Example of symbols: "USGA" indicates decision by the United States Golf Association. "R & A" indicates decision by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews, Scotland. "57-1" means the first decision issued in 1957. "0" means definition. "R. 37-7" refers to Section 7 of Rule 37 in the 1957 Rules of Golf. Chalk on Clubface Knocking Ball Away Violates Rule Tantamount to Lifting USGA 57-6 USGA 57-22 R. 2-2b,d R. 23-3, 35-3 Q: During the 1956 Amateur Cham- Q: In stroke play, Mrs. E. was on the pionship, I observed a few players applying 18th green in 3. Her first and second putts chalk to the faces of their irons. wefe missed, and the ball lay about two Is this permissible? If not, what is the inches from the cup. In disgust she knock- penalty in match and stroke play? ed the ball toward the side of the green Question by: ROBERT K. HOGARTY with the back of her putter. It didn't go Northfield, Ill. far and she knocked it again, off the green. A: It is not permissible to apply chalk She was reminded she had to hole out, so or other foreign materials to a clubface she picked up the ball and replaced it two during play. inches from the cup and did not leave the Rule 2-2b provides: "The player or green until she holed out. other agency shall not change the playing Is she disqualified for not playing the characteristics of a club during a round." ball back to the hole from where she Rule 2-2d provides that: "Club faces knocked it? Or should she incur a two- shall not bear any type of finish made stroke penalty, which would have applied for the purpose of putting additional spin had she only lifted the ball? Or should she on the balL" in~ur the two-stroke penalty plus the twq The penalty for violation of Rule 2 is strokes she took in hitting the ball away disqualification, unless waived or modified fwm the hole? under Rule 36-5. Mrs. E. finally felt she should withdraw Comment: Decision 57-6 represents a re- to be absolutely fair to the whole field. 'l-'isionin policy. Players in pa.rt champion- Question by: MRs. CHARLESF. Fox, sbips have applied chalk to club faces Secretary, Women's Metropolitan w~thout being considered in violation of Golf Association an'Y Rule. Highland Park, Mich.
USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1957 21 A: The player should have been per thrown out. This would create a Wood mitted to replace the ball under a two- stock victory. stroke penalty as provided for in Rules Efforts to settle the argument on the 35-3 and 23-3. basis of sections 2 and 3 of Rule 38 failed The player in effect lifted the ball when to satisfy either side. it was close to the hole. The two-stroke Question by: CHARLES J. TIANO penalty is adequate to regulate further Kingston, N. Y. play and to equalize any possible advantage A: The Commtitee in charge should she may have gained in moving the ball determine the matter, as it apparently fixed with a club rather than actually lifting it. a procedure for scoring and reporting re- The word "lift" in Rule 23-3 need not be suits of matches. If the Committee cannot interpreted too literally here. come to a conclusion, it may submit a writ ten statement to the USGA as provided for Committee Responsible For in Rule 11-3. Searing Procedure In Team The players in the match should have Match had an understanding as to the status be fore results were reported, USGA 57-23 The issue is the status of the Nassau R. 11-1,-3,-4; 38-2,-3 point for the first nine holes. If the players Q: In an interclub team match, play was agreed on the status of the first nine be in four-ball matches, three-point Nassau, fore any player had driven from the tenth with one point for low ball on front nine, tee, no later claim was admissible, under one point on second nine and one point Rule 11-1, unless wrong information were for overall total. involved. When match was completed, Twaalfskill If an erroneous report of the results was was declared winner by a 20-19 score. made by one player in the match, without A member of the Woodstock team dis consultation with and agreement by the covered an error against his side about opponents, the error should be corrected. one-half hour after the match was over. See Rule 11-4. The score had been reported by one of the The Rules ghe no status to a score card Twaalfskill members playing in the four- in match play. However, the Committee ball match as a 3-0 victory for Twaalfskill, may use a score card in a supplementary but the Woodstock player insisted the first manner when it considers the card could nine had been halved entitling each side be of assistance. to % point. This would have made the Rule 38 applies to stroke play, not final result 2% to *4 in favor of Twaalf match play. skill and thrown the final tally to a 19V2- 19% tie. Ball Struck on Backward Swing A check of the scorecard revealed a hal ved nine. Incurs Penalty Stroke Twaalfskill insisted the score should USGA 57-24 remain as originally posted and that, even !