The next season is at our doorstep. I will take the next weeks to explain the importance of the local rules in the different tournaments at your golf clubs.
In order to receive a professional ruling in case of a problem from Diane Barabé, Chairwoman of the Golf Canada Rules Committee or Jacques Sevigny, President of the Golf Quebec Golf Committee, the competition must be played under the official Rules of Golf.
In Summer, we receive many questions during the Interclubs competitions and also during the Club Championships.
Basic rules of golf
OUT OF BOUNDS
A ball at rest is out of bounds only when all of it is outside the boundary edge of the course.
CLUBS
If a player started with 14 clubs or added clubs up to the limit of 14 and then loses or damages a club during the round or while play is stopped under 5.7a, the player must not replace it with another club.
CADDIES
A player may have a caddie to carry, transport and handle his or her clubs, give advice and help him in other ways during a round…
PRACTICE
– In Stroke Play, a player may practise on the course after completing play of his or her final round for that day
– In Stroke Play, a player may practise putting or chipping on or near the putting green of the hole just completed……
TRANSPORTATION
Nothing in the rules of golf prohibits a player to use a motorized golf cart.
EXAMPLES OF RULINGS THAT I WAS ASKED TO MAKE IN 2019
All those golf clubs did not adopt the Golf Quebec Annual Local Rules.
o During the club championship, a competitor played on the competition course between two rounds
o A player practised his putting at the end of each holes in Stroke Play
o Between hole # 9 and # 10, a player replaced a damaged club (the shaft broken in two by accident)
o A player used a caddie that played in the morning in the same competition
o With his golf cart, a competitor was always driving near the greens to have a look at the pins
o A player made a stroke on his ball lying in a flower bed and did some damages.
o A competitor made a stroke on his ball lying on the Clubhouse terrace
o During a junior competition, a young player used a golf cart and also a caddie on a few holes
Only one of these incidents was penalised. Can you find which one?
edouard.rivard@videotron.ca
