GV 971 OQLF PRIMER ON FAMILIAR RULES a I.EST ^VK FORGET" COPTTHIGnTKO BV H. ». KI^LfOT, l«ir. jllL2l»9»^ ,A^ or GOLF ©CI.A406803 aOLF The lack of knowledge of the Rules of Golf among players has become notorious, and there are many who, while quite ignorant of a majority of the rules, do not hesitate to enter for Tournament play. These players turn in scores in accordance with which they are awarded prizes, but it may safely be said that if their method of play was analyzed it would probably show that during the round they had, because of tUeir ignorance of the rules, failed to add several penalty strokes to their score or had, perhaps, for the same reason dis- qualified themselves. A player should not only familiarize himself with the rules and follow them strictly, but should also take cognizance of the breach of any rule by his partner or by any other player entered in a tournament, and, with this idea in view, some of the more important rules as to penalties, etc., in both Medal Play and Match Play, have been selected and summarized herein (pp. 6 to 20) for the information of those who are not familiar with them. A PLAYER WHO IS IGNORANT OF THE RULES GOVERNING THE PLAY SHOULD NOT ENTER A TOURNAMENT. The following are the breaches of the Rules of Golf in Medal Play most frequently noticed and, through ignorance or otherwise, many players fail to add the penalty strokes to their score: 1. Player, when dropping ball, instead of facing the Jiole, standing erect and dropping it over his shoulder faces sideways or backwards, stoops or crouches and drops the ball over his arm in an endeavor to obtain as good a "lie" as possible. 2. Player asks for or willingly receives advice from a competitor, or from someone other than his own caddie, as to the club which he should use for making a certain stroke, or as to how the stroke should be made, 3. Player grounds his club in hunkers or roads. 4. Player moves a stone, twig, leaf or something in a hazard, so as to improve the lie of his Mil. 5. Player scrapes aside with his club leaves, twigs or other loose impedi- ments instead of lifting them by hand. 6. Player, in order that competitor's ball may not strike his ball on the putting green, lifts his ball while that of the competitor is in motion instead of before his competitor putts. 7. Player when addressing ball in play presses his club on the ground in- stead of grounding it lightly with not more than its own weight on the ground. 8. Player touches or moves bushes, weeds, long grass, etc., more than is necessary to find the ball. 9. Player bends or pushes aside or breaks oft bushes, twigs, branches, weeds, etc., which interfere with his stance or with the lie of his ball. 10. Player tees and drives his ball from outside the limits of the teeing ground. 11. Player removes a loose impediment lying more than a club length from his ball. (This is only permissible on the putting green), 12. Player presses down with his club, or otherwise, irregular surfaces so as to improve the lie of his ball. 13. Player presses down grass or ground at or near the edge of the hole to make a smoother surface for putting. 14. Player removes mud or other substance from his ball, particularly on putting green. SOME PENALTIES, ETC., IN MEDAL PLAY AND IN MATCH PLAY. (NOTE.— For other penalties, etc. (there are many), see Rules of the United States Golf Association.) PENALTY. ETC. TEEING GROUND (NOTE. — The "teeing-ground" is a rectangular space of the depth of two club lengths directly behind the line indicated by the two marks.) If first stroke be played from out- side limits] of, If ball be played out of hounds from, If ball played from, be lost through the green (except in water, casual water, or out of bounds.) First stroke must be counted and second stroke must be play- ed from within lim- its. The stroke must be counted and another ball may be teed for next stroke. One Stroke and Dis- tance. Another ball must be teed as nearly as possible at spot from which lost ball was struck. Ball may be at once recalled by opponent and may then be re- teed without pen- alty. Same as in Medal Play. Loss of hole. PENALTY, ETC. HAZARD (NOTE. — A "hazavcl" is any bunker, water, (ex- cept casual water), ditch, (unless excepted ]>y local rule), bush, sand, path or road.) If club be grounded in, If loose impediment in, be removed, If, when playing ball in, it strike or be stopped by the player, his clubs, or his caddie, If bail in, move after player has taken his stance to iplay it, If, in the act of dropping a ball through the green, ball roll into. If ball lie in or be lost in casual ivater in, and a ball is dropped either behind the hazard or in the hazard, Medal Play Two