Rules of Golf

1. Rules of Golf Match Play Basics

2. What’s New For 2014Stroke and Match Play • 2014 is a Decision Book update year • Smart Phone/tablet APP is very useful • Modest Number of Decision changes • Eye, not TV, judge of whether ball moved • Smartphone apps, change in what is legal—more later • Change in how far you can go and still play a “provisional” • Modest change in when OK to play out of turn in match play—more later • Some changes for four ball • Groove Rule goes into effect for “elite amateur competitions” (all USGA qualifiers)

3. Match Play Mindset • It is just you and your opponent • We aren’t “protecting the field” • More forgiving format for rules errors • Fewer opportunities for a DQ penalty

4. Knowing the Rules in Match Play • Not knowing a Rule is OK • Overlooking a breach by an opponent is OK • Agreeing to waive a Rule is DQ • Very different than stroke play

5. Order of Play • Order of play is a major part of match play • Order of play does not care whether you are on or off the putting green • Penalty for playing out of turn: opponent MAY recall the shot. • Don’t putt out if it isn’t your turn • For team matches, visiting team has honor on the first tee (local rule)

6. When OK to Play Out of Turn • Limited Permission to grant opponent right to play first to “save time” • Forgot club on a previous hole or similar situation • Not limited to tee shot (previous decisions) • Not OK for continuous putting or because one player can go for green and the other cannot

7. Concessions • Can concede the next stroke; this is not concession of hole (anyone can pick up the ball) • Can concede the hole or match before conclusion of hole or match (don’t have to complete hole or match) • Cannot concede after conclusion of hole or match • Good Good is OK anytime after start play of hole • Shaking hands is concession of next stroke of both players • Cannot refuse or take back a concession

8. Penalties • All stroke play 1 stroke play penalties are the same in match play • Moving your opponent’s ball in play is a 1 stroke penalty. Ask before marking opponent’s ball or it is a penalty. • The general penalty is loss of hole; there are no 2 stroke penalties in match play • Loss of hole is immediate

9. Doubt as to Procedure • Don’t play second ball (stroke play option only) • Try to agree with opponent on correct play • If you don’t agree, do what YOU (the player) think is right; PLAY ON. Don’t stop play to get a ruling • If opponent disagrees she may make a claim if it affects the outcome of the hole

10. Making a Claim • Make the claim before teeing off on next hole or leaving last putting green • Example: I am making a CLAIM and want a RULING because THIS wasn’t right • Late claims allowed only • If facts unknown to player AND • Given wrong information by opponent (opponent may not have known it was wrong) • After results posted (sheet signed by both captains), opponent must have known it was wrong

11. Focus on the Facts • Most bad rulings result from bad or incomplete facts • Understand what your opponent believes her score for the hole is • If you disagree on outcome of hole, first focus on the facts, not the penalty: • What do you agree on • What do your disagree about • Watch your language • Partner, competitor, opponent • Wrong, incorrect

12. WGAP Protests Are Not Claims • Claims involve a disagreement about the outcome of a specific Hole in a single match • Protests are for issues involving a match or the whole set of matches • You have made a claim and think you have been given an incorrect ruling that affects the outcome of the match • You believe a team match procedure has been violated • You believe a player or the team has been treated in a way inconsistent with the spirit of the game • Be clear about the difference when asking for help

13. Status of the Match • Your opponent is entitled to know where things stand: • If asked, you must provide CORRECT information on number of strokes taken BEFORE opponent plays her next shot • If you have had a penalty stroke and your opponent did not see it, you must inform her as soon as practicable • Difference between incorrect and wrong information • Timing can turn incorrect info into wrong info • Incorrect info isn’t wrong Info if it doesn’t affect outcome of the hole

14. Adjustment Penalties(More than 14 Clubs) • Adjustment to the state of the match penalties include club and caddie penalties • These are NOT loss of hole penalties or stroke penalties • Play out and determine the result of the hole by skill; then adjust state of match

15. Playing Outside the Teeing Ground • Opponent MAY recall the shot • This includes things like teeing off on the wrong hole or from the wrong teeing ground (white tees versus red tees)

16. Scorecards • No scorecard required in match play • Score cards are for the players’ convenience • Match play scores should be posted for handicap.

17. Stroke and Match Play Reminders

18. Ball at Rest Moved • If YOU move your ball, replace, 1 stroke penalty • Includes balls moving after address since you are deemed to have moved it; new exception “known or virtually certain” something other than gravity moved it • Don’t replace is a 2 stroke penalty • If your ball moves on its own, play it from new location, no penalty • This rule covers lots of other situations • Kick ball in frustration after missing putt • Pick up ball to take relief and then decide relief is no good

19. Water Hazards • Regular (yellow) 3 options • Play ball as it lies • Stroke and distance • Draw line from flag to where last crossed margin and drop as far back on that line as desired • Lateral Hazard (red) • All 3 options for regular • 2 club lengths from where last crossed margin • 2 club lengths from equidistant point on opposite margin of hazard • Dropping zones only in play if on local rules sheet

20. DMD’s and other devices • Use of DMD’S is a DQ penalty UNLESS a local rule is in effect. 1 measurement is DQ • WGAP does not permit use of smartphones during stipulated round • 2014 decisions in effect make it OK to use smartphones as DMD’s where the club or association allows use of smartphones on the course • What changed • Decision that said using a compass is OK • Decision that said a weather app is OK • What is not OK is having on the phone an app that measures something that changes and is on the course (wind speed at the airport 5 minutes ok does not tell you what the wind speed is on the 8th tee box) • If using a medical device (fingers taped together, arthritis gloves), report it ahead of time.

21. Local Rule Sheet Avoids Rule Problems • Use specimen local rules in rules book for proper and complete wording • Lift clean and place must specify “distance” • Embedded ball “through the green” recommended • Are you using dropping zones? • Do you have sandy areas that are not bunkers (waste bunkers)? • What defines out of bounds? • Are flower beds mandatory ground under repair? • Any other ground under repair that isn’t marked by white lines? Any new sod (consider sod seam rule)?