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.
I hope you can clarify Rule 23.8 – the restriction on a player standing behind his partner when the stroke is played. At my club, we inform all foursome competitors that any violation of this rule will result in the application of the general penalty. However, when you watch the Ryder Cup, the Solheim Cup, or that televised Parent-Child tournament, sometimes you see a player clearly standing directly on his partner to learn how the putt moves. Can this rule be excluded from the game conditions? – Ken Shaw, New Zealand
Ken, we haven’t seen what you’ve been up to, at least in the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, but your question is a chance to clarify some related issues.
The restriction to be in the standing-back position has a start time and a stop time. A player is permitted to be in this position for any reason before his partner begins to take his stance, and for any reason other than to help his partner aim up until the stroke is made.
Again, in neither the Ryder Cup nor the Solheim Cup have we seen a partner break Rule 23.8 or Rule 10.2b(4) given the required time limits. (We’ve seen a lot of terrible fan behavior, yes, but not that much.)
Now, you may have seen these rules waived in the parent-child event, the PNC Championship, which is a two-man scrimmage. Officially, no, you can’t just throw a Rule of Golf; That said, skirmishes are just a different animal and already throw aside any number of Rules, so there has been a general acceptance that 23.8 and 10.2b(4) are simply excluded/ignored in skirmishes.
If the USGA or R&A ever put on a Scramble Championship, which might happen if hell freezes over, maybe that will change.
For more partner guidance from our teacher, read on…
Upon reaching our drive, my partner and I discovered that our golf balls were touching and lined up perfectly to the hole. My ball was in front so I scored. His approach produced a massive uproar; replacing my ball in its original place would have meant being in this newly created compartment. I claimed I was entitled to a free discount, he said I wasn’t. Who was right? – Brick Rigden, Parkville, Mo.
In a word, neither.
Under Rule 14.2d, you were entitled to relief, but not a drop.
When you putt up for interference, you were required to replace the ball … but when the lie of a ball that needs to be replaced is changed, you must replace it in a specific way. That is, by replacing it in the nearest place with a lie more similar to the original lie, which is within a club-length of said point, not closer to the hole and in the same area of ​​the course.
(Your scenario, we’ll note, happens more often in bunkers, but the process is the same.) We hope this information doesn’t hit you like a ton of bricks, Brick!
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