Simpler Rules: Definitions (A-L)

 
Introduction

In the coming weeks I will be publishing for comment a set of golf rules focussed on the needs of club golfers.

To avoid confusion, these rules will be squarely based on the current Rules of Golf published and distributed to all affiliated golfers, under copyright, by the R&A and USGA.

The proposed rules will be restructured slightly (in the interests of a club golfer’s ‘need to know’), there will be some significant reforms included (such as treating ‘loose impediments’ in hazards in the same way as anywhere else on the course), and an attempt will be made to ensure that the rules are clearly written and capable of understanding by all.

Rog has not identified where these proposals differ from the current code as he is confident that people who read this site are well versed in the content of this code.

If you have an interest in reforming the rules, please contribute your criticisms, comments, and/or suggestions for improvement so that we can get the outcome which ‘punters’ require.

Rog does not guarantee to use all comments (as almost certainly some will be in direct opposition to others) but all will be read and considered.

 

This first posting covers Definitions A-L

 

Abnormal Ground Condition

An ‘abnormal ground condition’ is any casual water, ground under repair or hole, cast or scrape on the course made by an animal.

Addressing the Ball

A player has ‘addressed the ball’ when he has grounded his club directly in front of or directly behind the ball, whether or not he has taken his stance.

Advice

‘Advice’ is any counsel or suggestion that could influence a player in determining his play, the choice of a club or the method of making a stroke.

Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public information, such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on the putting green, is not advice.

Agency

An ‘agency’ is any body capable of exerting an influence on the ball by virtue of its own activity or movement imparted by an external force.

Ball Deemed to Move

See ‘Move or Moved’.

Ball Holed

See ‘Holed’.

Ball Lost

See ‘Lost Ball’.

Ball-marker

A small coin or similar object.

Ball in Play

A ball is ‘in play’ as soon as the player has made a stroke on the tee. It remains in play until it is holed, except when it is lost, out of bounds or lifted. If another ball is substituted during play of the hole (whether or not the substitution is permitted) the substituted ball becomes the ball in play.

If a ball is played from outside the tee when commencing a hole, the ball is not in play, except when an opponent does not require that the stroke be cancelled in accordance with Rule 11‑4a.

Better-Ball

See ‘Forms of Match Play’ and ‘Forms of Stroke Play’.

Bunker

A ‘bunker’ is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like.

Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker, including a stacked turf face (whether grass-covered or earthen), is not part of the bunker. A wall or lip of the bunker not covered with grass is part of the bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically downwards and upwards.

A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker.

Caddie

A ‘caddie’ is one who assists the player in accordance with the Rules, which may include carrying or handling the player’s clubs during play.

When a caddie is employed by more than one player, he is always deemed to be the caddie of the player whose ball (or whose partner’s ball) is involved, and all equipment carried by him is deemed to be that player’s equipment. Except that when the caddie acts upon specific directions of another player (or the partner of another player) sharing the caddie, he is considered to be that player’s caddie.

Casual Water

‘Casual water’ is any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is not in a water hazard and is visible before or after the player takes his stance. Snow and natural ice are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Manufactured ice is an obstruction. Dew and frost are not casual water.

A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches the casual water.

Closely-mown

‘Closely-mown’ means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

Committee

The ‘Committee’ is the committee in charge of the competition or, if the matter does not arise in a competition, the committee in charge of the course.

Competitor

A ‘competitor’ is a player in a stroke play competition. A ‘fellow-competitor’ is any player with whom the competitor plays. Neither is partner of the other.

Conclusive evidence

‘Conclusive evidence’ is evidence sufficient to reach a conclusion with reasonable certainty in accordance with the spirit of the game and in agreement with the marker or opponent.

Course

The ‘course’ is the whole area within any boundaries established by the Committee (see Rule 33-2).

Divot
A hole left in the turf when grass and soil have been removed by the clubhead in making a stroke or practice swing.

