Penalty Areas
Scoring
Etiquette
Penalties
Misc.
100
A white stake or line indicates what kind of Hazard?
Out of Bounds
100
While teeing up your ball and addressing your ball, you accidentally knock the ball off the tee, what is the penalty for doing this?
There is no penalty as long as you were not in the process of making your swing. https://youtu.be/aK0Wt0ostWI
100
In stroke play, which player tees off first on each hole?
The new rule is to encourage a faster pace of play so whomever is ready should tee off. This also applies to play through the entire course. If you are ready to play your shot, do so, even if someone else is further from the ball, and you can safely make your shot, including play on the putting green.
100
You hit a fantastic shot into the green on a par 3 and your ball lies just 3" from the hole. A player from another team who hits her clubs about the same distance as you asks what club you used. What do you tell her?
Nothing. That could be considered giving advice and is a 2 stroke penalty if you answer. The player that asked for advice from someone other than a coach will receive a 2 stroke penalty for asking.
Asking "how should I play this hole" is also a penalty so don't answer. You may tell the player that the green is to the right of that dogleg, but not specifically how to play the hole.
Discussing commonly known information such rules, distance to a hole either with information from a course marking or distance measuring device is not considered asking advice.
You may not touch another player's equipment either, so do not move a bag or other equipment for another player. If their bag is in your way, ask them to move it.
100
Your ball is closest to the pin after all players hit onto the green. Where should you place the flag stick after you remove it from the hole?
You should gently places the flag stick OFF the green away from the likely line of any putts.
New rules state you may putt with the pin in the hole. Ask playing partners what their preference is for putting with or without the flag. For pace of play, let anyone that wants to putt with the flag in go first.
***NOTE** You must choose BEFORE your stroke if you will leave the pin in the hole or not. If you have the pin attended and that person lays it down in such a manner that your ball hits the flag after your stroke, there is a 1 stroke penalty. If you choose to leave the pin in and you hit the flagstick, there is no penalty.
200
These two colors indicate penalty areas.
What are red and yellow?
200
On a par 4 hole, you hit your tee shot into a lateral penalty area (red stakes). You legally proceed from the water taking a drop within 2 club lengths of where your ball last entered the hazard, Your next shot lands 3" from the hole and you one putt. What is your score?
4. Your tee shot was your first stroke (in in one), you second "shot" is your penalty drop (out in 2), your third shot lands 3" from the hole, your 4th shot is your putt.
200
Your ball lies on the opposite side of the green. The fastest way to your ball is to walk across the line of another player's ball. What is the penalty for doing this.
There is no penalty but it is rude and not considered proper etiquette. Always walk around the outside of all putting lines.
It is also proper etiquette to walk around the green to put your clubs down before putting, not across the green. Always move your clubs to the point where you will exit the green and move to the next hole. This speeds up play.
200
During a stipulated round, on the 5th hole, you discover you have 15 clubs in your bag. What is the penalty for this?
In stroke play - Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round - Four strokes (two strokes at each of the first two holes at which any breach occurred). If you have made any strokes with the illegal club(s) after the breach is discovered, you will be disqualified.
200
During a round under normal playing conditions, the ball of another player in your group interferes with your stance while playing from the fairway. What is the proper procedure for this situation?
1. Ask the player to mark her ball. Typically this is done with a TEE pressed all the way into the ground and not a ball marker but it is not required to use a tee. You must ASK someone to mark their ball from the fairway. If you are not asked you may NOT move your ball.
2. The player who's ball is to be moved is NOT allowed to clean the ball. (best to place the ball down away from the player playing so you are not tempted to clean the ball)
3. After the requesting player has played her ball, the other player must place the her ball back in it's original spot.
4. If a player requests that another player mark her ball and that player refuses, the player that refuses is disqualified.
300
When playing near a penalty area it is permissible to remove the the stake if it interferes with your stroke or stance in which marked penalty areas?
What is red or yellow? It is a 2 stroke penalty if you remove a white stake.
You may also remove cart signs, ropes, or any other "movable" object without penalty.
300
You struggled on a hole and you are not sure of your of all your strokes, what is the best procedure to follow in this situation?
At the tee box of your next hole when you are sharing scores, ask your playing partners to help you count your scores. You can ask a question similar to this "I think I had a 6 on the last hole but I want to make sure, can you help me count my strokes?" You can then walk through your hole with everyone confirming your total.
**all scoring should be done at the next tee box. You can hit your tee shot while others are exchanging scores and then take scores while someone else is hitting. Do not hang around the green any longer than necessary and if playing partners want to do scores at the green, tell them we should keep moving and do the scores at the tee box**
300
You are the first person in your group to putt out. What is your responsibility on the green?
Etiquette states that the first person that putts out should tend the flag and replace the flag after everyone finishes putting. Best practice is to go stand by the flag but leave it on the ground or pick up the stick but contain the flag so wind noise does not interfere with the putting of other players in your group.
With the new rules, you should ask those in your group if they would like the pin pulled, tended or left in and proceed appropriately.
300
A movable partition is defining the boundaries of the course. Your playing partner moves that partition because it interferes with her stance. What is the proper procedure for replacing this partition?
None. Any marker defining a course boundary is considered out of bounds and not movable. The playing partner incurs a 2 stroke penalty.
300
You think your tee shot may have gone out of bounds, what is the proper way to proceed?
1. Before moving forward, you announce to your playing partners that you want to hit a PROVISIONAL ball--you must use the term PROVISIONAL.
