Decision 18-2a/28 (SEPTEMBER 16, 2003)

Q: A player could not find is ball. Believing the ball might be lodged in a tree, he shook the tree and his ball fell to the ground. He played the ball from where it came to rest. What is the ruling?

A: The player incurred one penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball. He should have replaced the ball. Since he did not do so, in match play he lost the hole and in stroke play he incurred a total penalty of two strokes - see penalty statement under Rule 18.

Decision 18-2a/32 (SEPTEMBER 15, 2003)

Q: A player placed a fir cone or stick against his ball to prevent the ball from moving when he moved some loose impediments. Is this permissible?

A: No. The player purposely touched his ball in play, contrary to Rule 18-2a, and incurred a penalty of one stroke.

Decision 27-2b/3 (SEPTEMBER 12, 2003)

Q: A player's provisional ball comes to rest short of where the original ball is likely to be. After a two-minute search for the original ball, the player goes back, plays a second stroke with the provisional ball and then his original ball is found within the five-minute time limit. What is the ruling?

A: The player must continue play with the original ball. Play of a provisional ball does not render the original ball lost until it has been played from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place - Rule 27-2b.

Decision 33-5/3 (SEPTEMBER 9, 2003)

Q: Misapplication of a player's handicap by the Committee on a score card for the qualifying round of a match play event results in an incorrect draw. The error is discovered during the first round of match play. What should the Committee do?

A: The Committee should deal with the matter in the fairest way possible. The Committee should consider amending the draw and canceling the matches affected by the amendment if this is practicable.

Decision 26-1/6 (SEPTEMBER 7, 2003)

Q: A player plays his second shot over a water hazard into a bunker behind the green. He skulls his third shot and the ball comes to rest in the water hazard. The ball is not playable. What are the player's options?

A: The player may, under penalty of one stroke: (a) drop a ball behind the water hazard, keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the hazard margin between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped - Rule 26-1b. This procedure would probably make it necessary for the player to return to the tee side of the hazard and play over the hazard again; or (b) drop a ball in the bunker at the spot where his second shot came to rest - Rule 26-1a.

Decision 13-4/15 (SEPTEMBER 5, 2003)

Q: In stroke play, a competitor's ball in a hazard moves due to his removal of a loose impediment in the hazard. What is the ruling?

A: The competitor incurs a penalty of three strokes - two for moving a loose impediment in a hazard (Rule 13-4c) and one because the ball moved (Rule 18-2a). The ball must be replaced (Rule 18-2a).

Decision 2-4/19 (SEPTEMBER 2, 2003)

Q: In match play, A defeats B and then concedes the match to B because he (A) cannot continue in the competition. Is this permissible?

A: No. A won the match. A beaten player may not be reinstated in such circumstances. A should be posted as the winner and, since A cannot continue, A's opponent in the next round would win by default. Under Rule 2-4, a side may concede a match at any time prior to conclusion of the match, but not thereafter.

Decision US/20-1/100 (AUGUST 29, 2003)

Q: If a player is requested to mark the position of his ball to the side of where it lies, must he place a ball marker behind the ball, measure a clubhead-length to the side of the marker and then move the marker to the side? Or may the player simply measure a clubhead-length from the side of the ball and eliminate one step.

A: The player may measure from the side of the ball, unless the Local Rule entitled "Marking Position of Lifted Ball" in Appendix I of the Rules Book is in effect. That Local Rule requires that a ball-marker be placed behind the ball and then moved to one side, if necessary.

Decision 33-3/4 (AUGUST 28, 2003)

Q: Is there any Rule limiting the number of competitors in a group in a stroke play play-off? For example, if 11 competitors are in a play-off, should they be separated into a group of five and a group of six? Or should they be separated into two groups of four and one group of three.

A: There is no Rule. The matter is up to the Committee. However, it is suggested that normally there should be no more than five competitors in any group.

Decision 17-3/4 (AUGUST 26, 2003)

Q: In four-ball play, A is preparing to play from off the putting green. B, A's partner, attends the flagstick without A's knowledge or express authority. A plays and his ball strikes B or the flagstick. What is the ruling?

A: If the flagstick is attended by the player's caddie, his partner or his partner's caddie, i.e., by a member of the player's side, it is deemed to be attended with the player's knowledge and authority. Accordingly, under Rule 17-3 A incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. In stroke play, A must play the ball as it lies. B incurs no penalty.

Decision 22/7 (AUGUST 25, 2003)

Q: In stroke play, a competitor's ball is in a position to assist the play of a fellow-competitor and the competitor is in a position to lift the ball under Rule 22 without delaying the fellow-competitor's play. However, the competitor does not take any action to invoke the Rule. Would a Committee member be justified in intervening and requesting the competitor to invoke the Rule to protect himself and the rest of the field?

A: Yes. If the competitor were to object, there would be strong evidence of an agreement to exclude the operation of Rule 22 in contravention of Rule 1-3. The Committee member would be justified in so advising the competitor's involved and warning that any further such evidence might result in disqualification of both under Rule 1-3.

Decision 27/11 (AUGUST 24, 2003)

A player entitled to play a provisional ball from the tee plays it into the same area as his original ball. The balls have identical marking and the player cannot distinguish between them. Following are various situations and the solutions, which are based on equity (Rule 1-4), when the above circumstances exist: Situation 1: One ball is found in a water hazard and the other ball is not found. Solution 1: The ball which was found must be presumed to be the provisional ball. Situation 2: Both balls are found in a water hazard. Solution 2: The player must return to the tee and play another ball; he would be playing 3. Situation 3: One ball is found in a water hazard and one ball is found in the rough. Solution 3: The player must return to the tee and play another ball; he would be playing 3. Situation 4: One ball is found in bounds and the other ball is lost or found out of bounds. Solution 4: The ball in bounds must be presumed to be the provisional ball.