stroke.s. Two strokes. One stroke. One stroke. Ball may be re- dropped without penalty. One stroke. Match Play Loss of hole. Loss of hole. Loss of hole. Same as in Medal Flay. PENALTY, ETC. CASUAL WATER (NOTE. — "Casual water" is any temporary accu- mulation of water (whether caused by rainfall, flooding, or otherwise) which is not one of the ordinary and recognized hazards of the course and which interferes with the lie of the ball or the stance of tlie player.) If ball lie in, or be lost in, in a hazard. (See Hazard.) If ball lie in, or be lost in, through the green and a ball is dropped within two club lengths of the margin, as neiar as possible to the spot where ithe ball lay, but not nearer to the hole, If ball when dropped rolls into, and is re-dropped, Match Play PENALTY. ETC. PUTTING GREEN Medal Play Match Play (NOTE. — The "Putting Green" Is all ground, ex- cept hazards, within twenty yards of the hole.) Playing on, or on to, any of the putting greens before starting on the day of the competition, Disqualification. None. (NOTE. — A local rule may, in the case of after- noon competitions, allow play on the course dur- ing the morning without penalty.) If a loose impediment on, (this in- cludes leaves) be scraped aside Two strokes. Loss of hole. with a cluh, (NOTE.— A loose impediment, except as below stated, must be lifted by hand.) Scraping aside with club dung, None. None. worm casts, snow or ice, (NOTE.— Club must not be laid with more than its own weight upon the ground.) PENALTY, ETC. PUTTING GREEN (Cont.) If the line of putt be touched (ex- cept by placing the club immedi- ately in front of the ball in the act of addressing it or to scrape aside with club dung, worm casts, snow or ice) or ground behind the hole be touched in order to point out the line of putt, by player or by his caddie, If anything on, be pressed down either with club or in any other way, If casual water intervenes between ball and hole, or ball is lying in casual water on, or it interferes with player's stance on, the ball may be lifted and placed as fol- lows : 10 Medal Play Malch Play Two strokes. Loss of hole. Two strokes. Loss of hole. None. None. PENALTY, ETC. PUTTING GREEN (Cont.) (1) Either within two lengths di- rectly behind the spot from which the ball was lifted, or (2) In the nearest position to that • spot which is not nearer to the hole and which laffords a putt to 'the hole without casual water in- tervening, If his own ball be not holed out by competitor at every hole, If player play a stroke on, with ball other than his own, If player play two consecutive strokes, on, with ball other than his own. Med a l Play Disqualification. None. Ball must be replaced. Disqualification. 11 PENALTY, ETC. PUTTING GREEN (Cont.) If player play when his opponent should have done so, If, when, both balls are on, player's ball strike that of his competitor, If competitor whose ball is the near- er to the hole lift his ball while that of player is in motion^ When balls on, lie within six inches of each other, If mud adhere to a ball lying on, If ball lying on, be cleaned, (NOTE. — If mud or other substance adhere to a ball it must bo played as it is until holed out.) Medal Play Match Play None. Ball cannot be re- placed. None. Ball may be recalled by opponent. One stroke. Competitor's ball must be replaced. One stroke. None. Opponent may, if he choose, replace his ball. Loss of hole. Ball nearer to the hole may, at option of player or opponent, be lifted until other ball is played, and shall then be re- placed without pen- alty. Same as riay. in Medal Ball must be played as it is. Same as Play. in Medal Disqualification. Loss of hole. 12 PENALTY. ETC. GENERAL In Medal Play a ball may be lifted irom any place on the course un- der penalty of two strokes, "If a player lift a ball in accordance with this rule, he shall tee and play a ball behind the place from which the ball was lifted; if this be impossible he shall tee and play a ball as near as possible to the place from which the ball was lifted, but not nearer to the hole." If competitor discontinue play or de- lay to start on account of had weather, If score for each hole be not kept by marker or by each competitor noting the other's score and la signed card handed in on com- pletion of the stipulated round, (NOTE. — A caddie cannot "marker.") be considered a Medal Play Two strokes. Disqualification. Disqualification both players. Match Play Loss of match. 