INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES OF GOLF 
by Frank Gal, 
Chairman of Rules & Amateur Status

October 2006 - Playing the ball as it lies

Playing the ball as it lies is a fundamental principle of the game of golf. The principle is so important that it is printed on the outside cover of the Rule book. It is also emphasised in Rule 13-1 which states "The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules." There are of course many Rules which advise a player how to proceed when playing the ball as it lies would be unfair or even impossible.

In Rule 13-2 we encounter the second fundamental principle that is printed on the outside cover of the Rule book, ie play the course as you find it. This Rule clarifies that in order to play the ball as it lies the player must also accept the surrounding conditions on the course, including the area of his intended swing or stance, his intended line of play, or the area in which he is to drop or place a ball.

The Rule lists a number of prohibited actions, including moving, bending or breaking anything that is growing or fixed; altering any irregularities on the surface of the golf course (excluding the teeing ground); removing or pressing down replaced divots or sand and loose soil not on the putting green; and removing dew, frost, or water. However, a player is not in breach of the Rule if he is performing an act that is essential to making a stroke, such as fairly taking a stance and taking the club back for and making a stroke.

Rule 13-3 states that a player is entitled to place his feet firmly in taking his stance, but he must not build a stance. Examples of building a stance would include:

o        carrying a mat and standing on it while making a stroke,

o        standing on a golf cart to play a ball that has come to rest in the limbs of a tree

o        placing a towel on the ground and kneeling on it to play a stroke. You may recall that Craig Stadler ran afoul of this Rule in 1987.

Rule 13-4 lists what can and can't be done when the ball lies in a bunker or water hazard. The player must not:

• test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard,
• touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club,
• or touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.

However, the Rules are not so strict as to penalise a player who has fallen and accidentally touches the ground. There are several further exceptions to Rule 13-4. A player would not be penalised for touching the ground in a hazard or water in a water hazard if this occurred:

• in removing an obstruction,
• in measuring,
• in retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule.

There is also no penalty if a player places his clubs in a hazard.

Another exception allows a player to smooth the sand or soil after playing a stroke in the hazard, whether or not the ball is still in the hazard, provided this does not improve the lie of the ball or assist his subsequent play of the hole.

Finally, the note on page 65 of the Rule Book clarifies that at any time a player may touch with a club or otherwise (even with his hands):

• any obstruction - as defined on page 31,
• any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course,
• or any tree, grass, bush or other growing thing.

This last item confirms that it is not necessary to avoid touching grass in a water hazard at address.

PRINTING ERROR

In last months The Golfer p47, Artificial Devices; a technical formatting error occurred inferring that "placing a bottled drink on the putting green for the purpose of gauging the slope;" & "The use of a golf ball that was purposely warmed during a stipulated round with a golf ball warmer or any such device" are permissible. This is not correct. Both these devices are prohibited by rule 14-3.