Water Hazards
If my ball goes into the water, can I play it?
Yes.
What is the penalty if I hit a ball out-of-bounds?
2-stroke penalty. Replay your shot from where you just hit.
A player may use a tee on the teeing ground. May a player also play the ball off the ground?
Yes, it is not required to use a tee
The flagstick is removed and placed on the ground. A ball is putted and strikes the flagstick. What is the correct procedure?
The player incurs a 2-stroke penalty and plays the ball as it lies
When unsure about a rule, what is the proper way to proceed?
When unsure about a rule, what is the proper way to proceed?
If a rules official is unavailable, play 2 balls and record the score for each ball from that spot. After the round, ask a rules official which scenario was correct, and use that score
What are the two types of water hazards?
Regular water hazards and Lateral water hazards
If my ball is touching the out-of-bounds line, is it considered to be out-of-bounds?
No.
True or false, a player may play anywhere on the proper teeing ground, as long as the ball is played from behind the tee marker.
False. The ball may only be played from within 2 clublengths behind the tee marker.
What is the proper etiquette towards playing partners when walking along the green?
Do not step in the line of putt of any playing partners.
On a teebox, a player accidentally knocks her ball off of the tee with a driver. What is the proper way to proceed?
Re-tee the ball with no penalty. If a ball is accidentally touched on the teeing ground, there is no penalty (unless this occurs in an attempt to strike the ball).
What color marks regular water hazards? What color marks lateral water hazards?
Yellow. Red.
If there is no line marking the out-of-bounds, how do I determine if my ball is in bounds? Hint: there are white out-of-bounds stakes.
Draw an imaginary line between the inside surface of the out-of-bounds stakes. This is to be considered your out-of-bounds line.
A ball marker is moved, by player A, out of the line of player B's putt. Player forgets to replace the marker, and plays the ball from that spot. What is the penalty/procedure?
Player A incurs a one stroke penalty, and must replace the ball to the original spot, and replay the shot.
If my ball is blocking another player's ball from the hole, what should I do?
If my ball is within tapping distance (very close,) I should tap the ball into the hole. If not, I must put a coin behind the ball so that the player can play his shot.
If the ball comes to rest in either a BUNKER or WATER HAZARD, may the player move any objects around the ball?
Yes. Provided the object is not considered a "loose impediment." Loose impediments are natural objects such as leaves, twigs, and insects. Therefore, objects like soda cans and cigarette butts may be moved.
If my ball is inside the hazard line, but not in the water, is it considered to be in the water hazard?
Yes.
If my ball is resting against an out-of-bounds fence, am I allowed to move the ball without penalty?
No. You may only move the ball if it rests against a man-made object that is not an out-of-bounds marker.
A player is carrying more than 14 clubs and notices on the 7th hole. What is the proper penalty/procedure?
2 stroke penalty per hole, with a maximum of 4 strokes penalty. The extra clubs must be declared out of play for the remainder of the round. If a club is declared out of play, and then used again that player is disqualified
When addressing the ball, the player accidentally hits the ball with his/her foot. What is the proper procedure?
The player occurs a 1-stroke penalty, replaces the ball, and plays from that spot.
If the wrong score is submitted on one or any holes of a signed scorecard, what happens?
If the recorded score is higher than the actual score, that score will be taken. If it is lower, then the player is disqualified.
If my ball goes into a Regular Water hazard, what should I do?
I have three options: 1) Play the ball, 2) Replay from my last spot and take a 2 stroke penalty, and 3) Go backwards from where my ball crossed the hazard line and drop anywhere on that line
If I suspect that my ball is out of bounds, but I am not sure, what should I do?
Play a provisional ball from where you last played and then look for the ball before you hit your next shot.
If my playing partner accidently hits my golf ball instead of his own, what should I do?
I will tell my playing partner that he hit my golf ball instead of his and that he must incur a 2-stroke penalty. I will make sure to never hit another player's golf ball. I will always check my golf ball before hitting it.
2 questions: 1) If a leaf is between my ball and the hole, may I pick it up with my hand? 2) May I brush the leaf away with my putter?
You may pick up the leaf with your hand, but you may not touch your "line" with your putter. The "line" is the imaginary line between your ball and the hole.
A shot is played from the putting green, and the ball strikes an opponent. What is the penalty?
There is no penalty for hitting another player (unless it is a teammate). On the putting green, the stroke is cancelled and replayed. However, when played from off of the putting green the shot is not cancelled, and the ball must be played as it lies.