About Barry Rhodes
Barry Rhodes is the author of ‘999 Questions on the Rules of Golf’, the easiest and most enjoyable way to absorb and understand the Rules.
Barry qualified as a chartered accountant in London, but has since spent over 35 years in various sales & marketing management roles within the information communication technology (ICT) sector. He is an enthusiastic, high handicap golfer who developed an interest, then a fascination, and now an obsession with the Rules of Golf. He is resident in Dublin, Ireland, where he is an active member of Milltown Golf Club.His relationship with the Rules began in 2000 with his participation in the inter-club Rules of Golf quiz competitions, organised by the Royal & Ancient (R&A) for Golf Clubs in Great Britain and Ireland. This then led to him writing articles, running quizzes, and delivering presentations on the Rules at a variety of Golf Club and corporate functions. More recently he has been answering questions on the Rules of Golf and writing an occasional web blog, for the St Andrews, Scotland, based web marketing site, http://www.GolfSwingSecretsRevealed.com.
He has his own web blog containing miscellaneous content for anyone who wishes to improve their knowledge and understanding of the Rules of Golf at http://www.barryrhodes.com.
In March 2008, Barry became the first person to achieve a 100% correct mark on the public Advanced Rules of Golf Course examination, run by the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) in their headquarters at The Belfry, West Midlands, UK.
dianne said,
August 17, 2009 @ 6:04 am
My ball is sitting on top of some bent over grass. As I start to put my club down behind it the grass moves down. I immediately raise my club and the grass moves up. The ball does not move at all from its position on top of the grass. Does this count as a stroke?
Barry Rhodes said,
August 17, 2009 @ 11:53 am
Dianne,
If you are sure that your ball returned to where it was at rest “on top of some bent over grass” then there is no penalty as it has not ‘moved’ according to the Definition in the Rules; “A ball is deemed to have ‘moved’ if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.” However, if your ball only returned part of the distance, so that it is not in exactly the spot where it was at rest before you put your club down, then you incur a penalty of one stroke and must try and replace the ball where it was before you moved it.
Barry
Biff said,
August 30, 2009 @ 6:23 pm
I am not sure where my tee shot has finished so I take a provisional ball from the tee. I find that the first ball is actually in a water hazard. Can I play it?
Barry Rhodes said,
August 31, 2009 @ 9:49 am
Biff,
Yes, you may not play a provisional ball if it is known or virtually certain that the original ball has come to rest in a water hazard. However, if the original ball may be lost outside of a water hazard then you are perfectly entitled to play a provisional ball (Rule 27-2). Having found the original ball inside the margin of the water hazard you may play it from there without penalty, or choose one of the options for relief, under Rule 26-1, with a penalty of one stroke.
Barry
Biff said,
October 15, 2009 @ 10:23 am
In a 3 club + putter individual stableford competition I turn up without my putter. On the first green another player says I can share his putter. I putt first then he putts. What is the ruling please?
Barry Rhodes said,
October 15, 2009 @ 10:55 am
Rule 4-4a says that a player must not add or borrow any club selected for play by any other person playing on the course.
Decision 4-4a/12 says,
“Q. In stroke play, A, who had mistakenly left his putter at the previous green, borrows a putter from B, a fellow-competitor, and uses it. At the next tee, the Committee is advised of the situation. What is the ruling?
A. A was not entitled to borrow a club selected for play by any other person on the course — Rule 4-4a. A incurs a penalty of two strokes for a breach of Rule 4-4a and must immediately declare B’s putter out of play as prescribed in Rule 4-4c. If A recovers his own putter, he may use it.
B may have his putter returned to him and use it for the remainder of the round.
Unfortunately, my ruling would be that you should be disqualified if you repeatedly used another competitor’s putter.
Barry