13 PENALTY, ETC. GENERAL (Cont.) If competitors (unless allowed by local rule) play other than in couples, Playing intentionally at any hole oif the stipulated round within players' reach, before starting on on day of completion, (NOTE. — A local rule may, in the case of after- noon competitions, allow play on the course during the morning without penalty.) If player ask for or willingly receive advice from anyone except his own caddie. (NOTE. — "Advice" is any counsel or suggestion wiiieh could influence a player in determining the line of play, in the choice of a club, or In the method of making a stroke.) 14 M^dal Play Disqualification. Disqualification. Disqualification. Match Play Loss of hole. PENALTY, ETC. GENERAL (Cont.) If practice swing be made throug-h the green within club length of ball and in doing so anything jaxed or growing is moved, hent or broken. If ball is lost (except in water, casual water or out of bounds), If competitor's ball strike or be stopped by himself, his clubs, golf bag or by his caddie, If competitor's ball strike or be stopped by another competitor or by another competitor's caddie, clubs or golf bag, Medal Play Two strokes. One stroke and dis- tance. Another ball must be teed nearly as possible at spot from which lost ball was struck. One stroke. None. Ball must be played from spot where it lies. Loss of hole. Loss of hole. Loss of hole Opponent loses hole. 15 PENALTY, ETC. GENERAL (Cont.) If in searching for his ball a player or his caddie accidentally move it, If player or his caddie when search- ing for opponent's ball accident- ally move it, If, when ball is in play, player or his caddie a,ccidentally move his ball by touching it or by touching anything cause it to move. If player press club on the ground instead of grounding it lightly, If ball be spooned, 16 pushed, scraped or Medal Play Match Play One stroke. Ball must be played as it lies. Same as Play. in medal None. Ball must be replaced. Same as Play. in Medal One stroke. Ball must be played as it lies. Same as Play. in Medal Two strokes. Loss of hole. Two strokes. Loss of hole. PENALTY. ETC. GENERAL (Cont.) Touching bushes, long grass, or the like, more than necessary to find ball lying in them. Removing loose impediment from through the green which is mo7^e than a cluh length from the ball, If mud adhere to a ball, If ball while in play be cleaned, (NOTE. — If mud or other substance adhere to a baU it must be played as it is until holed out.) If ball be played out of hounds, (NOTE.— See also "Teeing-Ground.") Medal Play Match Play One stroke. One stroke. Two strokes. Loss of hole. Ball must be played as it lies. Same as in Medal Play. Disqualification. Loss of hole. The stroke must be counted and another ball dropped for next stroke as nearly as possible at spot from which ball was played out of bounds. Same as in Medal Play. 17 PENALTY, ETC. If competitor play through the green a stroke with ball other than his own, 18 GENERAL (Cont.) If ball lying within twenty yards of the hole is played and strikes either the flag-stick or the person standing at the hole, j (NOTE.— Neglect on the part of the person | standing at the hole does not exempt the com- j petitor from incurring the penalty.) Lifting ball for identification and replacing it except in presence of competitor, Lifting ball for identification with- out consent of opponent, Med al Play Two strokes. One stroke. Loss of hole by player whose caddie is standing at hole. Match Play Loss of hole. None. Provided he then play his own ball. PENALTY, ETC. GENERAL (Cont.) Medal Play Match Play If competitor play through the green ttoo consecutive strokes with ball other than his own, Disqualification. (NOTE.— A special rule applies when wrong ball is playeil in a hazard.) If ball in play move after player has taken his stance but before he has grounded his club to ad- dress it, None. None. (NOTE.— For penalt.v in case of ball moving in a hazard after stance has been taken, see "Hazard.") If ball in play move after player has grounded his club in act of addressing it. Loss of hole. One stroke. 19 PENALTY, ETC. GENERAL (Cont.^ When balls lie within a cluh length of each other through the green, If ball is not dropped in the manner provided for in Rule 8, viz.: by player facing the hole, standing erect, and dropping tne ball be- hind him over his shoulder, If ball craok or becomes unfit for play, (NOTE.— Mud adhering to a ball shall not be considered as malting it unfit for play.) If ball split into separate piece's, Medal Play Ball nearer the hole may, at option of player, or opponent, be lifted until other ball is played and shall then be re- placed without pen- alty. Two strokes. Player may, without penalty, change ball on intimating- to op- ponent his intention to do so. Another ball, may without penalty, be dropped where any piece lies. Same Play. Match Play Loss of hole. Same Play. Same Play as m Medal as in Medal 20