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
Keith said,
July 13, 2010 @ 2:18 pm
In our monthly medal last Saturday, one of our fourball hit his approach shot towards a tree at the side of the green. The rest of us, being on the green went to help him look. After about two minutes, his ball fell out of the tree (ball identified clearly as his) and landed on the ground. Nobody was looking in the tree at the time, but near it. The ball did not hit any player, or their equipment. We couldn’t be sure the ball had come to rest up the tree (it may have been continually moving, albeit slowly), nor could we be certain it had been moved by an outisde agancy (an angry squirrel, perhaps).
What is the ruling in the above situation and if the ball had hit one of us, or our equipment, when it fell out of the tree?
We agreed it should be played as it lied. Were we correct?
Regards
Keith
Barry Rhodes said,
July 13, 2010 @ 3:11 pm
Keith,
You acted correctly. As no player caused the ball to move it has to be played from where it came to rest, without penalty. It is a similar situation to when wind moves a player’s ball on the putting green. If the ball happened to hit its owner or their equipment as it fell from the tree, they would have incurred a one stroke penalty under Rule 19-2. If the ball had hit anyone else or their equipment, it is a rub of the green and there would have been no penalty, Rules 19-4 & 19=1.
Barry
Roy F Ryan said,
August 8, 2010 @ 4:30 pm
My ball lies under a bush, and I judge it to be unplayable. I mark the ball and drop the ball so that it is falls and comes to rest within two club lengths of the original position of the ball and not closer to the hole. My swing is still obstructed by the bush, but I play the ball as dropped.
My co-competitor says that I was entitled to drop so that my feet are within the two club length area, even if the ball strikes the ground and comes to rest beyond that area, so long as the ball comes to rest not closer to the hole and not further than 2 club lengths from the point of initial impact of the dropped ball. The ball was in the rough at all relevant times.
Was my co-competitor right about this, as Rule 20 and related rules seem ambiguous to me on this point?
Barry Rhodes said,
August 10, 2010 @ 8:00 am
Roy,
It seems that you did proceed in accordance with the Rules in the circumstances outlined in your first paragraph. With regard to your second paragraph, there are a few points to correct what your fellow competitor said. First, when the ball is dropped it must first touch the course within two clublengths of where it was picked-up from, not nearer the hole. Second, the player may stand within or outside the two club-lengths, providing the ball is dropped correctly, as in the previous sentence.Third, when a player chooses the Rules 28c option for relief to drop within two club-lengths of an unplayable lie, under penalty of one stroke, the ball may roll up to two club-lengths further from where it first touches the course, not nearer the hole, and still be in play. Fourth, if a ball in the above circumstances rolls back to, or near to, where it was deemed unplayable it is bad luck; the player must either play it or deem it unplayable again for another penalty stroke. Fifth, even though the ball was lifted from the rough, it would not have mattered if it was dropped on the fairway, providing it was dropped within two club-lengths of where it was at rest when deemed unplayable.
I am not sure what part of Rule 20 you found ambiguous. If you are still uncertain please email me at rules at barry dot rhodes dot com with your precise query and I will be pleased to help clarify it.
Regards,
Barry
Phillip Sexton said,
October 10, 2010 @ 12:35 pm
Mr Rhodes;
I’m a tournament official in Northern California and have been attending rules seminiars for the last two years. This year I want to become rules cerified and I’m in the process of organizing my study materials. Each test I have taken I’ve improved but still fall short. I stiil get confused on which rules are affected by penalities that offset or are maximum. Example a rule may be violated and carry a one stroke penality but another violation my cancel the one stroke but add a two stroke. 2+1=2 Make sense? Also can yo give me some advice on preparing for the rules test.
Thank you,
Phil
Barry Rhodes said,
October 10, 2010 @ 1:28 pm
Phil,
My first recommendation, if you do not have a copy already, is to purchase a copy of Decision on the Rules of Golf 2010-2011. Decision 1-4/12 gives guidance on whether multiple penalties are applied when a player breaches the Rules more than once prior to their stroke. Here is a link to that Decision.
I also recommend that you subscribe to my regular blog on the Rules of Golf at http://www.barryrhodes.com and my weekly my weekly series of emails featuring Rules Q&As illustrated with photos of common occurrences that golfers meet on the course. You can subscribe by clicking on this link. Of course, there is no charge and you can unsubscribe at any time. I also wrote a blog on which penalties carry a one stroke penalty back in July 2009, that you may find useful.
