Chat with Matt Campbell PGA Head Golf Professional “Rules of Golf”

“OBJECTIVE” To LEARN and get BETTER To identify and review some of the most common rules in the game of golf To ASK questions and have those questions ANSWERED HAVE FUN

FIRST AND FOREMOST The game of golf is supposed to fun and those who play the game play it for many different reasons. We all must remember to not pass judgement on any golfer that chooses not to play the game for the same reasons or exactly the way that we do. It can be played in an infinite different number of ways which is exactly the reason that there are 61.1 million people that play the great game of golf worldwide!

“It is perfectly acceptable to play the game of golf with NO RULES at all when not in competition or posting a score!” The game of golf is very difficult when playing by the rules or not! You can do whatever you want or don’t want to do during the play of any hole! If you don’t like to putt……pick it up! If you want to tee the ball up in the fairway or rough….tee it up! If you can’t hit or don’t like the sand…..throw it on the green….then pick it up! Don’t keep score……instead record the funny, neat or great things that happened on that hole. Learn to enjoy the game first and play by the rules later….or not?

“The Rules of Golf” Playing by the USGA Rules of Golf are required in two conditions Playing in a golf event that enforce the USGA rules of golf and the local rules Posting a score for handicapping purposes Knowing the USGA Rules of Golf can only HELP you shoot and post the best score possible! Not knowing the USGA Rules of Golf can HURT your score or worse…..lead to disqualification! The Rules of Golf were written and revised every year to create a fair and equitable playing field for all participants. Regardless if you like a rule you are required to play by them in competition or posting a score. Most of us in the room right now play in competition and do post scores

“The Rules Committee” The rules committee is required to administer rulings as they are written regardless of circumstance: If they like the rule or not? The players involved? The money involved? Matt Campbell would appreciate it when presented with a rules decision that only the facts are presented and nothing else. No names of the players involved. They are irrelevant regardless of who they are? (This to avoid being accused of potential “favoritism”) Matt did not write the Rules of Golf but it his obligation to enforce them as they are written and presented to him to the best of his ability.

“PLEASE REFRAIN FROM BEING UPSET WITH MATT OR ANY RULES COMMITTEE MEMBER IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE RULE OR RULING INVOLVED THAT IS NOT IN YOUR FAVOR!” WRITE YOUR SUGGESTION OF CHANGE TO THE USGA/ROYAL AND ANCIENT OF ST. ANDREWS. MATT WILL GIVE YOU THE APPROPRIATE ADDRESS. IF THEY AGREE WITH YOU THEY WILL CHANGE IT….THEY WILL AND DO EVERY YEAR!

“Abnormal Ground Conditions”

POINTS TO KNOW REGARDING THIS RULE The only time that you are entitled to “line of sight or play relief” from an abnormal ground condition is when your ball is on the putting green. A ball is deemed to be on the putting green when any part of the ball touches the green. #16 Green at Lakeview Golf and Country Club Relief here Original Lie No Relief

LAKEVIEW GOLF COURSE ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS For those of you that have recently played the golf course may have noticed odd looking lines across some of the fairways and rough. These are mole tracks that were made by the moles under the snow level. These are what is considered “Abnormal Ground Conditions” and a free relief is entitled.

“IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS”

POINTS TO KNOW REGARDING THIS RULE There is no line of sight or play relief from an immovable obstruction except deemed as a local rule. (Grandstands in PGA Tournaments) Yes….he does have to play around the screen and is not entitled to free line of play relief. EXCEPTION

WHEN YOUR BALL LIES ON THE PUTTING GREEN 2 holes on the same green Relief here no closer to the hole Original Lie

“MOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS”

POINTS TO KNOW REGARDING THIS RULE If your golf ball is lying against an immovable obstruction but is on the grass it is PLACED as close as possible to where it lied if moved. If your golf ball is on top of an immovable obstruction, the immovable obstruction is removed and the golf ball is DROPPED. An “Immovable Obstruction” is something that can be easily moved without extreme effort and slowing up play to do so.

“LOOSE IMPENDIMENTS”

POINTS TO REMBER ABOUT THIS RULE A loose impediment is something is NATURAL meaning that it is not man made. An obstruction is something that is NOT NATURAL meaning that it is man made. A LOOSE IMPEDIMENT means that the natural object is in fact loose and can be moved. A tree branch that is rooted or something that is FIXED is NOT LOOSE and cannot be broken or moved. (It is NOT A LOOSE IMPENDEMENT)

“NEAREST POINT OF RELEIF”

IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER ABOUT THIS RULE There can be times when playing from the immovable obstruction such as a cart path without taking relief is the better option than taking relief. If your closest point of relief happens to be in a bush it would most likely be a better option to play from the cart path. Once your ball is picked up….you must take complete relief from the condition. (You cannot change your mind if you discover your relief is worse than playing from the actual condition). Make sure that you know where your nearest point of relief is before picking your golf ball up!

USGA RULES OF GOLF www.usga.org has an abundance of videos and training opportunities to educate you on the rules of golf…..FOR FREE!

Question and Answer Time Ask about any rules question that you have?