GOLF:

Though I have played the game of golf since I was a teenager, one aspect of the sport — other than birdies — eludes me.

The rules of the game has always been a bane in an otherwise enjoyable life of golf.

Recently I tried to bone up on the rules of the game and visited the rules section of the United States Golf Assn. and took a little quiz. It was humbling to say the least.

I have listed 10 questions. The answers with the applicable rule or decision follows the last question.

1. True or false: A ball is deemed to have moved if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.

2. True or false: A leaf adhering to the ball is a loose impediment.

3. In stroke play, a player accidentally steps on and moves his ball marker. What is the ruling?

 A. There is no penalty.

 B. There is a one-stroke penalty.

 C. There is a two-stroke penalty.

4. In which instance may a player touch his line of putt without penalty?

 A. With his towel in removing a loose impediment.

 B. With his club in removing casual water.

 C. With his club when tapping down spike marks.

5. A player’s ball comes to rest in a tree where it is visible but cannot be recovered or played. What is the ruling?

 A. If he can identify his ball, it may be deemed unplayable.

 B. If he cannot recover the ball, it is lost even if it is identified.

 C. If he cannot identify the ball, it must be declared lost or unplayable.

6. A player plays his approach shot to an elevated green. After arriving at the green, he holes a ball he thinks is his. Upon reaching the hole, he finds his original ball in the hole together with the ball he just putted. What is the ruling?

 A. He has played a wrong ball and the error must be corrected.

 B. He completed the hole when the original ball was holed.

 C. He must replay the hole without penalty.

7. True or false: A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be taken at any place, provided the player does not otherwise breach the Rules.

8. Which of the following does not result in a penalty?

 A. Swinging at and missing a wrong ball.

 B. Playing a stroke with his ball and dislodging an abandoned ball that was hidden and lay underneath it.

 C. Playing a stroke at part of an abandoned ball which had broken into pieces.

9. In stroke play, prior to taking his stance, a player removes a stake defining out of bounds that interferes with his line of play. What is the ruling?

 A. There is no penalty.

 B. There is a one-stroke penalty.

 C. There is a two-stroke penalty.

10. In stroke play, competitor A concedes a short putt to competitor B and knocks the ball away. The fellow competitor tees off on the next hole. What is the ruling?

 A. There is no penalty.

 B. competitor A incurs a two-stroke penalty.

 C. Competitor B is disqualified.

ANSWERS

1. True. Definition of move or moved.

2. False. Definition in Rules of Golf of loose impediments.

3. B. There is a one-stroke penalty. Decision 20-1/5.5

4. A. With his towel in removing a loose impediment. Rule 16-1

5. A. If he can identify his ball, it may be deemed unplayable. Decision 27/14

6. B. He completed the hole when the original ball was holed. Decision 1-1/4

7. True. Rule 7-1 Note 1

8. B. Playing a stroke with his ball and dislodging an abandoned ball that was hidden and lay underneath it. Decision 15-2

9. C. There is a two-stroke penalty. Decision 13-2/17

10. C. Competitor B is disqualified. Decision 3-2/1

I got six right. What was even more demoralizing is that these are considered basic by the USGA. They have an advanced category as well.

These hopefully help understand the game a little more and I will run other pop quizzes in the future. I know it will help me and I hope it helps other golfers.

JOHN REGER’S golf column appears Thursdays.