Regards,
Barry
Phillip Sexton said,
October 16, 2010 @ 10:31 am
Barry:
I’m having a hard time understanding the threesome format in match play. The definitions define it as ‘one player playing aganist two players, each side playing one ball.” I know that this format is almost never used but for my own information i would like to understand it.
Thanks,
Phil
Barry Rhodes said,
October 16, 2010 @ 9:21 pm
Philip,
Think about it as a foursome, A&B against C&D, where D does not show. So A&B play alternate strokes with their ball against C, who plays every stroke with his ball. As you say, the threesome format is rarely seen.
Barry
Stephen Yong said,
March 2, 2011 @ 5:44 pm
Hi Barry,
I am from Singapore and I have just came across your blog. I think you are doing a fantastic job (hobby!).
I have a rules situation for your comments. It actually happened to one of my buddy. The following was the scenario.
His ball was lying in the sand bunker. He approached it with a sand wedge, took his stance, wriggled his feet into the sand, but stop short of taking a stoke. At this point, he decided to change his club. And because he has a 58* lob wedge lying at the edge but outside of the bunker, he walked over and change his club while still standing in the bunker. After which he returned to the ball and re-position himself in the exact samefoot prints made earlier and then took his stroke.
Did any of his actions infringed any rules or Decisions?
Thank you very much for your help to solve our little debate.
Kind regards
Stephen Yong
Barry Rhodes said,
March 2, 2011 @ 6:51 pm
Stephen,
Thanks for your kind words. It is always encouraging for me to hear from golfers that find my content on the Rules informative and interesting.
No penalty has been incurred in the circumstances that you describe. Decision 13-4/26 confirms;
Barry
willie said,
April 4, 2011 @ 10:24 pm
Dear Barry can you clarify what i can use in competition golf regards marks and lines on my golf glove,i have been changing my grip and have drawn lines on glove to indicate grip placement,and i use letters on glove to remind me on things during the swing,are these legal or illegal during comps.thanksfor help willie
Barry Rhodes said,
April 5, 2011 @ 4:12 pm
Willie,
There is nothing in the Rules that prevents you from marking your golf glove in the ways that you describe. It is similar to marking a line on your ball, or having an arrow on your putter head at the centre of the club face. I believe that some club grips have markings on them to aid positioning of the hands, though they must not be molded for any part of the hands.
Barry
Phillip Sexton said,
April 11, 2011 @ 5:24 pm
This was Arron Baddeley on the first hole on the Masters on Thursday. My question is why did he place the ball instead of dropping it. Rule 19-1a states that the ball should be dropped. Since the ball was in the spectators lap and not on an obstruction (her chair) would Rule 18-1 (ball at rest moved by an outside agency) apply?
April 7, 2011
A player’s ball landed in a spectator’s lap. The spectator dutifully remained seated and as motionless as possible until the player arrived. The player arrived and placed a tee under the chair directly below the ball. The spectator stood up and the ball dropped to the ground. The player placed the ball by the tee and completed the hole.
Did the player proceed in accordance with the Rules? What Rule is applicable to this situation?
Thank you,
Phil
Barry Rhodes said,
April 12, 2011 @ 4:54 pm
Phillip,
I made the same comment on Twitter. I can only assume that the incident was misreported as the Rules certainly require that the ball should be dropped. Rule 19-1a;
“a. If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke other than on the putting green comes to rest in or on any moving or animate outside agency, the ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or on the outside agency, but not nearer the hole…”
There was a Rules Official with Baddeley’s group and I cannot believe that he would have been permitted to place the ball rather than drop it. I have come to realise that many commentators and journalists do not have a good understanding of the Rules of Golf; and that is being generous to them!
Barry
Phillip Sexton said,
April 12, 2011 @ 6:18 pm
Barry:
Thank you for your reply. As a Tournament official I was confused when this happened. I contacted the Northern California Golf Association and they were also questioned the ruling. It could be the newspaper article was incorrect.
Thanks again
doris reed said,
April 12, 2011 @ 2:41 pm
If there is a competition hybrids and irons only, is somebody allowed to carry the woods in the bag during the comp.
Are there any penalties for having to many clubs in your bag, if you announce on the first tee some of the clubs you are not going to use.
Thanks for the answer,
doris a keen germann golfer
Barry Rhodes said,
April 12, 2011 @ 5:08 pm
Doris,
Firstly, your question about whether a player may carry woods in their bag during a competition where they are not permitted to be used is not a Rules of Golf matter, as this format is not recognised by the R&A / USGA. Therefore, it should addressed by a Condition of Competition made by the Committee.
