Rules of Golf Quiz #15

Jim Ferree, PGA, Head Golf Professional

Answer to Rules Quiz #14

The Rules of Golf clearly states that a player must take complete relief from a wrong putting green meaning lie, stance, and intended area of swing. Furthermore, Rule 13.1f specifically states the ball must come to rest in the same area of the course as the reference point. There are five defined areas of the course; the general area (which is basically the fairway, rough and trees), the teeing area, all penalty areas, all bunkers, and the putting green of the hole being played. When Ronald took his full relief from the wrong green and dropped his ball in the general area even though his ball did not go more than 2 club lengths or go closer to the hole, it did end up in a different area of the course. Because of this Ronald is required to re-drop so Felix was incorrect in this instance.

Rules Quiz #15

To help him in his upcoming club championship, Cliff bought some new golf balls with straight lines painted on them after seeing the Pros on TV use them to help line up their putts. On the first hole of the first round Cliff has a 10-foot birdie putt where he read the break and carefully rotated his ball to point the line on his intended line. Ernie, one of his playing partners and arch nemesis, called a penalty on Cliff for moving his ball without marking it. Cliff argued his ball stayed in the exact location and he only rotated the ball to correctly point the lines. Who is correct?