Golf rules via Fred

This page will be regularly updated.....enjoy

1. The sheriff writes:-      So your tee shot from the 15^th finds the ditch near the bridge. Most retrieve their ball and drop on a line closer to the tee. Not strictly correct, but why not use the rule correctly and give yourself a better chance:-

Take an imaginary line from the 15^th pin, drawn through the point at which your ball crossed into the hazard then follow this line back, diagonal to the fairway then, under a penalty, drop on this line. This gives a better chance to clear the corner and save a shot with subsequent play of the hole.

2. 28^th July 2015.

Sheriff asks:- what is a provisional ball?

Answer, a ball played under rule 27-2 for a ball that may be lost outside a hazard or out of bounds.

Often noted, players playing our 17^th at Clays their tee shot played to the green is sometimes difficult to see that splash of a ball entering the pond. Player walks forward to the pond and announce they will play a provisional ball then walk around to check if their ball has in fact cleared the pond.

Any player following this procedure then finding their ball clear of the pond is subject to a two stroke penalty for playing the wrong ball (the ball incorrectly played as a provisional).  In this situation a provisional ball should not be played.You must be virtually certain your ball entered the pond, If there is doubt the best procedure at the 17^th is to walk around and search making sure your ball is in the pond then back and take your penalty drop.

August 16th 2015 Sheriff blogs 3:- the last information  referred to hole 17, an issue has been  raised suggesting the possibility of a local rule which may relax the situation, however the possibility is open to interpretation, therefore I have sort clarification, my only response so far is that they will review my email.

Enough said for the moment, lets move back on the course to hole no 7. You play your 2nd shot toward the green and  the ball entered the ditch on the right of the pond and continued up the bank into the wood.

The wood is Out of Bounds therefore you are required to “play stroke and distance” you should not walk forward and drop a ball near the hazard, using Rule 26 for justification.

29/8/15 Sheriff writes. Perhaps it is splitting hairs but I often hear players say that “I declare the ball lost”. I don’t know of this expression being in the rule book, The correct statement has the same result “I declare the ball unplayable”.

When then is a ball lost? by definition a ball is lost if it is not found and identified within 5 Minute of a search. Stroke and distance being the option for a lost ball. If a provisional ball had been played this becomes the ball in play.

A player may declare his ball unplayable at anytime on the course. He may then proceed with the following option (1)“stroke and distance” (play from where last played): (2) Penalty Drop a ball within two club length of the ball’s position when declared unplayable or (3) on an imaginary line from the flag through the ball position and drop a ball on that line. In all cases not nearer the hole. 

This procedure  is often misused on the 8th where a ball flights into the hedge on the left and comes to rest well down the bank. From such a position it is virtually impossible to drop a ball within two club length on the 8th side of the hedge. To avoid walking back for stroke and distance the only options left are(2) within two club lengths on the 7th side of the hedge should conditions be met or (3) playing on a line from somewhere on the 7th fairway.

18/09/2015 Fred wrote
So you play you ball which may have gone out of bounds or unlikely to find. So you declare and play a provisional ball. Upon reaching your ball you find both very close to each other. upon checking both both are identical and you do not know which is which!. Bother! technically they are both lost balls, however there is a decision in the book that states whilst both balls are lost, it would be unreasonable to expect the player to walk back to play another ball therefore using rule 1. choose which ball you wish to play  and this is your provisional ball in play. The other is deemed to be your first ball lost. you are now playing four.