By Senior Rules Officials, Pete Scholz and Terry McEvilly
We continue to focus on the breach of playing from a wrong place, including when and how to correct the error. Last month we focused on the definitions that must be understood in order to properly apply this Rule and a quick review of last month’s article might give you the advantage you are looking for when answering this month’s questions. Let’s jump right in.
Test your knowledge regarding how to complete a hole after playing from a wrong place in stroke play with the following questions.
Questions: True / False
1) If the breach of playing from a wrong place is not serious, the player must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place.
2) If the player is uncertain whether the breach of playing from a wrong place is serious and must be corrected, they should play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place and another ball played from the right place.
3) When a player decides to correct the error of playing from a wrong place by playing a second ball from the right place, they must report the facts of the situation to the Committee before returning the scorecard.
4) If the Committee decides that the breach was not serious, only the strokes made at the ball played from the wrong place and the two penalty strokes for the breach count in the player’s score. All strokes with the other ball when attempting to correct the error do not count.
5) If the Committee decides that the breach was serious, only the strokes made at the ball played from the correct place to correct the error count in the player’s score.
6) A player makes their 2nd stroke at the original ball from a wrong place. The error is serious, so they put another ball into play at the right place by properly dropping it. From that spot they take three strokes to hole out with the second ball played from the right place. Their score for the hole is 5 strokes plus two penalty strokes for playing the original ball from a wrong place for a total of 7.
7) If a player plays a second ball to correct the serious breach of playing from a wrong place, but also plays the second ball from a wrong place that is not a serious breach, the second ball counts and the player must add four penalty strokes.
8) If it is determined that the player in Question #7 played the second ball from a wrong place and the breach is serious, the player is disqualified.
9) A player’s ball comes to rest on a wrong green. Thinking that it is the correct green, they three putt and then it is discovered that they are on the wrong green. They properly take relief and play to the correct putting green. They get 6 penalty strokes.
10) Playing from a no play zone, that is either in a penalty area or ground under repair, is a breach of playing from a wrong place.
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Answers:
1) True. Rule 14.7b(1). The player gets two penalty strokes and must complete the hole without correcting the error. If the player corrects the error when not required to, it is advised to hole out with the original ball as well as the ball played to correct the error.
2) True. Rule 14.7b(1). As mentioned in Answer #1, this is the safest and quickest way to resolve the matter on the course. The round can then continue and the situation discussed before returning the scorecard.
3) True. Rule 14.7b(2). The player is required to inform the Committee of the facts of the situation. The Committee will apply the Rules to the situation and will make the final judgement. This is true even if the player believes they have scored the same with both balls or if they choose not to complete the hole with both balls. If the player does not report the facts to the Committee, they are disqualified. Leave nothing untold in the scoring area.
4) True. Rule 14.7b(3). The Rules are only concerned with the number of strokes made at the player’s ball that will count in his or her score. One point to notice is that whether the error is corrected or not, the penalty for playing the original ball from a wrong place always are added.
5) True. Rule 14.7b(3). As stated in Answer #4, only the strokes made at the ball to count in the player’s score are counted. But don’t forget to add the two penalty strokes for playing the original ball from a wrong place. Question #6 is an example of how this plays out.
6) False. Rule 14.7b(3). Their score for the hole is 6. The stroke made in playing the original ball from a wrong place and any more strokes with that ball do not count. Only the strokes made at the second ball put into play to correct the error of playing from a wrong place count in the player’s score. Therefore, when the player put the second ball into play at the correct place, they had made only 1 stroke. They holed out in 3 more strokes with the ball to count for a total of 4 strokes plus 2 penalty strokes for playing the original ball from a wrong place.
7) True. Rule 14.7b(3). The second ball is the ball to count in the player’s score and he or she gets four penalty strokes. Two for the stroke from a wrong place made with the original ball and two more penalty strokes for another breach of playing from a wrong place with the second ball.
8) True. Rule 14.7b(3). Not a great finish to a day of golf, but certainly part of the game. Being disqualified is simply saying that your score cannot count for the competition. It is not something to be ashamed of, rather something for every golfer to learn from. It happens to the best golfers in the world and fortunately, we get to learn from their mistakes.
9) True. Clarification 14.7b/1. Each stroke the player made on the wrong green is a breach of playing from a wrong place since the player is not allowed to make a stroke on the wrong green. Therefore, the player incurs 6 penalty strokes. Might be wise to hire a local caddie next time.
10) True. Clarification 14.7b/1. This is an easy error to make if not careful. Read your Notice to Players for the competition being played and be aware of the color of stakes when entering penalty areas and ground under repair. And whatever you do, as Answer #9 pointed out, don’t make multiple strokes from that area.