Stump the NCGA Rules Expert
CLUB GRAZES GROWING GRASS IN BUNKER
Erik asks: Q. I drove my ball into a fairway bunker. It is clearly a bunker, but very poorly maintained and there are small patches of grass growing within it. I do not ground my club, but in the process of my back swing, I graze my club on the top of one of these clumps of grass, continue my stroke and hit the ball. What is the penalty, if any? A. There is no penalty. The Note to Rule 13-4 allows you to touch with a club or otherwise, any grass, bush, or any other growing thing when your ball lies in a bunker or water hazard.
BALL BURIED INTO FACE OF BUNKER
Drew asks: Q. I hit my tee shot into a green- side bunker. My next shot is a low line drive that buries into the face of the bunker and is unplayable. Is there any option under Rule 28 that could get me out of the bunker with
a one-stroke penalty
for my next shot? A. Your ball, by definition, is deemed to lie in the bunker. All of your options under Ball Unplayable (Rule 28) will require you to drop a ball in the bunker with a one-stroke penalty.
MARKED BALL ON GREEN ROLLS AWAY
John asks: Q. My ball is on the green and I have marked it but I have not picked it up. I am not in the act of picking it up. I have left my ball to assess the putt. My ball now rolls away due to terrain or wind. Since my ball was marked do I replace it or putt from the new position? A. The ball was in play and wind or gravity is not an outside agency. The ball must be played from where it came to rest. The ball marker is there to allow you to get your hand on the ball without penalty. See Decision 20-4/1 and 18-1/12.
EMBEDDED SHOT ON THE APRON
Dave asks: Q. A player’s approach shot embeds just off the front of the green on the apron. He can lift and clean his ball, but can he fix the pitch mark before he drops the ball? A. Rule 13-2 does not permit a player to remove an irregularity of surface in an area where he will be dropping the ball (the pitch mark cannot be touched). See Decision 13-2/10.
Edited by Ryan Gregg, Director of Education. To submit questions e-mail
rgregg@ncga.org.
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