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.
If I want to take a stroke and distance penalty under Rule 18.1 for a tee shot I don’t want to find (or look for), I understand I can unless I declare it provisional. Am I also right in thinking that I can’t re-enact it? If not, do I drop the ball or put it? — Fred Erickson, via email
Fred, your understanding was correct, until it wasn’t.
;)
Rules Boy: If you hit the wrong way, can you re-tee without penalty?
Rules Guy
On the first point, yes, if you have played from the driving range and don’t want to find the ball, you can take stroke and distance relief and play again from said driving range.
As for not being able to re-tee, foul: Under Rule 6.2b, you can do so – again, you just have to play the ball from inside the teeing area, either on a tee or in the ground, as you prefer. It may not always be helpful to look for your ball, but it’s always worth looking for the right rule.
For more tips on tees from our teacher, read on…
A friend and I arrived at a box with only one marker. We played from where we thought was reasonable, guessing the location of the next marker. Was it okay? – Warren Ayala, Anthem, Ariz.
In match play, you and your opponent (or friend or foe) can agree on how to decide the issue.
In stroke play, where the difference becomes more important, contact the committee. Unable to reach? Under Rule 6.2b(4), use good judgment to attempt to play from the two-club-length rectangle based on the front and outside edges of the club marker. Smart committees will spray-paint marker positions for this eventuality.
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Have a question about the Rules? Ask Guy Rules! Send your questions, confusion and comments to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise you won’t throw the book at you.
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