Golf:

It is once again time for a golf rules quiz. The following questions are from the United States Golf Assn. rules section and my hope is that this will help all of us become more knowledgeable about the game of golf.

I have listed 10 questions. The answers with the applicable rule or decision follows the last question. With the USGA running the U.S. Open next week, they will also discuss some of the rules of the game when they come up during the competition.

1. True or false?: Foreign material may never be applied to the ball for the purpose of changing its playing characteristics.

2. True or false?: Stakes and lines defining the margins of water hazards are in the hazards.

3. In stroke play, a player incorrectly substitutes a ball when dropping after taking relief from casual water. What is the ruling if he has not yet played a stroke with the dropped ball?

 A) He must mark and lift the substituted ball and replace the original ball.

 B) He must lift the substituted ball and drop the original ball.

 C) There is a two-stroke penalty and the substituted ball is the ball in play.

4. A player incurs the general penalty when he touches his line of putt in which one of the following?

 A) He taps down spike marks on the line of putt.

 B) He repairs a ball mark on the line of putt.

 C) He removes loose impediments on the line of putt with a towel.

 D) He presses down a ball marker of a fellow competitor that is on his line of putt.

5. After playing their tee shots, fellow competitors realize they are playing balls with identical markings. Player A knew which ball was his. To avoid possible confusion, A lifts his ball, substitutes a ball with different markings and plays out the hole. What is the ruling?

 A) A incurs a one-stroke penalty.

 B) A incurs a total penalty of two strokes.

 C) A incurs a total penalty of three strokes.

6. In singles match play, a caddie is carrying both bags. Prior to his stroke, a player asks the caddie what club his opponent used from about the same position. What is the ruling?

 A) There is no penalty.

 B) There is a one-stroke penalty.

 C) There is a loss of hole penalty.

7. In match play, what is the penalty if the players fail to determine one another’s handicaps before starting a match?

 A) There is no penalty.

 B) They are disqualified.

 C) The Committee must decide.

8. In stroke play, a player’s ball lies on a putting green. As he approaches the ball, the wind blows it into a nearby bunker. He replaces the ball on the putting green, holes out and tees off on the next hole. What is the ruling?

 A) There is no penalty.

 B) There is a two-stroke penalty.

 C) He is disqualified.

9. A player takes relief for an embedded ball. When dropped, the ball embeds a few inches from its original, embedded position. What is the ruling?

 A) He is entitled to take relief without penalty for an embedded ball.

 B) He must place the ball as near as possible to where it lay.

 C) He must re-drop the ball and if it embeds again, place the ball where it first struck the ground after the second drop.

10. A player walks on his line of putt. When is there no penalty?

 A) If he does so accidentally.

 B) If the line is not improved.

 C) If he does so accidentally and the line is not improved.

ANSWERS

1. True. Rules of Golf 5-2.

2. True. Definition in Rules of Golf of water hazard.

3. B) He must lift the substituted ball and drop the original ball. Rule 20-6.

4. A) He taps down spike marks on the line of putt. Rule 16-1a.

5. B) A incurs a total penalty of two strokes. Decision 15/6.5

6. A) There is no penalty. Decision 8-1/12

7. A) There is no penalty. Decision 6-2a/1.

8. C) He is disqualified. Decision 18-1/12 and Rule 20-7c

9. A) He is entitled to take relief without penalty for an embedded ball. Decision 25-2/2

10. C) If he does so accidentally and the line is not improved. Decision 16-1a/12

I got seven right this time. 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.