- 999 Questions on the Rules of Golf
If you would like to order a signed copy of ’999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’ ($19.99, £12.99 or €13.99) click here. Postage to anywhere in the world included in this price.
The 999 questions are tiered into three knowledge levels:
• 333 simple questions that every golfer should know (in green)
• 333 more difficult questions relevant to both casual golfers and Golf Club members (in blue)
• 333 advanced questions for those seeking to expand their knowledge of the Rules (in cerise)
For variety, the questions are further subdivided into three formats; true or false, open answer and multiple choice.
Below are sample questions of each format for each of the three sections. See how many you get right.
Q.18
Information such as the position of hazards or the flagstick on a putting green, is advice. True or False?
Answer: False. Definition of Advice.
Note: Information on the Rules, distance or matters of public information such as the location of the flagstick on the putting green, is not advice.
Q.209
In stroke play, Rose places her golf bag close to her line of putt so as to shield her ball from the wind while she putts. Does she incur a penalty?
Answer: Yes. Rose incurs a penalty of two strokes. Decision 1-2/2.
Note: A player must not take any action to influence the position or the movement of their ball.
Q.291
Where on the course is a caddie or a player’s partner, permitted to stand immediately behind the player’s line of play?
A) On the tee.
B) Through the green.
C) On the putting green.
D) Nowhere on the course.
Answer: D) Nowhere on the course. Rule 14-2.
Note: A player must not allow his caddie, his partner or his partner’s caddie to position themselves on or close to, an extension of the line of play or the line of putt behind the ball.
Q.354
A competitor that signs her card showing a handicap lower than she is entitled to is disqualified. True or False?
Answer: False. Rule 6-2.
Note: If she records a handicap higher than that to which she is entitled she is disqualified. In signing for a lower handicap her score stands but the Committee has to calculate her net score based on the handicap that she signs for.
Q.496
In match play, a player accidentally touches his ball with his putter as he prepares to putt and the ball moves a fraction sideways. What is the penalty?
Answer: There is a penalty of one stroke. Rule 18-2a.
Note: If the ball leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place then the player is penalised one stroke and the ball must be replaced.
Q.589
Which of the following is not a loose impediment?
A) A spider.
B) Dew.
C) A small stone.
D) Animal dung.
Answer: B) Dew. Definition of Loose Impediments.
Note: Dew and frost are not loose impediments.
Q.676
A player is entitled to place his clubs in a bunker when his ball lies in the same bunker. True or False?
Answer: True. Rule 13-4 Exception 1(b).
Note: The player may place his club(s) in a hazard providing nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of his ball.
Q.783
During a stroke play round Ivor and his playing partners continually have to wait for the group in front to hole out. To kill some time while waiting for the green to clear, Ivor drops a plastic ball on the fairway and chips it several times around where his ball is at rest. What is the ruling?
Answer: Ivor incurs a penalty of two strokes. Decisions 7-2/2 and 7-2/4.
Note: A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole.
Q.909
Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding a ball played from off the green?
A) The player incurs a penalty of two strokes if her ball hits the unattended flagstick in the hole.
B) The player incurs a penalty of loss of hole if her ball hits the flagstick held by her opponent.
C) The player incurs a penalty of two strokes if her ball hits her fellow competitor who is attending the flagstick.
D) The player incurs a penalty of two strokes if her ball hits the flagstick lying on the putting green beside the hole.
Answer: A) The player incurs a penalty of two strokes if her ball hits the unattended flagstick in the hole. Rule 17-3.
Note: Unless the player plays her ball from on the putting green or asks for the flagstick to be attended, there is no penalty for her ball hitting the flagstick.
My mission is that 999 Questions on the Rules of Golf will assist all golfers, whatever their level of ability, to enjoy their game more, improve their scores and help maintain the integrity of the wonderful game that is golf.
Almost everyone has a relative, or friend that plays golf and would like to know more about the Rules – without having to work at it. This book provides you with a perfect gift solution. Order here.
margaret said,
July 24, 2009 @ 10:16 am
i am still not sure when i incur a one shot penalty
Barry Rhodes said,
July 24, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
It’s a good question Margaret, but my answer is likely to be too long to answer in this comments section. I will do a separate blog on it at http://www.barryrhodes.com before 3rd August 2009.
Regards
Barry Rhodes
dave williams said,
September 8, 2009 @ 8:47 pm
re Q496 above,am I right in saying that provided the ball does not move off its spot,even if it moves slightly,there is no penalty ie s.18(2) clearly states “except with a club in the act of addressing it”. In fact most shots are preceded by the club face,be it iron or wood (or putter come to that) touching the ball prior to its strike contact, regards
Barry Rhodes said,
September 8, 2009 @ 9:02 pm
Yes Dave,
A ball is only deemed to have “moved” if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place, so there is no penalty in the circumstances that you describe.
Barry
Mike Vendetti said,
May 22, 2010 @ 5:56 pm
Recently our club in Florida had a shootout. One person eliminated every hole until one left. If there is a tie, you go to a chipoff. On the 6th hole we had 5 players chipping off. The pin was tucked on the backside of the green. One fellow chipped the ball, was closer than the worst chipper, but was just off the green by a few inches. Is the person off the green, closer, or out of hole as the other 4 players were on. We had rules when we started, stating farthest from hole on chipoff is eliminated. We didn’t think about if u were closer, but off the green. Would like your insight. Me being Presiident of the Mens Club thought, the one off the green was gone. The tournament chairman thought the one farthest from hole was gone. When we play in scrambles at the club we also have closest to the hole. You have to be on green, even though sometimes you might be off green but closest to the pin. Thanks for your insight.
Barry Rhodes said,
May 23, 2010 @ 2:12 pm
Mike,
This is not a Rules of Golf question but one that depends on the appropriate conditions of competition. If they said that “farthest from the hole is eliminated” without mention of the putting green, then that is how the winner should be decided. If the Committee wants to change this in future then they will have to change the wording of the conditions of competition.
Barry
Jim Drost said,
July 15, 2010 @ 8:25 am
A right handed golfer putts from the left side. The golfer also carries a left handed 7 iron and uses it primarily for chipping around the green. The golfer drives a ball to the out of bounds marker and near a cart path and has no right handed shot. However, he contends that if he uses his left handed 7 iron, his stance is on the cart path and needs relief. After he drops his ball, do the rules require him to shoot from the left side or can he now shoot from the right side? I have not found any reference in the rules that addresses this specific situation.
Barry Rhodes said,
July 15, 2010 @ 12:17 pm
Jim,
In my opinion, the player would be able to justifiably claim relief in these circumstances. The key words in your query are that the player “has no right handed shot”. Therefore, a left-handed stroke with a left-handed club would be reasonable. Decision 24-2b/17 is relevant;
Barry
I hope that you have found my regular blog on the Rules of Golf at http://www.barryrhodes.com.