Your second question is easier for me to answer. If a player starts a round with more than 14 clubs, even if they declare the excess clubs out of play they still incur the penalty under Rule 4-4a;
a. Selection and Addition of Clubs. The player must not start a stipulated round with more than 14 clubs. He is limited to the clubs thus selected for that round, except that if he started with fewer than 14 clubs, he may add any number, provided his total number does not exceed 14.
There are several Decisions clarifying this Rule, including 4-4a/6;
Q. A arrives at the 1st tee, counts his clubs and confirms that he is carrying 14. He then removes his driver from his golf bag, leaves the bag beside the tee and checks in with the starter. At this point, X, a player in another match or group, by mistake puts his putter in A’s golf bag, which was identical to X’s bag. A then drives from the 1st tee. During play of the 1st hole, A discovers that X’s club has been put in his (A’s) golf bag. Does A incur a penalty for starting the round with more than 14 clubs?
A. Yes.
The penalty for a breach of Rule 4-4b is as follows;
Regardless Of Number Of Excess Clubs Carried: Match play – At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round: Two holes.
Barry
Phillip Sexton said,
April 12, 2011 @ 7:09 pm
Barry:
Baddeley could have dropped his ball twice and placed it because it had rolled more than two club lengths or closer to the hole. As hilly as Augusta is this is entirely possible. The newspaper report could have simply omitted the entire procedure. Anyway I won’t bother you with this further, but I needed to make sure I wasn’t missing anything in the rules.
Thanks,
Phil
Bob Hart said,
June 10, 2011 @ 1:29 am
Barry: Great web site and very helpful.
A player’s ball is very close to the hole and he marks its position with a flat marker behind the ball while he measures its distance from the hole. (Nearest the Pin competition). After measuring he putts the ball into the hole with the ball marker still there.
Is this a breach of rule 8-2 b ? “A mark must not be place anywhere to indicate a line for putting.”
Barry Rhodes said,
June 10, 2011 @ 9:36 am
Bob,
No, there is no penalty in this situation, because the player did not leave his ball-marker in place as a guide to his line of putt. However, if a player regularly left his ball-marker in place a fellow competitor/Rules official/Committee member would be justified in asking the player why he was doing so.
Barry
Geoff Lomax said,
June 26, 2011 @ 6:52 pm
Playing in a 4 ball match play comp form my club on one hole it was my turn to put which stopped just short of the hole and I indicated my intention to put out.One of my opponents stopped me doing so and proceeded to take his put.Was this correct prodedure in denying me the chance to continue and put out.
Barry Rhodes said,
June 26, 2011 @ 8:09 pm
Geoff,
Yes, in match play, if a player plays when his opponent should have played, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke so made and, in correct order, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played, Rule 10-1c. In these situations, the player who would like to putt out must get the permission from their opponent, otherwise their putt could be recalled.
Barry
John Feehan said,
October 17, 2011 @ 1:20 pm
Hi Barry,
Please advise should or could rule 26 apply after it gets dark. As in virtually certain.
Will give scenario if required,
John.
Barry Rhodes said,
October 17, 2011 @ 8:49 pm
John, the Rule is the same whatever the conditions. If a player cannot know or be virtually certain that there ball is in a water hazard they should play a provisional ball before going forward to look for their ball. If they find their ball they must abandon the provisional ball and proceed depending on whether the ball was in a water hazard, or not. If they cannot find their original ball they must continue with the provisional ball. If they have not played a provisional ball they must treat their original ball as lost and return to where they last played from under penalty of stroke and distance. Of course, when the light fades it is less likely that a player can be sure that their ball is definitely in a water hazard.
Barry
Phillip Sexton said,
November 4, 2011 @ 1:28 am
Barry:
A player playes their second shot and the ball hits a cart sign in the middle of the faraway. Not knowing Rule 19, “rub of the green” she then hits a different ball from where she hit her originial ball.. Under Rule 15-2 she has substituded a ball when not permitted to do so. Is she pentalized 2 strokes for wrongly substituding a ball or 2 strokes for hitting from the wrong place or both. The exception in Rule 15-2 states that the player is pentalize for hitting from the wrong place and not for a wrong subsitution. Could you please explain why two violations only equal one violation. Or maybe I’m not interperting this rule correctly.
