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January 2008 - Rule Changes Affecting Play From Hazards.
The 2008-2011 edition of the Rules of Golf contains a number of amendments which affect how a player can proceed in certain circumstances when his/her ball lies in a hazard, including a bunker.
Rule 12-2 (Identifying Ball) has been amended to allow a player to lift his ball for identification in a hazard. A further amendment to this Rule prohibits a player from lifting his ball for identification if it is not necessary to lift the ball in order to identify it. In other words, if the player knows the ball is his, he is not entitled to lift it under Rule 12-2 and he will be penalised one stroke if he does so.
The other provisions of the Rule also apply to a ball that lies in a hazard, as follows:
Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and identify it, provided that he gives his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for identification when lifted under Rule 12-2.
If the original lie of a ball has been altered after it is lifted for identification in a hazard, the following procedure applies (see Rule 20-3b):
§ in a water hazard, the ball must be placed in the water hazard in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie, and not nearer the hole.
§ in a bunker, the original lie must be re-created as nearly as possible and the ball must be placed in that lie.
The amendment to the Rules allowing identification of a ball in a hazard has a natural flow on effect on Rule 15-3 (Wrong Ball). From 1 January, 2008 a player will no longer be exempt from penalty for playing a wrong ball in a hazard. The penalty is loss of hole in match play and two strokes in stroke play.
Most players are familiar with the following provisions of Rule 13-4 (Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions)
Except as provided in the Rules, before making a stroke at a ball that is in a hazard (whether a bunker or a water hazard) or that, having been lifted from a hazard, may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player must not:
a. Test the condition of the hazard or any similar hazard;
b. Touch the ground in the hazard or water in the water hazard with his hand or a club; or
c. Touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard.
However, most are surprised to learn that there are a number of exceptions to these provisions.
In the new edition, exceptions 1 and 2 to Rule 13-4 have been amended for clarity and a third exception has been added to exempt a player from penalty for testing the condition of the hazard in certain circumstances.
Under exception 1, provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball, a player is not penalised if
(a). he touches the ground or loose impediments in any hazard or water in a water hazard as a result of or to prevent falling, in removing an obstruction, in measuring or in marking the position of, retrieving, lifting, placing or replacing a ball under any Rule, or
(b). he places his clubs in a hazard.
Exception 2 outlines what a player may do after making a stroke from a hazard.
à If the ball is still in the hazard or has been lifted from the hazard and may be dropped or placed in the hazard, the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard, provided nothing is done to breach Rule 13-2 with respect to his next stroke.
à If the ball is outside the hazard after the stroke, the player may smooth sand or soil in the hazard without restriction.
Exception 3 advises that, if the player makes a stroke from a hazard and the ball comes to rest in another hazard, Rule 13-4a does not apply to any subsequent actions taken in the hazard from which the stroke was made.
Finally, new Decision 13-4/0.5 further clarifies the meaning of “Test the Condition of the Hazard” in Rule 13-4a as follows:
Q: What is meant by “test the condition of the hazard” in Rule 13-4a?
A: The term covers all actions by which the player could gain more information about the hazard than could be gained from taking his stance for the stroke to be made, bearing in mind that a certain amount of digging in with the feet in the sand or soil is permitted when taking the stance for a stroke.
Examples of actions that would not constitute testing the condition of the hazard include the following:
à digging in with the feet for a stance, including for a practice swing, anywhere in the hazard or in a similar hazard;
à placing an object, such as clubs or a rake, in the hazard;
à leaning on an object (other than a club) such as a rake while it is touching the ground in the hazard or water in a water hazard;
à touching the hazard with an object (other than a club) such as a towel (touching with a club would be a breach of Rule 13-4b); or
à marking the position of the ball with a tee or otherwise when proceeding under a Rule.
Examples of actions that would constitute testing the condition of the hazard in breach of Rule 13-4a include the following:
à digging in with the feet in excess of what would be done for a stance for a stroke or a practice swing;
à filling in footprints from a previous stance (e.g., when changing stance to make a different type of stroke);
à intentionally sticking an object, such as a rake, into sand or soil in the hazard or water in a water hazard (but see Rule 12-1);
à smoothing a bunker with a rake, a club or otherwise (but see Exception 2 to Rule 13-4);
à kicking the ground in the hazard or water in a water hazard; or
à touching the sand with a club when making a practice swing in the hazard or in a similar hazard (but see Exception 3 to Rule 13-4).
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