Insert Association Logo Here Areas of the Course 2019 USGA Rules
Insert Publications Association Logo Here 2
Insert The Five Areas of the Course Association Logo Here The course is divided into five defined areas. Play of the game from each area has its own unique privileges and restrictions. • The teeing area • The general area • Bunkers • Penalty areas • The putting green
Insert Association Logo Here General Area
Insert When an Area is Part of the General Area Association Logo Here The general area is one of the five defined areas on the course and includes the majority of places on it: • all fairways, • the rough, • wooded areas (except when marked as a penalty area), • areas of tall unmaintained grass (except when marked as a penalty area) and, • naturally sandy areas , including deserts (except when marked as a penalty area).
Insert When an Area is Part of the General Area Association Logo Here The only places on the course that are NOT part of the general area are those defined as one of the other four areas. • The teeing area of the hole you are playing, • the putting green of the hole you are playing, • all bunkers, and • all penalty areas. The ball is considered to be touching only one part of the course at a time. (Hierarchy is listed in the rule book under Rule 2.)
Insert Association Logo Here Rules Question: Which of the following is correct about a ball touching two areas of the course? a. If a ball touches both the putting green and a bunker, the ball is on the putting green. b. If a ball touches both the general area and a penalty area, the ball is in the penalty area. c. If a ball touches both a penalty area and a bunker, the ball is in the bunker. d. If a ball touches both the general area and another area of the course, the ball is always in the general area.
Insert Association Logo Here Correct Answer: B Rule 2.2c “A ball is always treated as lying in one area of the course: • If part of the ball is in both the general area and one of the four specific areas of the course, it is treated as lying in that specific area of the course. • If part of the ball is in two specific areas of the course, it is treated as lying in the specific area that comes first in this order: penalty area, bunker, putting green.”
Insert Association Logo Here Bunkers
Insert Loose Impediments in Bunkers Association Logo Here Loose impediments anywhere on (or off) the course, may be touched or removed without penalty . Including when your ball and the loose impediment are in the same bunker. If you move a loose impediment in a bunker and cause your ball to move: - you get a penalty of one stroke and - must replace the ball.
Insert Restrictions on Touching Sand In Bunkers Association Logo Here When your ball is in a bunker, you get a penalty if you: • Test the condition of the sand to learn information for your next stroke with: - your hand - a club - a rake or - any other object • Touch the sand with a club : - right behind (or in front of) your ball - as you make a practice swing or - as you make your backswing for a stroke
Insert Restrictions on Touching Sand In Bunkers Association Logo Here It is not a penalty to touch the sand in a bunker when you: • dig in with your feet to take a stance for a practice swing or your next stroke • lean on a club to rest, stay balanced or prevent a fall • place (or toss) your club(s), equipment (including your golf bag), a rake, or other objects in the bunker • take actions permitted by Rules such as measuring, marking, lifting, replacing, etc. • smooth the bunker to care for the course • strike the sand in frustration or anger (even though this is considered poor etiquette)
Insert Association Logo Here Rules Question: In match play, a player’s ball lies in a bunker. After the player’s stroke at the ball which remains in the bunker, she kicks the sand with her foot in frustration or anger. What is the ruling? a. There is no penalty. b. The player gets the general penalty. c. The player gets a total of four penalty strokes. d. The player is disqualified.
Insert Association Logo Here Correct Answer: A Rule 12.2b(2) “When touching the sand does not result in a penalty. Except as covered by (1), this Rule does not prohibit the player from touching the sand in the bunker in any other way, including: • Digging in with the feet to take a stance for a practice swing or a stroke, • Smoothing the bunker to care for the course, • Placing clubs, equipment, or other objects in the bunker (whether by throwing or setting them down), • Measuring, marking, lifting, replacing, or taking other actions under a Rule, • Leaning on a club to rest, stay balanced, or prevent a fall, • Striking the sand in frustration or anger. BUT, the player gets the general penalty if his or her actions in touching the sand improve the conditions affecting the stroke in breach of Rule 8.1”
Insert Association Logo Here Rules Question: A player walks into a bunker where her ball as come to rest. She sees leaves all around her ball and works to remove them. Her hand touches the sand and as she removes one of the leaves, her ball moves. What is the ruling? a. The player was not allowed to remove the loose impediments because she was in the bunker. General penalty and the ball must be replaced. b. The player incurs two penalties, one for touching the sand and one for the ball moving. She must play the ball as it lies and incurs the general penalty for touching the sand and a 1 shot penalty for causing the ball to move. c. The ball must be replaced (lie recreated). The player incurs a 1 stroke penalty for causing the ball to move.
Insert Association Logo Here Correct Answer: C Rule 15.1b “If a player’s removal of a loose impediment causes his or her ball to move: • The ball must be replaced on its original spot (which if not known must be estimated) • If the moved ball had been at rest anywhere except on the putting green or in the teeing area, the player gets one penalty stroke under Rule 9.4b, except when Rule 7.4 applies (no penalty for ball moved during search) or when another exception to Rule 9.4b applies.”
Insert Association Logo Here Rules Question: A player decides to take unplayable relief outside a bunker for a penalty of two strokes under the new Rule 19.3b. After dropping the ball using the back on the line relief procedure, but before making her next stroke, the player smooths her footprints in the bunker. What is the penalty? a. No penalty. b. General penalty assessed as the player has improved the conditions affecting the stroke in breach of rule 8.1a. c. No penalty as long as the player restores the conditions prior to making her stroke.
Insert Association Logo Here Correct Answer: A Rule 12.2b(3) “After a ball in a bunker is played and is outside the bunker, the player may: • Touch the sand in the bunker without penalty under Rule 12.2b(1), and • Smooth sand in the bunker to care for the course without penalty under Rule 8.1a. This is true even if the ball comes to rest outside the bunker and: • The player is required or allowed by the Rules to take stroke and distance relief by dropping a ball in the bunker, or • The sand in the bunker is on the player’s line of play for the next stroke made from outside the bunker.”
Insert Association Logo Here Penalty Areas
Insert Penalty Areas Association Logo Here Places on the course where your ball often is not found or when found, is typically very difficult or impossible to play. • Any body of water on the course, including: - a sea - a ditch - a lake - a surface drainage ditch - a pond - any other open - a river watercourse (even if not containing water at the time).
Insert Penalty Areas Association Logo Here • Any other area on the course marked or defined by the Committee as a penalty area, including: - deserts - densely wooded or over-grown areas - jungles - lava rock fields - areas of tall unmaintained grasses
Insert Ways Penalty Areas Can Be Marked Association Logo Here • Penalty areas should be identified by one of three means: - Stakes - Painted Lines - Physical Features • They help you see where a penalty area is from a distance. • They let you know the number of penalty relief options you have. • They allow you to figure out where the outer edge of the penalty area is.
Insert Ways Penalty Areas Can Be Marked Association Logo Here • Stakes : - straight lines from stake to stake using the outside edge at ground level to determine the outer edge of the penalty area - the stakes are in the penalty area • Painted Lines : - the outside edge of the line is the outer edge of the penalty area - the entire line is inside the penalty area • Physical Features : - examples: a beach, desert area, retaining wall, fence, mow line between different height grasses - the Committee specifies how the outer edge of the penalty area is defined (look for this information in course local rules, on your score card, some other notice)
Insert Types of Penalty Areas Association Logo Here • TWO types of penalty areas: - yellow – 2 relief options - red – 3 relief options • If the color has not been marked or indicated, it is treated as red .
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