Rules Corner Blog

By Rob Ockenfuss

Kohler, Wis. – Second-round leader Suzann Pettersen’s approach to the 11th hole during the third round struck a sprinkler head and bounced well beyond the hole. As defined by the Rules of Golf, a sprinkler head is an obstruction, but it is also an outside agency.

If a player’s ball in motion is accidentally stopped or deflected by an outside agency, it is a rub of the green, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies (Rule 19-1).

These are the types of bounces that occur during a round of golf and the player must accept the result, whether good or bad. Pettersen was able to two-putt and make a par on the hole.

Rob Ockenfuss is a Manager, Rules Inquiries. Email him at rockenfuss@usga.org. 

By Rob Ockenfuss

Kohler, Wis. – After the second round of the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open concluded Friday evening at Blackwolf Run, the field was cut to the low 60 players and ties, with 65 players making the cut at 5-over-par 149.

While groups of three were used during the first two rounds, players are paired in twosomes on Saturday and Sunday. However, when an odd number of golfers qualifies for the final 36 holes, it creates a situation where one golfer must play solo. Therefore, Meena Lee was the only competitor in the first pairing this morning.

Typically, when groups are two or three competitors, the Committee appoints each player with a marker, who is also a fellow-competitor. The marker is responsible for recording the fellow-competitor’s score (Rule 6-6). When there is only one player in a group, it is customary for the Committee to appoint a non-competitive playing marker.

Lee was given the option of having a playing marker, but she declined. Therefore, the referee for the group served as her marker. It is important to note that a marker is not a referee, but this does not preclude a referee from serving as a marker (See Definition of Marker).

Rob Ockenfuss is a Manager, Rules Inquiries. Email him at rockenfuss@usga.org. 

By Rob Ockenfuss

Kohler, Wis. – The putting green is a special place on the golf course, to which certain permissions and prohibitions in the Rules of Golf apply.

One of those prohibitions is related to dropping the ball on the putting green. Typically, the player is not allowed to drop a ball on a putting green. For example, if a player is taking relief from an obstruction through the green, the nearest point of relief must not be on the putting green and the ball cannot be dropped on the putting green, even if the putting green is within one club-length of the nearest point of relief (Rule 24-2).The same conditions would apply for a player taking relief from an area of ground under repair near the putting green (Rule 25).

However, there are some limited exceptions.  One exception was used during the first round of on Thursday when Eun-Hee Ji and Ashley Armstrong each dropped their ball on the putting green on the 14th hole when taking relief from the lateral water hazard bordering the right side of the putting green.

Nothing in Rule 26 (Water Hazard Rule) prohibits the player from dropping on the putting green. As these players were dropping the ball no closer to the hole and within two club-lengths of the margin of the lateral water hazard, they were permitted to drop the ball on the putting green.

Rob Ockenfuss is a Manager, Rules Inquiries. Email him at rockenfuss@usga.org. 

By Rob Ockenfuss

Kohler, Wis. – One of the unique aspects of Blackwolf Run is the putting green shared by the ninth and 18th holes, a unique architectural feature not seen much in this country. In the middle of this shared putting surface lies a large swale, at the bottom of which sits a drain. The Rules of Golf define such an artificial object as an obstruction, from which the player is entitled to relief.

Normally, if a player has interference from an immovable obstruction on her line of play, free relief is not available.  However, when the ball lies on the putting green, Rule 24-2a provides relief from interference by an immovable obstruction which is also on the putting green and on the player’s line of putt.

During the first round, Candie Kung’s second shot came to rest in a position where the drain was between her ball and the hole.  However, after consulting the referee walking with the group, it was determined that the obstruction did not intervene on Kung’s line of play and she played the ball as it lay.

For more information, see this video.

Rob Ockenfuss is a Manager, Rules Inquiries for the USGA. Email him at rockenfuss@usga.org.