Two weeks ago, I gave you two questions. Here are the answers:
Question 2.1
– A ball lies in a bunker touching also a red line (penalty area) and the player can’t play the stroke because it is in an unplayable lie. What are the player’s options?
A) The player must use the available options for an unplayable ball in a bunker.
B) The players must use the options for a ball in a penalty area.
C) The player has the choice between the bunker or penalty area relief options.
D) The only option is to use the Stroke and distance (going back to where the previous stroke was made).
ANSWER:
A) B) The players must use the options for a ball in a penalty area (Rule 2.2c).
EXPLAINATION: If part of the ball is in two specific areas of the course, it is treated as lying in the specific area that comes first in this order: penalty area, bunker, putting green. In the question the ball was in the bunker touching the penalty area, the ball is considered in the penalty area.
Question 2.2
– The ball lies in the general area near a flower bed that has been designated as a No Play Zone. He knows that his club will touch the flowers during his backswing, but he decides to play the ball where it lies. What is the ruling?
A) No penalty because the flower bed is an abnormal course condition where free relief is available.
B) No penalty because the ball was not in the flower bed.
C) A penalty of two strokes because his club touched the flowers.
D) Penalty only if it is included in a Code of Conduct.
ANSWER
C) A penalty of two strokes because his club touched the flowers.
EXPLAINATION: Under Rule 2.4, a player must take relief when his ball is in the No Play Zone. But when a No Play Zone interferes with his or her area of intended stance or area of intended swing in playing a ball outside the No Play Zone, the player is not allowed to play the ball as it lies
If that area would have been declared an immovable obstruction or Ground under Repair, the player could have taken the relief or play the ball where it lies.
A FEW QUESTIONS FOR NEXT WEEK ON RULE # 3 (MATCH PLAY)
QUESTION 3.1: What is the decision if the caddie concedes the next stroke to his player’s opponent to tie the hole without knowledge from the player; and the opponent picks up the ball?
QUESTION 3.2: A player tells his opponent on the first tee that he has a handicap of 12. When arriving on hole # 9, he tells his opponent that he made a mistake and his real handicap is 16. What is the decision?
QUESTION 3.3: before the start of the match, a player tells his opponent that he has a handicap of 12. Before arriving at the first green, he tells his opponent that his handicap is actually 10. What is the decision?
QUESTION 3.4: On hole # 1, the player tells his opponent that he made a 4. His opponent made a 5. A few holes later, the player tells his opponent that he made a mistake and his actual score for hole # 1 was a 5. Is that hole tied?