Equipment
‘Equipment’ is anything used, worn or carried by the player or anything carried for the player by his partner or either of their caddies, including a golf cart, whether or not motorised.

A ball in play at the hole being played is not equipment. Neither is any object when used to mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in which a ball is to be placed.

However, a ball being played at the hole being played is equipment when it has been lifted and not put back into play.

Note: When a golf cart is shared by two or more players, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of one of the players sharing the cart.

If the cart is being moved by one of the players (or the partner of one of the players) sharing it, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be that player’s equipment. Otherwise, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of the player sharing the cart whose ball (or whose partner’s ball) is involved.

Fairway

A fairway is a closely mown area of the course between tee and green prepared for the purpose of playing the hole.

Fellow-Competitor

See ‘Competitor’.

Flagstick

The ‘flagstick’ is a movable straight indicator, with or without a flag attached, located in the hole to show its position on the putting green.

Forms of Match Play

Single: A match in which one player plays against another player.

Foursome: A match in which two players play against two other players, and each side plays one ball.

Better-Ball: A match in which two players play their better ball against the better ball of two other players.

Forms of Stroke Play

Individual: A competition in which each competitor plays as an individual.

Foursome: A competition in which two competitors play as partners and play one ball.

Better-Ball: A competition in which two competitors play as partners, each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole.

Note:  For par and Stableford competitions, see Rule 32-1.

Foursome

See ‘Forms of Match Play’ and ‘Forms of Stroke Play’.

Ground Under Repair

‘Ground under repair’ is any part of the course so marked by order of the Committee or so declared by its authorised representative. All ground and any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing within the ground under repair are part of the ground under repair. Ground under repair includes material piled for removal, a hole made by a greenkeeper, any unrepaired or sand filled divot, or any aeration hole throughout the course, even if not so marked. Grass cuttings and other material left on the course that have been abandoned and are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless so marked, but may be treated as loose impediments.

When the margin of ground under repair is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the ground under repair, and the margin of the ground under repair is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When both stakes and lines are used to indicate ground under repair, the stakes identify the ground under repair and the lines define the margin of the ground under repair. When the margin of ground under repair is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is in the ground under repair. The margin of ground under repair extends vertically downwards and upwards.

A ball is in ground under repair when it lies in or any part of it touches the ground under repair.

Stakes used to define the margin of or identify ground under repair are obstructions.

Hazard

A ‘hazard’ is any bunker or water hazard.

Holed

A ball is ‘holed’ when it is at rest within the circumference of the hole on the putting green of the hole being played and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole.

Honour

The player who is to play first from the tee is said to have the ‘honour’.

Line of Play

The ‘line of play’ is the direction that the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke, plus a reasonable distance on either side of the intended direction. The line of play extends vertically upwards from the ground, but does not extend beyond the hole.

Line of Putt

The ‘line of putt’ is the line that the player wishes his ball to take after a stroke on the putting green. Except with respect to Rule 16-1e, the line of putt includes a reasonable distance on either side of the intended line. The line of putt does not extend beyond the hole.

Loose Impediment  

A ‘Loose impediment’ is a natural object able to be lifted without undue delay to play by the player with the assistance of no more than one other person, including:

•     stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like,
•     dung, and
•     worms, insects and the like, and the casts and heaps made by them,

provided they are not:

•     fixed or growing,

•     solidly embedded, or
•     adhering to the ball.

Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere.

Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Dew and frost are not loose impediments.

Lost Ball

A ball is deemed ‘lost’ if:

a.  It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; or

b.  The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place (see Rule 27-2b); or

c.  The player has put another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance under Rule 26-1a, 27-1 or 28a; or

d.  The player has put another ball into play because there is conclusive evidence that the ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (see Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (see Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (see Rule 25-1c) or is in a water hazard (see Rule 26-1b or c); or

e.  The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.

Time spent in playing a wrong ball is not counted in the five-minute period allowed for search.

Lot

‘By lot’ means ‘by chance’, such as a coin (head/tail), a ball (odd/even) or straws (long/short).