What do the rules say about “freezing” the ball in loose obstacles when you put it?
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The Rules of Golf Are Complicated! Thankfully, we have the teacher. our Rules Guy knows the book inside out. Have a question? He has all the answers.
When playing under winter rules, is it allowed to put your ball on a worm pin to lift the ball before your shot? – Mike Dearden, via email
Mike, the Rules Guy will be honest with you: we had to look up the “worms”. You are always learning in this business.
In terms of legality, when enforced by the “winter rules” committee, otherwise known as the local favorite rule, it allows you to place the ball within a certain distance.
Beyond that, though, it’s still underpinned by the notion of playing the course as you find it. If there is a worm shed (a loose obstacle) within the specified radius of where your shot came to rest, you are by all means free to put the ball on top of it – you just can’t pull some from beyond that area or from your pants pocket or your golf bag, etc.
That being said, if before you make your shot the ball moves due to natural forces, you will need to play it as it stands – not by replacing the ball on top of the worm casting. And, with that, Rules Guy hopes and expects to never type worm cast again.
For more tips on tees from our teacher, read on…
The other day, I picked up a jersey that someone had left in the merchandise box and proceeded to use it. My friend told me that this was a penalty, for using someone else’s equipment. He said if I wanted to use it I had to put it in my pocket first to claim it was mine. What is the decision? – Wade Lindren, via email
This sounds like a crazy magician’s trick: “I put someone else’s T-shirt in my pocket … say the magic words – “It’s mine!” — take the tee out of your pocket … and — presto! It’s legal!”
Suffice it to say, your friend is a severely misguided stickler. The only restriction on equipment sharing is related to clubs. There is absolutely no problem with using someone else’s t-shirt, towel, tape measure or ball.
Rules Guy: Is it a penalty to hit a ball that falls off the top during the backswing?
Rules Guy
(If the local one-ball rule, Model Local Rule G-4, is in effect, you may borrow a ball again, as long as it is the same make and model as the one you are using.)
Accidental use of another’s clubs is a general penalty of two strokes in stroke play or, in match play, regulation of the match by a deduction of one hole, with a maximum of two such penalties in each case. The club must be immediately declared out of play as soon as the player becomes aware of his or her mistake – otherwise, he or she is disqualified after using the club again.
