14-1.
Ball to be Fairly Struck At
The ball must be fairly struck at with the
head of the club and must not be pushed, scraped or spooned.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-1:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
14-2. Assistance
a. Physical Assistance and Protection from Elements
A player must not make a stroke while
accepting physical assistance or protection from the elements.
b. Positioning of Caddie or Partner Behind Ball
A player must not make a stroke with his caddie,
his partner or his partner’s caddie positioned on, behind or beyond the line of
play or line of putt for the purpose of assisting the player with his direction
of play. (see also Rule 8-2)
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-2:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
14-3.
Artificial Devices; Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment
A player in doubt as to whether use of an
item would constitute a breach of this Rule should consult the Committee.
Except as provided in the Rules, during a
stipulated round the player must not, in making a stroke, use any artificial device
or unusual equipment or use any equipment in an unusual manner:
(b) That might assist him in gripping the club, except that:
• a golf glove(s) may be worn;
• resin, powder and drying or moisturising agents may be used; and
• a towel or handkerchief may be wrapped around the grip.
Exception:
A player is not in breach of this Rule if:
(b) the player has a legitimate medical reason to use the equipment or device; or
(c) the Committee is satisfied that its use does not give the player any undue advantage over other players.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-3:
Disqualification from the competition.
14-4.
Striking the Ball More Than Once
If a player’s club strikes the ball more than
once in the course of a stroke, the player must count the stroke and add a penalty
stroke, making two strokes in all.
14-5.
Playing Moving Ball
A player must not make a stroke at his ball
while it is moving.
Exceptions:
• Ball falling
off tee – Rule 11-3
• Striking the
ball more than once – Rule 14-4
• Ball moving in
water – Rule 14-6
When the ball begins to move only after the
player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of his club for the stroke,
he incurs no penalty under this Rule for playing a moving ball, but he is not
exempt from any penalty under Rules 18-2a or 18-2b.
(Ball purposely deflected or stopped by
player, partner or caddie – see Rule 1-2)
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-5:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
14-6.
Ball Moving in Water
When a ball is moving in water in a water
hazard, the player may, without penalty, make a stroke, but he must not delay
making his stroke in order to allow the wind or current to improve the position
of the ball. A ball moving in water in a water hazard may be lifted if the
player elects to invoke Rule 26.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 14-6:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.
What is a golf glove for the purposes of Rule 14-3b? The equipment department at the USGA has plenty of examples of gloves that were submitted for use as golf gloves but that failed the 'plain' test and were thus disallowed.
ReplyDeleteAnon
ReplyDeleteAs you are aware, the current Rule states that gloves (plural) may be worn provided that they are plain.
I have previously contemplated this specification with colleagues and reached the conclusion that, the provisions of Appendix IV.2 notwithstanding, these does not clearly conjure the image of a 'golf glove' as is understood and worn by the overwhelming majority of club golfers. The specifications are at best vague and at worst virtually meaningless.
We concluded that in the common sense world of club golf a 'golf glove' is a glove purchased from a pro/golf shop for utilisation in playing golf. One has to assume that any glove which does not pass the 'plain' test is unlikely to be on sale to club golfers. If it were, it surely would no be for long!
You will note from the revised rules published thus far, I have tried to establish a principle that a player/competitor, if/when in doubt about equipment, should consult the committee responsible for the competition and that authority/responsibility would rest with that body to adjudicate on the compliance of the equipment. You will note that this is included in my Rule 14-3 above.
I will strengthen this principle by referring to it in the Definition of Equipment and will remove reference to 'plain gloves' from Rule 14-3.
Should you have an alternative proposition for dealing with this issue, I would be pleased to receive it.