Newsletter – Page 31 – Metro St. Louis Seniors Golf

Rules Roundtable

06/22/2019 by Gary Brown

Rules Roundtable June 2019

My plan was to take the summer off from the rules roundtable while we were playing, but I have a few things I’d like to explain. One is a rule change, one is the proper way to take “Back on the Line” relief and the other is Gimmies. After playing a few rounds with other divisions I have discovered that some of the divisions interpret the rules differently.

At our board meeting Tuesday, the Rules Committee made a motion to change our lift, clean and place options. And the board voted to agree. Up until now, we were only allowed to touch the ball during cart path only conditions with anything other than our club. We have changed the rule to read “A player may lift, clean and place their ball back within 1 foot no closer to the hole from its original spot at any time, except when it is in a bunker or penalty area. If the player is taking relief from a bunker or penalty area, the ball may be cleaned at that time. Anytime a ball is legally lifted another ball may be substituted “.

This rules change will take effect immediately.

Back on the line relief

If you hit your ball into a lake, the bunker, or other penalty areas, or you determine that you can’t play the ball from where it lies. You choose the spot where your ball last crossed into the penalty area, stand behind that spot while looking at the pin on the green. Then you may drop one club to either side along that line as far back as you wish, with a 1-stroke penalty. The same is true when you’re in a bunker. If the bunker is unplayable (no place to drop within the bunker) you may take a free drop back on the line. If you determine you can’t play your next shot from the bunker, you must assess yourself a 2-stroke penalty before moving back on the line to drop the ball.

Gimmies

I have been saying that Gimmies are not allowed all year. In the last couple of events that I have participated in, I have observed people in 2 different groups other than my own, who have violated this rule. When it happened in my group, I recorded a 9 for that competitor, because he picked up his ball before completing his 8th stroke. He seemed surprised, but the next time he picked up the ball without putting out, he remembered to put it right back down and finish the putt without penalty. Please help all of our members to abide by this rule by calmly reminding them of the RULE, and recording a 9 on their scorecard, anytime you witness it.

That’s it for now. So look for the rules roundtable after our season is over or if something important comes up that I need to tell everyone about. Enjoy the rest of the year. Remember if you have any rules questions send them to me at rules.questions@gkbrown.net. I will do my best to get them answered in a day or 2.

Rules Committee

Gary Brown