Top 10 Rules Mistakes

[iacas]

From JohnV: http://freedrop.wordpress.com/longer...-players-make/

1. Trying to take two club lengths to the side when dropping from a regular water hazard. – Rule 26
2. Not knowing the correct procedure for taking relief from a cart path or other obstruction. – Rule 24
3. Giving advice to non-partners. – Rule 8
4. Not knowing the proper way to determine if your ball is in casual water or where to take relief. Hint: The nearest point might be behind you, further from the hole. – Rule 25
5. Not announcing a provisional properly or wanting to go back and play one after going forward to search. – Rule 27-2
6. Not following the proper procedure for: identifying their ball; checking for damage to their ball; playing a second ball under Rule 3-3; or making a claim in Match Play.
7. Not lifting balls in a position to assist another player. – Rule 22
8. Not knowing what to do when a ball is moved and how it differs depending on who or what caused it to move. – Rule 18
9. Picking up their ball before determining where they will be dropping it when taking relief from an obstruction or abnormal ground condition. – Decision 18-2a/12
10. Not knowing all their options under the Unplayable Rule. They only think of two club-lengths and not keeping the point between themselves and the hole or even stroke and distance. – Rule 28

If you're guilty of any of those, check out the Rules and do some learnin'!
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules...and-Decisions/

[VOX]

I would add:

Hitting a provisional for a ball thought to be in a water hazard
Assuming that nearest point of relief assures a good lie (not in a hedge, bush etc)
Not considering opposite side of hazard equidistant to the hole for a lateral hazard

[LaPuzza]

  VOX said:

I would add:

Ok, I read this thread because I try to know my rules, but I've got a question on that first one. I have certianly hit a ball near a water hazard, not knowing if i was in the water, and announced a provisional. I assumed this was OK because (1) I wasn't playing the second ball if I found the first, and (2) I was adding the penalty stroke if the first ball was unfound and, given the circumstance, presumed to have gone in the water. Was I wrong on this? Can I not hit a declared provisional if I think, but don't know, that a ball is/could be in the water?

[Ignorant]

  LaPuzza said:

Ok, I read this thread because I try to know my rules, but I've got a question on that first one. I have certianly hit a ball near a water hazard, not knowing if i was in the water, and announced a provisional. I assumed this was OK because (1) I wasn't playing the second ball if I found the first, and (2) I was adding the penalty stroke if the first ball was unfound and, given the circumstance, presumed to have gone in the water. Was I wrong on this? Can I not hit a declared provisional if I think, but don't know, that a ball is/could be in the water?

A provisional ball may be played at any time when the player believes that it is possible his ball may be

- out of bounds - lost outside a water hazard The point here is that if one believes his ball is lost in a water hazard it is not allowed to play a provisional ball. Furthermore, many players first play a provisional ball and then apply the water hazard rule when the ball is not found. This is not allowed as if the ball is not found and if it is not known or virtually certain that the ball was lost in the water hazard, the ball in question must be considered lost outside a water hazard. Do familiarize Yourself with Rule 27 and also Definitions under section Provisional Ball.

[LaPuzza]

Thanks. I never understood the "outside a hazard" aspect of that. Sorry for the dumb question, but thank you for the smart answer.

[uttexas]

I see the following all the time (and I've been guilty myself)

Mark ball on putting green with coin
Clean ball
Place ball back where it was marked
Remove coin
Align ball mark or alignment arrow along intended path
Putt ball.

You can't touch the ball with your hand after you have removed the marker.

[Jay-Bird]

Great post. Very necessary.

[plugged]

  None said:

If you're guilty of any of those, check out the Rules and do some learnin'!

I think the reason amateurs don't follow the rules is that they are very detailed, often require a level of interpretation that is not inherently obvious, and require that you know all the other rules referenced by any given rule. IOW, very few people are going to take the time for that level of in-depth self-education. I doubt even very good players who compete in tournaments on a regular basis know these rules to the level that they should.

[plugged]

I would also say that the other reason players don't know the rules is that for 98% of casual play, nobody cares. I have yet to play in a scramble, foursome, or league tournament that anyone cared if you adhered exactly to the rules. As long as you come close, i.e., you are making the mistakes listed in this article but are generally within the spirit of the rule, no one gives a ****. Should they? Well, yes and no. It would be nice if every amateur knew the rules, but an average player taking the time to learn all the rules and the additional 2-3X to read through the interpretations and research tme in detail so they have a solid understanding is simply not going to happen.

[iammpspeer]

  plugged said:

I would also say that the other reason players don't know the rules is that for 98% of casual play, nobody cares. I have yet to play in a scramble, foursome, or league tournament that anyone cared if you adhered exactly to the rules. As long as you come close, i.e., you are making the mistakes listed in this article but are generally within the spirit of the rule, no one gives a ****. Should they? Well, yes and no. It would be nice if every amateur knew the rules, but an average player taking the time to learn all the rules and the additional 2-3X to read through the interpretations and research tme in detail so they have a solid understanding is simply not going to happen.