>• 3, 30; though a Twaalfskill man turned in the R. 16, 27-ia, 27-ic. erroneous score, the Woodstock players Q. 1: In a tournament, a thunderstorm were liable and responsible for not check came up, and the committee ordered play ing. Twaalfskill claimed the 20-19 victory. suspended until after the storm. One wo Woodstock said the score should be cor man had driven off the tee, and all four rected and the match declared a iStVz- in the group marked her ball visually; no 19% tie. Other Woodstock players in actual marker or cover was placed over the sisted that the erroneous score turned in ball or spot where the ball rested. After by the Twaalfskill member of the foursome, the storm and when play resumed, the who was serving as official scorer, invali other women drove off, but the woman dated the entire match, which should be who had first driven was unable to findhe r 22 USGA JOURNAL AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1957 ball. Someone must have removed it, acci- Testing Brake With Putter dentally or otherwise. The committee penalized her two strokes over her objec- Contrary To Rules tions. What should the ruling be? USGA 57-27 Q. 2: On addressing a ball on the fair- R. 35-1C, 35-ld way or putting green, should the face of Q: I have been experimenting to check the club touch the ball, I understand that the break on a green by placing my mallet- is allowable, but suppose on the puttjng head putter flat on the green and then by green the ball is jiggled, not actually lifting it at the end of the handle and moved? I've seen players double-face a checking the way it swings to determine ball, put the putter first behind then over the break. the top of the ball and line the putt up Putter-head placed in three places-im- from in front of the ball then place the mediately behind the hole, just to the side putter behind the ball to stroke it. Any of the line of putt, and immediately be- number of times I've seen the ball jiggle. hind the ball-can give me a very definite Is this a stroke? I've been told that a ball idea of break. must roll half a revolution to be a stroke, In no case have I touched the line of something which is pretty hard to define. putt or placed the putter with more than Q. 3: A player chipping missed his shot its own weight, nor has the green been completely, and in swinging his club back rubbed with the putter to test the grain. he accidentally hit his ball, which was I don't see that I have violated any ruI~ driven backwards some dozen feet by the but would like your opinion as to this back of the club. Is this considered a stroke, procedure. or does he just count the missed stroke Question by: GENE ANDREWS and not the one hit as his club swung Beverly Hills, Cal. backwards? A: The action violates Rule 35-1d, which Questions by: FREDC. CLARKE,JR. prohibits testing the surface of the putting Woodstock, Vt. green. Attention is also called to the provision A. 1: As the player's ball was visible in Rule 35-1C that "the line of the putt from the tee by all four players before play shall not be touched in front of, to the was suspended, it can be claimed in equity side of, or behind the hole". that the ball was moved by an outside agency, and a ball must therefore be drop- Holes Must Be Played ped without penalty under Rule 27-1a. In Correct Sequence When play is temporarily suspended, it is R. & A. 56-75-3 I permissible and advisable. but not obliga- D.29 tory, to lift and mark the location of a ball Q: Two players in an Inter-Club Match in play. played on a neutral course, and omitted to A. 2: A ball may be touched while be. play the fifth hole. ing addressed provided it does not move. They were playing on '1 nine-hole course (Rule 16). A ball is deemed to have and found out their mistake at the 9th moved if it leaves its position and comes hole. They returned to the clubhouse and to rest in any other place (Definition 3). reported their mistake and the member in A. 3: A "stroke" is the forward move. charge for that day told them to return to ment of the club made with the intention the 5th hole and replay to the 9th: can- of fairly striking at and moving the ball celling 6th to 9th holes played. Was this (Definition 30). In addition to counting correct? the missed stroke, the player is charged A: In the circumstances described by with a penalty stroke for accidentally mov- you, the member in charge gave a correct ing the ball with his backward swing fol- ruling. The stipulated round consi~ts of lowing the missed stroke (Rule 27-1C); playing the nine (or eighteen holes) in and the ball is then played as it lies. their correct sequence. Definition 29.
USGA JOURNA~ AND TURF MANAGEMENT: NOVEMBER, 1957 23