Thank you,
Phillip
Barry Rhodes said,
November 4, 2011 @ 10:55 am
Philip,
I do not have any inside information as to why the Exception to Rule 15-2 states that a player is only penalised for playing from the wrong place and not for a wrong substitution. However, i will offer the following comments. First, Decision 1-4/12 confirms the principle that different acts resulting in two Rules being breached, when the breach of second Rule Is a direct consequence of the initial breach, only incurs a single penalty. Second, Rule 27-1 states that a player may at any time, under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (note that it specifies “a” ball, confirming that the player may substitute their original ball when doing so. It would therefore be inequitable to impose two penalties in the circumstances that you describe.
Barry
Phillip Sexton said,
November 4, 2011 @ 8:42 pm
Barry:
In regards to my earlier question, did the player play her third stroke when she put another ball into play (wrongly substituded ball). Her second shot hit the cart sign and she thought she was entitled to replay her ball. For reference assuming that her wrongly subsituted ball was then hit on the green and she two putted her ball into the hole. Play off the tee, one stroke, next stroke l hit the cart sign stroke two, wrongly substituded ball, stroke three, two putts stroke four and five. Two stroke penalty for playing from the wrong place for a seven. Yes or no?
Phillip
Barry Rhodes said,
November 4, 2011 @ 10:11 pm
Phillip,
No, the player scored six. I referred you to Rule 27-1 in my previous answer, part of which states;
So, 1- tee shot, 2 – hits cart sign, 3 – penalty for stroke and distance under Rule 27-1, 4 – onto green, 5 & 6 – putts. It does not matter that the player did not know that they were being penalised under Rule 27-1, which permits substitution.
Barry
P.S. If you are interested in the Rules of Golf I think that you will find my weekly blog useful: http://www.barryrhodes.com
Phillip Sexton said,
November 4, 2011 @ 10:49 pm
Barry:
I am on your Newsletter list. I’m also a tournament official for the Northern California Golf Association. The reason for my requests is for clarity. I have a very good feel for the rules overall, but I still struggle with some phases on interpertation. I hopefuly will become rules cerified in 2012. and your blog allows me to question myself and get an expert opinion. Once I have your explanation I usually have the rule clear in my mind. Hopefully I’m not too much of a pest.
Thank you,
Phil
Jack Callahan said,
February 1, 2012 @ 1:17 am
If someone hits their ball into brush, tries to hit it and moves it into a worse spot but cannot get relief with two club lengths and cannot go backwards since there is brush. What can they do?
Barry Rhodes said,
February 1, 2012 @ 10:21 am
Jack,
This situation is covered by Decision 28/5;
Q.A player plays a stroke from Point A to Point B. Point B is in an area from which it is very difficult to extricate the ball. The player considers deeming the ball unplayable but this would result in a stroke-and-distance penalty (Rule 28a). Dropping behind under Rule 28b is impossible due to a boundary fence and dropping within two club-lengths under Rule 28c is not feasible because it would require a considerable number of such drops to escape the area. The player plays from Point B and moves the ball a few feet to Point C, where the ball is clearly unplayable. Under Rule 28a, may the player:
(a) deem the ball unplayable at Point C and drop a ball under penalty of one stroke at Point B, and then
(b) deem the ball unplayable at Point B and drop a ball, under an additional penalty of one stroke, at Point A?
A.No. Under Rule 28a, the player would be entitled to drop a ball only at the place from which he played his last stroke (Point B).
In the circumstances, the player’s only alternative is to invoke Rule 28c a sufficient number of times (starting at Point C and dropping the ball sideways within two club-lengths each time) to get the ball into a playable position.
Barry
Barry Rhodes said,
February 1, 2012 @ 10:33 am
Mike,
I am confident that no Rule was not breached in this incident, which I did not witness. Caddies have to stand somewhere and unless they draw attention to the positioning of their feet in order to point a line for putting for the player there is no penalty. Decision 8-2b/2 provides the ruling;
Q.A player’s ball lies on the putting green and his caddie attends the flagstick for him. The caddie suggests, before the stroke, that the player aim at the caddie’s left foot. Is the player in breach of Rule 8-2b?
A.If the caddie had placed his foot in position for the purpose of pointing out the line for putting, the player was in breach of Rule 8-2b as soon as the caddie placed his foot in that position. The breach could not be corrected by the caddie subsequently moving his foot.
If the caddie did not initially place his foot in such a position for the purpose of pointing out the line for putting but subsequently suggested the player aim at his left foot, the player would be in breach of Rule 8-2b if the caddie did not move that foot to another position that does not indicate a line for putting prior to the stroke.
The same answer would apply if a player’s partner attends the flagstick for him.
Barry