I agree, but I still hate when people adjust or improve their lie. Even the people on my team in a scramble, but that is their "rule". I guess that's what I get for playing with my uncle at his course sometimes.

[MiniMoe]

under local rule only , you can hit a provisional for a ball thought to be lost in a water hazard... with a few conditions. If you find the original ball outside the hazard, it is played as it lies. If you find your ball inside the water hazard, you have two options.. one... play it as it lies... two... play the provisional. Once you hit the provisional under the local rule, you are not afforded any other option but play the original ball or play the provisional.

[RC]

Two rules I notice being broken (in additon to the earlier list) are: (1) permitting the club to ground in a hazard (and I don't mean a sand trap) and (2) practice swings which knock down limbs or long grass, etc., in the intended area of the shot -- such as improving the backswing by swinging back and breaking foliage or tamping down stuff behind the ball.

[Ignorant]

  RC said:

Two rules I notice being broken (in additon to the earlier list) are: (1) permitting the club to ground in a hazard (and I don't mean a sand trap) and (2)

Connected to this, I have found one thing particularly difficult for people to understand and obey and that is a ball under a tree. Without an exception people simply back up into the tree moving disturbing branches out of the way with the help of their fat butts until there is a clear way not only for the ball but for the club as well. Should one remind them about Rule 13-2 they would just go bananas and yell 'it is perfectly allowed to back up into a tree!!!'

Well, it is not always perfectly allowed as one should choose the least intrusive course of action which does not necesserily mean a good stance nor a decent room for backswing. Dec 13-2/1 gives some ideas: Q: Rule 13-2 states that a player must not improve the position or lie of his ball, the area of his intended stance or swing or his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole by moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds). An exception permits a player to do so in “fairly taking his stance”. What is the significance of “fairly”? A: Without “fairly”, the exception would permit improvement of position or lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play by anything that could be said to be taking a stance. The use of “fairly” is intended to limit the player to what is reasonably necessary to take a stance for the selected stroke without unduly improving the position of the ball, his lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play. Thus, in taking his stance for the selected stroke, the player should select the least intrusive course of action which results in the minimum improvement in the position or lie of the ball, area of intended stance or swing or line of play. The player is not entitled to a normal stance or swing. He must accommodate the situation in which the ball is found and take a stance as normal as the circumstances permit. What is fair must be determined in the light of all the circumstances. Examples of actions which do constitute fairly taking a stance are: • backing into a branch or young sapling if that is the only way to take a stance for the selected stroke, even if this causes the branch to move out of the way or the sapling to bend or break. • bending a branch of a tree with the hands in order to get under the tree to play a ball. Examples of actions which do not constitute fairly taking a stance are: • deliberately moving, bending or breaking branches with the hands, a leg or the body to get them out of the way of the backswing or stroke. • standing on a branch to prevent it interfering with the backswing or stroke. • hooking one branch on another or braiding two weeds for the same purpose. • bending with a hand a branch obscuring the ball after the stance has been taken. • bending an interfering branch with the hands, a leg or the body in taking a stance when the stance could have been taken without bending the branch. (Revised)

[Dub]

  uttexas said:

I see the following all the time (and I've been guilty myself)

I've done that also, however it was not an attempt to align the ball, only to position it so no graphics were visable....still a violation, though.

[jamo]

In tournaments i see a lot of people marking there ball and then replacing in a good couple inches closer to the whole. Or marking in front of the ball and then replacing the ball in front of the marker.
But thats what i get for being 17 and playing against other high schoolers.

[iacas]

  jamo said:

In tournaments i see a lot of people marking there ball and then replacing in a good couple inches closer to the whole. Or marking in front of the ball and then replacing the ball in front of the marker.

Ha, I used to see that shit all the time too. Thing is, none of those people ever beat me. Never even came close. Basically, if they have to pull that stupid kind of stunt, they're beaten already.

The only thing that conflicted me is that by not saying anything it's as if I've agreed to waive the rule. Not literally, but it kinda feels that way. I suppose if one of them had ever been close to me I might have pointed it out, but again, I never had that opportunity.

[Chief Broom]

I see that occasionally in my league too. I always get a laugh out of it. Since our buy in is so small I don't care. If I saw that in one of my son's matches though I'd tell them to make an issue of it.
The only time cheaters win is when no on else calls them on it.

[VOX]

I would also add that almost anytime a player uses the term "line of flight" he is about to make up a rule that does not exist. Another would be the the imaginary rule that you can't have the flag tended if your ball lies off the green.