totally yours. Yes going back to the previous spot can prove time consuming and embarrassing but in most cases is the best option. I would really suggest you only use option 2 in a stableford format where there is little chance of you scoring on a hole, but the choice is as I suggested yours. I would also suggest that if you believe that your ball is lost then play a provisional ball from the same spot under a 1 shot penalty. Rules for playing a provisional ball can be found by clicking the above link.
Finally you have 5 minutes to look for a lost ball. This time starts from when you arrive in the area where the ball is presumed lost, not when your playing partners start to look for it.
OUT OF BOUNDS
Again several myths surrounding this but really you only have 1 option and that is to return to the spot of the previous shot and play another ball under a 1 shot penalty. However we will utilise a local Society rule based on the LOST BALL scenario above.
IDENTIFYING YOUR BALL
PLAYING FROM PATHS
This rule is quite simple really. If a ball comes to rest on a cart path then a player can lift his ball and drop for no penalty at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole. The nearest point of relief is where confusion can arise. Basically it is the nearest point back onto the golf course. You have to take full relief from the path (meaning you can't even stand on the path) then drop the ball. If this means that the nearest point is in waist high rough then you have to drop it there. The other choice is to play the ball as it lies on the path.
UNPLAYABLE LIE
A player can deem his ball to be unplayable at any time, apart from in a hazard!!! But it is deemed unplayable if the ball can be seen and identified, if not then it is a lost ball. The player has several options:-
1 - Return to the spot of the last shot and play another ball under a 1 shot penalty
2 - Drop the ball 2 club lengths from the spot where the ball lay, no nearer the hole, under a 1 shot penalty
3 - Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped. Again for a 1 shot penalty.
If you don't want to take the penalty then you can always try and play it as it lies!!!
WATER HAZARD
This is a bit complex so bear with me!!!!
There are 2 types of water hazard - a water hazard (yellow stakes) and a lateral water hazard (red stakes)
WATER HAZARD - Yellow stakes
If a ball ends up in a water hazard then a player has several options:-
1 - Return to the spot of previous shot and play another ball under a 1 shot penalty
2 - Drop a ball behind the water hazard under a 1 shot penalty, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped (got it?!!!) There is no limit to how far back you can go, even if this means going 100 yards back to reach the fairway.
3 - Drop under a 1 shot penalty in the courses designated dropping zone
4 - There is also the option of trying to play the ball as it lies under no penalty but a club cannot be grounded in a hazard.
LATERAL WATER HAZARD - Red Stakes
Options 1 - 4 above but you also have the option with this hazard of dropping the ball under a 1 shot penalty within 2 club lengths, not nearer the hole, at the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard.
STRIKING A BALL AT REST
There has been some confusion as to what stroke penalties, if any, are given if you strike an opponents ball that rests on the green. There is only 1 rule for this - if you strike an opponents ball that rests on the green and you are playing a shot from the green then you are subject to a 2 shot penalty. Therefore it is always advisable to ask a member to mark his ball if there is a chance you may hit it!!!! Any other scenario's do not have a penalty incurred. If you strike a ball that lies on the green and you are playing from the fairway etc... there is no penalty but the ball that was struck has to be returned to its exact place. If you strike a ball other than on the green there is no penalty and the ball struck is played as it lies.
Hopefully I've covered some of the scenario's that have caused confusion in the past. If there are any others that you want me to include or clarifying any of the above then let me know.