Decision 28/7 (AUGUST 23, 2003)

Q: A player's tee shot comes to rest in tree roots. He makes a stroke, fails to move the ball and then declares the ball unplayable. May the player return to the tee, playing 4, under Rule 28a.

A: No. Rule 28a permits the player to play "a ball…at the spot from which the original ball was last played." The original ball was last played from the tree roots, not the tee.

Decision 9-2/9 (AUGUST 22, 2003)

Q: In match play, after completion of a hole, A inadvertently reports to B, his opponent, that he scored a 5 whereas in fact he scored a 6. This results in the hole being halved or won by A. A realizes his mistake several holes later. What is the ruling?

A: In either case, A loses the hole and the state of the match must be adjusted accordingly (Rule 9-2).

Definition: Loose Impediments (AUGUST 21, 2003)

"Loose impediments" are natural objects such as stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like, dung, worms and insects and casts or heaps made by them, provided they are not fixed or growing, are not solidly embedded and do not adhere to the ball. Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere. Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Manufacturer ice is an obstruction. Dew and loose frost are not loose impediments.

Decision 29-1/6 (AUGUST 20, 2003)

Q: In a foursome event, A and B are partners. A attempts to strike the ball and misses. Whose turn is it to play?

A: An accidental miss is a stroke - see Definition of "Stroke." It is B's turn to play.

Decision 13-4/11 (August 19, 2003)

Q: A player searches for his ball in a bunker and in the process makes numerous footprints. He subsequently find his ball. Before playing his stroke, may the player smooth the footprints?

A: No, such action would be a breach of Rule 13-4. However, there would be no breach if the player's caddie smoothed the footprints on his own initiative, provided that the smoothing did not improve the lie of the ball or assist the player in his subsequent play of the hole - see Exception 2 to Rule 13-4.

Decision 34-2/2 (AUGUST 18, 2003)

Q: In error, a referee authorized a player to infringe a Rule of Golf. Is the player absolved from penalty in such a case?

A: Yes. Under Rule 34-2, a referee's decision is final, whether or not the decision is correct.

Decision 20-2c/1.5 (AUGUST 17, 2003)

Q: A player is required or elects to play his next stroke at a spot from which his previous stroke was played. He is able to identify that specific spot by reference to the divot hole which his previous stroke made. He drops a ball immediately behind that divot hole. The ball rolls nearer the hole than the spot from which the previous stroke was played, but not more than two club-lengths from where it first struck the ground. What is the ruling?

A: Rule 20-2c(vii)(a) requires a ball to be re-dropped if it rolls and comes to rest nearer the hole than "its original position or estimated position…unless otherwise permitted by the Rules." The original position is the spot from which the previous stroke was played. Since the dropped ball rolled nearer the hole than that spot, it must be re-dropped. However, in many such cases the player cannot determine exactly the spot from which his previous stroke was played. In those cases, the player has satisfied the requirements of the Rule if he uses his best endeavors to estimate the spot. The estimated spot is treated as the specific spot (see Rule 20-2b) and the ball must be re-dropped if it rolls nearer the hole than the estimated spot. The same principle applies if the spot where a ball is to be placed is not determinable and the player is required, under Rule 20-3c, to drop the ball as near as possible to the spot where it lay.

Decision 20-2c/1.5 (AUGUST 16, 2003)

Q: A player is required or elects to play his next stroke at a spot from which his previous stroke was played. He is able to identify that specific spot by reference to the divot hole which his previous stroke made. He drops a ball immediately behind that divot hole. The ball rolls nearer the hole than the spot from which the previous stroke was played, but not more than two club-lengths from where it first struck the ground. What is the ruling?

A: Rule 20-2c(vii)(a) requires a ball to be re-dropped if it rolls and comes to rest nearer the hole than "its original position or estimated position…unless otherwise permitted by the Rules." The original position is the spot from which the previous stroke was played. Since the dropped ball rolled nearer the hole than that spot, it must be re-dropped. However, in many such cases the player cannot determine exactly the spot from which his previous stroke was played. In those cases, the player has satisfied the requirements of the Rule if he uses his best endeavors to estimate the spot. The estimated spot is treated as the specific spot (see Rule 20-2b) and the ball must be re-dropped if it rolls nearer the hole than the estimated spot. The same principle applies if the spot where a ball is to be placed is not determinable and the player is required, under Rule 20-3c, to drop the ball as near as possible to the spot where it lay.

Decision 23-1/9 (AUGUST 15, 2003)

Q: A loose impediment lying out of bounds interferes with a player's stance. May the player remove the impediment?

A: Yes.

Decision 1-4/7 ( AUGUST 14, 2003)

Q: A ball is lost. It is either in a water hazard or in casual water overflowing the hazard . What is the proper procedure?

A: In equity (Rule 1-4), the player must proceed under the water hazard Rule.

Decision 25-1b/12 (AUGUST 13, 2003)

Q: A player whose ball is in casual water mistakes the casual water for a water hazard. He retrieves his original ball, drops it 10 yards behind the casual water in accordance with the water hazard Rule and plays it. His error is then discovered. What is the ruling?

A: The player did not follow the procedure prescribed in Rule 25-1b(i) for dropping a ball from casual water; he dropped the ball in a wrong place. In match play, he loses the hole - Rule 20-7a. In stroke play, he incurs a penalty of two strokes - Rule 25-1b(i) and 20-7b.

Decision 18-2a/23 (AUGUST 12, 2003)

Q: In stroke play, a competitor's ball stops on the lip of the hole. In disgust the competitor knocks his ball off the green with the back of his putter. What is the ruling?

A: The competitor must replace the ball under penalty of one stroke - Rule 18-2a. The competitor is not considered to have made a stroke.