Question:
In the absence of reasonable possibility that a ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds, may the player play a provisional ball?

Answer:
No.  If a player plays a ball under such circumstances, the ball is not a provisional ball but the ball in play – see Decision 27-2a/2.

Question:
A player's ball lies behind a bunker.  May the player test the condition of the bunker to determine whether it is feasible to putt through it? 

Answer:
The rules do not prohibit a player from testing the condition of a hazard except when the ball lies in or touches the hazard – see Rule 13-4.  However, if such testing improved the line of play, the player would be in breach of Rule 13-2.

Question:
A player removes a stake defining out of bounds which interferes with her swing.  Is this permissible?

Answer:
No. Objects defining out of bounds are fixed.  Improving the position of a gall by moving anything fixed is a breach of Rule 13-2.

Question:
In stroke play, A's ball lies near the hole in a position to assist B, whose ball lies off the green.  A states her intention to lift her ball under Rule 22-1.  However, B says that she does not what A's ball lifted.  B plays before A had an opportunity to lift her ball.  Should B be penalized? 

Answer:
Yes.  B is disqualified under Rule 3-4.

Question:
A ball is lost.  It is either in a water hazard or in casual water overflowing the hazard.  What is the proper procedure? 

Answer:
In equity (Rule 1-4), the player must proceed under the water hazard Rule.  

Question:
In a handicap match, a player entitled to two strokes at a par 3 hole scores a 2 or a hole-in-one.  What would be the player's net score in each case? 

Answer:
The player's net score would be zero (0) if she scored a 2 or a minus one (-1) if she had a hole-in-one.  

Question:
In match play, A holes a putt and thinking she has won the match picks up B's ball.  B then advises A that she (B) had a putt to win the hole.  Did A concede B's next stroke when she picked up B's ball? 

Answer:
No.  A incurred a penalty stroke under Rule 18-3b; B must replace her ball and now has two putts to win the hole.

Question:
A player's ball comes to rest in front of a divot which is folded over but not completely detached.  The divot interferes with her backswing.  May the player replace or remove the divot before playing? 

Answer:
No.  A divot which is not completely detached is not a loose impediment.  It is something fixed and therefore its removal or replacement would be a breach of Rule 13-2 as the lie and area of intended swing would be improved.

• Gives incorrect information during play of the hole regarding the number of strokes taken and does not correct the mistake before her opponent makes the next stroke; or
• Gives incorrect information regarding the number of strokes taken to complete the hole and this affects the opponent’s understanding of the result of the hole unless she corrects the mistake before her opponent makes the next stroke.

Question:
In match play, Player A putts a ball near the hole, and her opponent concedes the next putt. Player A indicates that she did not hole out and proceeds to putt and misses the putt. Does this invalidate the concession?

Answer:
No. Rule 2-4 (Concession of Next Stroke, Hole or Match) states that a player may concede her opponent’s next stroke at any time provided the opponent’s ball is at rest. The opponent is considered to have holed out with her next stroke and the ball may be removed by either side. A concession may not be declined or withdrawn.

Question:
In a match between Players A and B, Player A was to receive a handicap stroke at the 9th hole. However, both players mistakenly believed that Player A was to receive the stroke on the 7th hole, and the match was played on this basis. Subsequently, both players became aware of the mistake. What, if anything, should be done?

Answer:
According to the note under Rule 6-2, it is the players responsibility to know the holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received. Since the players did not intentionally make the mistake in applying the handicap, there is no breach of Rule 1-3 (Agreement to Waive Rules). The match should stand as played.

Situation: A player hits a ball into the woods from the teeing ground. After briefly searching for the ball, the player leaves the caddie to continue searching while he returns to the teeing ground, announcing that he will hit a provisional ball since the first ball may be lost. The player hits a second ball from the teeing ground and then the caddie finds the original ball within the allotted 5 minute search time. What is the ruling?

Answer:
Based on Rule 27-2, (Ball Lost or Out-of-Bounds; Provisional Ball) the player may only play a provisional ball before leaving the point where the original ball was played and going forward to search for the ball. So, this player effectively abandoned the original ball when he returned to the teeing ground. After hitting the second ball, it is now the ball in play under penalty of one stroke and distance. The original ball is deemed to be lost.

Question:
A player’s ball is on the putting green in casual water. The nearest position affording complete relief that is not nearer the hole or in a hazard is off the putting green and in the rough. If the player chooses to take relief, must the ball be placed in the rough?

Answer:
Yes. Rule 25-1b (iii) (Abnormal Ground Condition – Relief on the Putting Green) states that if the ball lies on the putting green, the player must lift the ball and place it without penalty at the nearest point of relief that is not in a hazard, or if complete relief is impossible, at the nearest position, to where it lay that affords maximum available relief from the condition, but not nearer the hole and not in a hazard. The nearest point of relief or maximum available relief may be off the putting green.

Question:
A branch blowing across the course strikes a player’s ball at rest and moves it closer to the hole. What is the procedure to be followed?

Answer:
Based on Rule 18-1 (Ball at Rest Moved – By Outside Agency), the branch is considered an outside agency, so the player shall incur no penalty and the ball shall be replaced before the player plays another stroke. Penalty for Breach: Match Play – Loss of Hole; Stroke Play – two strokes.

Question:
A player’s ball is at rest on the putting green. Before the player addresses the ball, a gust of wind blows the ball closer to the hole. Should the player play the ball where it lies or should the ball be placed at its original position on the putting green.

Answer:
Since the wind by definition, is not an outside agency (Rule 18-1), the player plays the ball from its new location whether it is closer or farther from the hole. Rule 18-1 (Ball at Rest Moved – By Outside Agency) states that if a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.

Question:
 Can a player deem his ball in a bunker, unplayable?

Answer:
Yes. Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable) states that a player may deem her ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether her ball is unplayable. If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player must, under penalty of one stroke:

• Play the ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
• Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped with no limit to how far behind that point the ball must be dropped; or
• Drop a ball within two club lengths of the spot where the ball lay not nearer the holed.

If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under provisions above. If he elects to proceed under either of the last two provisions above, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

Question:
A player makes a practice swing in the rough and dislodges a concealed ball. Is there a penalty?

Answer:
No. Since the player had no intention of striking the concealed ball, the swing remained a practice swing and was not a stroke. Consequently, there is no breach of Rule 7-2 (Practice – During Round).

Question:
During a stipulated round, a player runs out of golf balls. May the player borrow one or more golf balls from another player?

Answer:
Yes. Rule 4-4a prohibits a player from borrowing a club from another player playing on the course but the Rules do not prevent a player from borrowing other items of equipment(balls, gloves, towels, tees, etc.) from another player or outside agency.

If the “one ball” rule condition is in effect, the player must obtain the same brand and type of ball as required by that condition.

Question:
In a handicap match, A holed out in 3. B, having a putt for a gross 4 and forgetting she was entitled to a handicap stoke at the hole, conceded the hole to A. Before A or B played from the next teeing ground, B remembered that she had a handicap stroke at the last hole. What is the ruling?

Answer:
A won the hole when B conceded the hole – Rule 2-4.