Some interesting rule technicalities...

Benicetomonty

Always interesting having a flick through the rules book...

Have come across a couple of enlightening ones recently. The 1st has to do with practicing before a round. As most people know, playing a few holes on the course is acceptable if you're playing a match but not so if its stroke play.
Consequently I had assumed, in my ignorance, that a warm up before a stroke play round had to be restricted to a putting green or practice range that was outside the boundary of the course.
Not 100% true. Rule 7.1 exception: Practice putting or chipping on or near the 1st teeing ground before starting a round or play-off is permitted.

Glad to clear that up since there is a small area in my home club that borders the 7th hole but is near the 1st tee that I occassionally chip on before a round, but not since being threatened with disqualification by one of the older, more ignorant members...hoping he tries it again now!

Second one I noticed was testing the surface of a hazard. Michelle Wie came off the worse for this rule recently when she failed to extricate herself from a pond and proceeded to ground the club leading to a penalty. But as it turns out, you can toss a rake into a bunker before you play your shot as long as you don't push the sand down with it. News to me!

Su Campu

I always wondered at where the testing-sand rule becomes fuzzy. You see players wiggle their feet "to get their stance", but after how many wiggles does this become "testing the sand"? I think it was Peter Alliss over the weekend who commented on one player who was wiggling a bit too much, and said hey steady on there or you're testing the sand.

charlieIRL

Su Campu wrote: »

I always wondered at where the testing-sand rule becomes fuzzy. You see players wiggle their feet "to get their stance", but after how many wiggles does this become "testing the sand"? I think it was Peter Alliss over the weekend who commented on one player who was wiggling a bit too much, and said hey steady on there or you're testing the sand.

similar comment made about tiger woods in the trees as well on the 13th (i think - hole where he took 2 shots to get out)

Jasonw

Su Campu wrote: »

I think it was Peter Alliss over the weekend who commented on one player who was wiggling a bit too much, and said hey steady on there or you're testing the sand.

My favorite quote from the masters was one of his fellow comentators saying something like "Peter does say some funny things"


back on topic, Benicetomonty you need to be careful throwing that exception around. Remember it's "before starting a round" which I would take to mean after the previous group had tee'd off and while you were waiting to tee off yourself. Also remember that the competition comittee can override that rule and allow practice before a strokeplay round or prevent practice before a matchplay round.

Daithio9

Jasonw wrote: »

My favorite quote from the masters was one of his fellow comentators saying something like "Peter does say some funny things"


back on topic, Benicetomonty you need to be careful throwing that exception around. Remember it's "before starting a round" which I would take to mean after the previous group had tee'd off and while you were waiting to tee off yourself. Also remember that the competition comittee can override that rule and allow practice before a strokeplay round or prevent practice before a matchplay round.

You are allowed practice during a round but it's only chipping and putting and can only be done on or near the last green played or on or near the next teeing ground, however you must not play a practice stroke during the play of a hole at any time.

Benicetomonty

Daithio9 wrote: »

You are allowed practice during a round but it's only chipping and putting and can only be done on or near the last green played or on or near the next teeing ground, however you must not play a practice stroke during the play of a hole at any time.

I was 100% aware of the rules for practicing during the round, just not before it. I remember an incident during the US Open in 1998 where Tom Lehman got in trouble for practice putting after a number of holes in the final round. No issues with the practice but he and Payne Stewart were on the clock at the time, which led to some harsh words between the latter and the shortsighted rules official who tried to pin the slow play on the wrong man! That's stuck with me ever since.

Also aware the committee can change a number of rules at their discretion, but since I can confirm no such interference at my club, I am now relishing the next time some idiot tries to tell me off for hitting a few chips prior to my round! I'm a petty, petty man

ShriekingSheet

Help me out here. I am 100% certain I read that practice shots were allowed prior to a stroke play comp, on the course, but in the direction of a tee and not in the direction off a green. I remember it being a pragmatic rule, for the many courses without a practice area, for players to warm up by clipping a few iron shots from say the rough wide of the 9th green, back up the fairway- hence no advantage of 'playing the course'.

Trouble is, I can't find this in the rules. Could have been a local rule? The club I was in at the time had no real practice facility.

I thought it may have been the case anywhere, but apparently not?

Su Campu

charlieIRL wrote: »

similar comment made about tiger woods in the trees as well on the 13th (i think - hole where he took 2 shots to get out)

Ya know, now you mention it, it was that I was thinking of, Tiger in the trees. I suppose the same rule applies to pine straw

Gophur

The only thing about pine straw would be causing the ball to move while taking your stance.
Apart from that it's the same rule as applies on everywhere else on the Course, except in hazards.