Don’t Rule Out the Book

In the minds of many amateur golfers, the rules of golf are intimidating, confusing and far too penal. That’s a bad rap.

Sure, the rules can turn a decent score into a wrangled mess faster than you can measure two club lengths, but they can also save you strokes. For example, the rule that allows you to mark your ball on the putting green and clean it off. How many more putts would you miss if you had to putt with a muddy ball?

Even complicated rules can help you save strokes. The key is knowing how to make the rules work for you. Here are some examples of situations where the rules can help you;

Example 1: The ball comes to rest on a cart path, on a yardage maker or near an electrical box.

Applicable rule: 24-2, immovable obstruction.

There is interference when the ball lies on or in the obstruction or the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing. Determine the closest point to where the ball lies that avoids the interference, is not closer to the hole, is not in a hazard and is not on the green. Lift and drop the ball within one club length of that point. The ruling: No penalty. If the ball is in a bunker, it must remain in the bunker.

Note: There is no interference when the obstruction lies between the ball and the target, only when it interferes with the player’s stance or area of intended swing. Sometimes golfers stand on the cart path to take their swing, afraid of violating the rules if they touch their ball. They end up slipping and hit a bad shot. Occasionally, you will want to stand on the path because your drop spot may put you in a worse position. You don’t have to apply this rule, but it is always an option.

Example 2: The ball comes to rest in casual water, in an area under repair or near a burrowing animal hole. Applicable rule: 25-1, abnormal ground conditions.

An abnormal ground condition is any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or runway on the course made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird. Determine the closest point to where the ball lies that avoids the interference, is not closer to the hole, is not in a hazard or on the green. Lift and drop the ball within one club length of that point. The ruling: No penalty. If the abnormal condition occurs on the green, lift and place the ball no closer to the hole, as close as possible to where it lay while avoiding interference. If it is in a bunker, the ball must remain in the bunker after the drop. You also have the option to accept a one-stroke penalty then lift and drop the ball outside of the hazard while keeping the hazard between the point where the ball lay and the hole.

Note: Most players know about ground under repair, and common sense tells you to move away from an animal hole, but casual water costs far more strokes than it should. Casual water is any temporary water on the course that isn’t marked off with yellow or red stakes. Basically, if you take your stance over the ball and water comes up from the ground, you are in casual water.

Find the nearest dry point by going sideways or backward. If you try to hit out of the casual water and catch it a little heavy, it’s going to cost significant distance.

Example 3: You hit your ball into a water hazard.

Applicable rule: 26, water hazards.

Yellow stakes or lines define water hazards. Red stakes and lines define lateral hazards. If your ball lies inside or touches the hazard boundaries or is lost within a water or lateral hazard, it is deemed to have entered the hazard. The ruling: In a water hazard (defined by yellow stakes or lines), you have three options: 1. Play the ball as it lies without penalty. 2. Accept a one-stroke penalty, return as close as possible to the point where the ball was last played and hit again. 3. Accept a one-stroke penalty, identify the spot where the ball last crossed the hazard boundary and drop your ball anywhere behind that spot, keeping that spot between you and the hole.

In a lateral hazard (marked by red stakes or lines), you have two options in addition to those in a water hazard marked with yellow stakes: 1. Identify the spot where the ball crossed the hazard boundary and drop the ball within two club lengths of that spot. 2. Identify the point of entry, find a spot on the opposite margin of the hazard that is equidistant from the hole and drop within two club lengths from there. Everyone who plays golf eventually hits into the water. Not everyone knows all of their options when they do. Even if the ball is below the surface of the water, you can play it without penalty. It’s risky and may end up costing you more strokes, but you can do it.

Keeping the point of entry between you and the hole while walking backward is a little-known option that can prove extremely beneficial. For instance, if you drop two club lengths from the point of entry, you may be blocked by a tree. Walk back 100 yards and you’ll be able to clear the tree no problem. The same goes with dropping on the opposite side of a lateral hazard. You may have an unobstructed shot from over there.

These are only a few of the ways that the rules can help you. The No. 1 rule is to always carry a rule book, just in case. There is never a penalty for playing it as it lies, though that might not always be a viable option. In stroke play, when it doubt, play a second ball and consult with the pro shop after the round. Remember, if you aren’t playing by the rules, you aren’t playing golf.

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Glenn Deck, a PGA professional, is director of instruction at Pelican Hill Golf Club in Orange County. He is ranked among the top 100 teachers in America by Golf magazine.