2. You play your provisional ball until you reach the point to which you think your ball may have gone out of bounds.
3. If you determine your ball is out of bounds, you proceed with your provisional ball, counting for loss of distance and adding a penalty stroke to your score.
4. If you determine your ball is in-bounds, abandon your provisional and proceed without penalty.
**new rules apply to out-of-bounds if the committee adopts a the local rule to allow a 2 stroke penalty for a drop IF you have not played a provisional. This only applies to JV or younger. The MSHSL has not adopted this for varsity play.
400
Recite all options for proceeding when your ball lies in a penalty area defined by red stakes and the penalty in each situation.
1. Play the ball as it lies -you may now ground your club as long as you do not improve your lie. You may also remove loose impediments. No penalty.
2. Replay from original location dropping within the relief area-1 stroke penalty.
3. Drop the ball as far back as you choose keeping the point where the ball last crossed the penalty area and the hole in a line with the reference point, dropping in the relief area--1 stroke penalty.
4. Determine the point where the ball last crossed into the penalty area, take 2 club lengths from that point (reference point) using your longest club that is not your putter. Drop from knee height keeping the ball in the relief area.
**they have removed the option to play from the opposite side of the penalty area for general play however, the MSHSL league has adopted this as a "local rule".**
400
You hit your 2nd shot into a penalty area defined by yellow stakes. Your ball is inside the penalty area and you play from inside the penalty area onto the green. You hole out after 2 putts, what is your score?
5.
1--tee shot
2--second shot that went into the penalty area
3-shot from penalty area onto green
4 and 5--2 putts
There is no penalty for playing inside a hazard. New rules allow you to ground your club in a penalty area (not a bunker) as long as you do not improve your lie.
400
A player in your group hits a bad tee shot on the second hole. She slams her driver into the ground and nearly breaks her driver. On her next shot she chunks a ball into the water and rattles off a list of swear words that would embarrass a sailor, what is the penalty.
For the USGA Rules of Golf, this is not a penalty but is a serious breech of etiquette. For Minnesota State High School League players however, the first breach after the tee shot is a 2 stroke penalty, the second breach, the swearing, is automatic disqualification. Players are expected to call these breaches on themselves but if they do not, their playing partners are expected to call the breach. If a playing partner fails to call the breach, they are subject to the same penalties.
400
While removing your ball marker on the green, you bump your ball with the marker and it moves 1" from the original spot. What is the penalty for this?
None. This was accidental and there is no penalty but your ball must be moved back to the original location. If you fail to move your ball to the original location, there is a one stroke penalty. It is best to announce your intentions during this situation. This also applies if you are setting up to the ball to putt and you accidentally hit the ball or even if you are walking across the green and accidentally kick your ball. Key word, accident.
400
Your playing partner makes an illegal drop after her ball goes into a penalty area. No one in the group wants to be mean to the other player so they ignore the illegal drop. A rules official witnesses this breach and approaches your group after the hole is complete. What will the rules official do?
The rules official will assess all players in this group a 2 stroke penalty. The player for making an illegal drop and proceeding incorrectly and the other players in the group for not calling out the offending player. If a player makes an illegal drop, inform the player they need to replay that shot with a legal drop. If the player refuses to do so, talk among the other players in your group and notify a coach or rules official as soon as possible and BEFORE you turn in your score cards. Always find me if there is an issue like this on the course.
This happened at state and could have cost us are 2nd place finish.
500
After your shot, you move forward to search for your ball. When you find your ball you discover it is out of bounds, how do you proceed?
You must return to the point where you last played, drop your ball within 1 club length as close as possible to the spot from which you hit, using the right drop procedures, hit your next shot and take a 1 stroke penalty (loss if distance and stroke).
**a local rule may allow you to drop vs going back to where the shot was last played if you do not hit a provisional. This is only for JV or younger. http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/golfs-new-rules-stroke-and-distance.html
500
Your ball lies on a hill and is being held up by a few blades of grass. Not wanting to disturb your ball, you move several feet away from your ball to take a practice swing. You return to your ball to see that your ball has moved. What is the penalty for this?
None, if you are virtually certain, 95%, the ball moved by an outside force, gravity in this example, is not penalized and you must play your ball as it lies. If you caused the ball to move, say by grounding your club behind the ball, it is a 1 stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced to it's original spot. This applies anywhere except the green.
http://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules-hub/rules-modernization/major-changes/standard-for-deciding-why-a-ball-moved.html **what did this player in the video do that we generally discourage?
500
In stroke play, a player's ball lies 3 feet further from the hole from your ball but along the same line. You want to get a good read on this ball so you stand behind the player putting and watch. What is the penalty for doing this?
There is no penalty however it is considered a breach of etiquette. If you want to watch a putting line, is is considered permissible to do so from the opposite side of the hole however.
500
A player in your group is putting and misses the hole and hits your ball that is lying on the green past the hole. What is the penalty?
2 strokes to the player who was putting. ALWAYS have your playing partners mark their balls even if you do not think it is in your way!
If you are putting and your putt hits someone or your equipment or their equipment accidentally, the stroke is cancelled and you must replay from where the ball was previously. This does not include hitting a ball marker or the flag stick (or the person holding/attending the flag stick)
500
What is the penalty for calling out another player for marking down the wrong score or improperly dropping a ball or other rules breach?
There is no penalty for doing so and it should become standard procedure for all MHS players to do so. Your teammates are counting on you to make sure everyone turns in the proper score.