By Senior Rules Officials, Pete Scholz and Terry McEvilly
The special days in May seem to have the reoccurring theme of remembering. First, let us remember those in the military that have fought and died for our freedom. Not just on Memorial Day, the 29th, but every day. To them and all military personnel, past and present, we say a heartfelt “Thank You”. And speaking of the military, Cinco de Mayo, on the 5th, is to celebrate the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla during the Franco-Mexican War (1862).
May 10th is National Golf Day, which is obviously a very important day to celebrate. However, we suggest preparing for May 14th before spending endless hours on the course celebrating. Mother’s Day comes just once each year, but should be celebrated each and every day. Take a mom golfing or just for a ride around the course as you play. Our games might give our moms an opportunity to observe May 7th — World Laughter Day.
Test your knowledge regarding moving things and moved things with the following questions. Don’t let the changes in the Rules catch you off guard. Take Yoda’s advice as May 21st is National Talk Like Yoda Day — “You must unlearn what you have learned”.
Questions: True / False
1) A removed flagstick on the ground may be lifted while a ball is in motion to prevent the ball from hitting it.
2) A bench that is movable must not be moved if it only interferes on the player’s line of play.
3) While making a practice swing, a player accidentally moves his or her ball on the putting green. There is a one stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.
4) While making a practice swing, a player accidentally moves his or her ball in the fairway. There is a one stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.
5) After lifting, cleaning and replacing the ball on the putting green, the player made a stroke at the ball without removing the ball marker he or she had used to mark the ball’s location. There is no penalty since movable obstructions don’t have to be removed.
6) May 4th is National Day of Prayer and we pray the following never happens to you. A player makes a stroke at a teed ball within the teeing ground and misses the ball. The player lifts the ball in play and re-tees it elsewhere in the teeing area. This is allowed and the player will be making their second stroke.
7) A rake on the ground may be moved, without penalty, while a ball is in motion to prevent the ball from being deflected by the rake.
8) If your ball is moving in either temporary water or in water inside a penalty area, you may make a stroke at it without penalty for playing a moving ball.
9) Provided that the ball is not on the putting green, a player may set down an object to indicate the line of play provided that the object is removed before making the stroke.
10) Make someone’s day in your neighborhood by leaving flowers on their porch on May 1st — May Day.
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Answers:
1) True. Rule 11.3. Generally, when a ball is in motion, a player must not deliberately take an action to affect where the ball might come to rest. However, there are several exceptions to this Rule and moving a removed flagstick is allowed.
2) False. Rule 15.2. A movable obstruction, on or off the course, may be moved to eliminate any interference, including intervention on the line of play.
3) False. Rule 9.4b Exception 3. There is no penalty for accidentally moving a ball at rest on the putting green, no matter how that happens. However, it must be noted that accidentally lifting the ball without first marking its position is a purposeful act, not accidental, and the player gets a penalty.
4) True. Rule 9.4b. As you might have noticed, this question resembles the previous question with one important distinction — the location of the ball. In question #3, the ball lies on the putting green and any accidental movement of the ball caused by the player results in no penalty. However, that exception does not apply for a ball anywhere else on the course. Therefore, in the situation presented in this question, the player gets a one stroke penalty and must replace the ball.
5) False. Rule 14.1a. When a player marks the spot of a ball, the ball-marker must be removed prior to the stroke. Failure to do so gets the player one penalty stroke, the stroke counts and the ball is played as it lies.
6) True. Rule 6.2b(6). When a player’s ball lies in the teeing area, whether in play or not, the player may lift and re-tee that ball or play another ball without penalty.
7) False. Rule 11.3. In the situation presented, the rake was on the ground and is considered a movable obstruction and must not be moved for the intention of preventing a ball in motion from being stopped or deflected by the rake. Doing so gets the player who moved the rake the general penalty of loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.
8) True. Rule 10.1d. A player is never penalized for making a stroke at a moving ball that is in water.
9) False. Rule 10.2b. This is a change in the Rules and no matter where the ball lies on the course a player is not allowed to set an object down to assist in aiming, even if the object is removed before the player makes the stroke. When the ball is not on the putting green, a caddie or another person may stand in an area to show the line of play, but that person must move away before the player makes a stroke.
10) May Day is a European festival to celebrate the beginning of summer. Bring it on. We have had enough winter.