Rog's Blog: Key Words

Page 9 of the Rule Book lists the following words as crucial to an understanding of the rules:

may = optional [but may not really means must not!]

should = recommended

must = mandatory

a ball

the ball 

However there are other words which are, in my view, at least as important to a clear understanding of the rules and are, in my experience, the source of much trouble and difficulty.   

Except is a very small word with a big impact. This word occurs 44 times in the definitions and rules and can, naturally, have a significant effect upon the meaning of a definition/rule. 

‘Except’ has cousins as well which have similar effect: unless (29 times) and other than (32 times).  Provided that appears 10 times and provided a further 90 times and some of these latter instances have similar effect to ‘except’, ‘unless’ and ‘other than’.  

So, in all there are well over 100 instances where the primary meaning of the rule is negated or qualified by these words. 

Some random examples:

Rule 16-1f: The player must not make a stroke while another ball is in motion after a stroke from the putting green, except that if a player does so, there is no penalty if it was his turn to play. 

Rule 24-1: If a ball is on a movable obstruction, the ball may be lifted, the obstruction removed and the ball dropped, without penalty, on the spot directly under where the ball lay on the obstruction, except that on the putting green, the ball is placed on that spot. 

Rule 24-2b: Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction as follows: ..... 

Rule 9-2b: A player is deemed to have given wrong information if he … fails to inform his opponent as soon as practicable that he has incurred a penalty, unless (a) he was obviously proceeding under a Rule involving a penalty and this was observed by his opponent, or (b) he corrects the mistake before his opponent makes his next stroke;  

Rule 18-2a: Except as permitted by the Rules, when a player’s ball is in play, if

(i)  the player, his partner or either of their caddies:

•      lifts or moves the ball,

•      touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing the ball), or

•      causes the ball to move, or

(ii) the equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

If the ball is moved, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

Burrowing Animal: A “burrowing animal” is an animal (other than a worm, insect or the like) that makes a hole for habitation or shelter, such as a rabbit, mole, groundhog, gopher or salamander.

Rule 8-1: During a stipulated round, a player must not:

a.  give advice to anyone in the competition playing on the course other than his partner, or

b.  ask for advice from anyone other than his partner or either of their caddies.

Rule 12-1c: If a ball is believed to be lying in water in a water hazard, the player may, without penalty, probe for it with a club or otherwise. If the ball in water is accidentally moved while probing, there is no penalty; the ball must be replaced, unless the player elects to proceed under Rule 26-1. If the moved ball was not lying in water or the ball was accidentally moved by the player other than while probing, Rule 18-2a applies.

And there can be cause for much more difficulty when these words are used more than once in the same rule. 

Take for example Rule 7-2:

A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole. Between the play of two holes a player must not make a practice stroke, except that he may practise putting or chipping on or near:

a.   the putting green of the hole last played,

b.   any practice putting green, or

c.   the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided a practice stroke is not made from a hazard and does not unduly delay play.

This rule is a very good example of how careful one must be in reading every word. It will be noted that there are two negatives in this wording, viz:  A player must not make a practice stroke … between the play of two holes ‘except’ that he may practise putting and chipping ... ‘except’ that he may not make a stroke from a hazard or unduly delay play.

The effect of this ‘double negative’ is that a player may not at any time play a practice stroke from a hazard or, notwithstanding all else, in such a way as to unduly delay play.

Again, Rule 24-1 states, in part;

When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball, other than equipment of any player or the flagstick when attended, removed or held up, must not be moved.

That is, the flagstick or any equipment of any player may be removed but any other obstruction may not.

 

The message is that when consulting a definition or rule great care must be taken to read (and comprehend) all of the words to avoid reaching the wrong conclusion.