The chip shot from 20 yards failed to check. As the ball raced past the hole, it struck the ball of a fellow player and came to rest by the hole for a tap-in par.

“That’s collusion!”, shouted Reader and opponent NZ, articulating the problem many players have with a practice more commonly referenced as “backstopping.” He pointed out that no one would ever leave a ball unmarked where it might assist an unpopular player….a Patrick Reed … or the Yank….for instance.

A political discussion ensued. Foremost applauded the fitting usage of the word “collusion” in this golfing context noting, however, that the word had unfortunately inundated our society as a result of the hapless Mueller investigation, which F called “the biggest fraud and constitutional boon-doggle in American history”. This assertion drew a swift rebuke and challenge, as another suggested it paled in comparison to Ken Starr’s investigation of Bill Clinton and his dalliances, and another said the saddest episode in American legal history had to be the Robert Bork confirmation hearings, a hatchet-job orchestrated by Joe Biden.

This animated twist in the conversation had only one logical conclusion …that being, of course, a suggestion that F handicap the entire Democratic presidential field, which F promises to do … eventually…after he handles some important Spring Rules issues.

1. Order of Play in a Four-Ball Competition

The setting was Livingstone Four-Ball competition at BMCC. Reader TB was upset that his opponents, the team of Readers TS and BD, played out of turn. Although it was the D/S team turn to play, TB states one partner played even though the other partner was “out”. (TB did not dispute the D/S’s team right to choose their order of play in this circumstance; he insisted, however, this right to determine their own batting order must be preceded by a request to his team, a polite gesture which would eliminate the advantage of surprise. Since the D/S team had failed to seek or secure the appropriate permission from his team, TB suggested that they should be assessed the General Penalty in match play, LOH.

Ruling

Partners may play in the order they consider best. This means that when it is a player’s turn to play, he or his partner can play next. R23.6. There is no obligation under the Rules to seek any permission from an opponent.

2. Embedded Ball

Reader SN’s iron shot into the Par 5 8th hole at BMCC fell short plugging into the embankment below the green. He was advised by his fellow players that he was not allowed to take relief for an embedded ball since it was in the rough, and not in a “closely-mown area” “through the green”.

Ruling

This advice was incorrect. A player may now take relief for a ball embedded in the ”General Area”. He must drop in a one club-length Relief Area no closer to the hole with the Reference Point for the Relief Area being the spot at which the ball was embedded. R16.3.

But note, by Clarification to R16.3 dated 4/23/19, the USGA advised that a player is not always entitled to free relief from a ball embedded in the General Area. The Clarification states that there must be a Relief Area in the General Area. Accordingly, for example, there might be no free relief if the ball is embedded in the lip above a bunker, and the only available one-club length drop area would be in the Bunker rather than in the General Area. (Remember, a Bunker is one of the 5 specific areas of the course).

In the particular case at hand, SN might not have been entitled to free relief if his ball had embedded just above the line of the PA… if no drop could be made in a Relief Area in the GA, no relief.

3. Ball Rests on Obstruction

Back on this same 8th Hole, Reader TC reports his ball rolled back onto the PA and was found resting, teed up on a tee which had been pressed firmly into the ground, certainly by happenstance. An abandoned tee is simply an “obstruction”. A player may remove a “movable obstruction”, and take relief by dropping his ball into a Relief Area even in a PA. R15.2.

F is somewhat concerned in this situation, however, as the tee was firmly inserted into the ground. Did the tee’s insertion into the ground mean the tee was an “immovable obstruction”? Certainly, a stick or stone firmly pressed into the ground is not a “loose impediment.”

“Immovable Obstructions” now fall under the definition of “Abnormal Course Conditions”. As such, whether the tee was a “movable” or “immovable” obstruction is a critical distinction in terms of relief, since no “free” relief is extended for an “abnormal course condition” in a Penalty Area. R16.1a(2). A player must take “penalty” relief from an ACC in a PA under R17.

Ruling

Even though the tee was sticking in the ground, F is going to go out on a limb here and say that TC could treat the tee as a “movable obstruction” and take free relief. R15.2a. (Note: F rulings such as this one may certainly be challenged! See “Compassion”and recent challenge by Reader PO in Comments).

4. Ball Rests on Loose Impediment

Long-time partners NZ and LS asked F to resolve a simmering dispute over above-ground worm tunnels. Was a player entitled to relief from the chimney-like protrusions worms made when surfacing from underground?

As best as F could understand, the debate centered over whether subsurface dirt, even if posited above-ground, could properly be considered as a condition of the course, and eligible for relief, particularly since many states, including Tennessee, recognized separate legal estates for Surface and Mineral Rights.

Ruling

By definition, a “Loose Impediment” includes “worms…that can be removed easily…and the mounds they build (such as worm casts…)”. Note, however, that while one can now remove a LI anywhere on the course, he incurs a one-stroke penalty if the ball moves during the removal. Accordingly, if the ball sat atop the worm cast, the worm cast could not be removed lest it would move the ball resulting in a penalty.

The Reader should note the important distinction in examples 3 and 4 herein, both dealing with a ball being moved during the removal of an interference.

If a ball sits atop an abandoned tee in a PA, the tee may be removed without penalty if the tee is deemed a “Movable Obstruction”, while if a ball in the same PA sits atop a worm cast, the removal of the worm cast would lead to a penalty since the worm cast is a “Loose Impediment”.

Natural v Artificial objects of interference. Only F’s Readers could come up with these splendid, instructive Rules examples in the same week!

5. What is a “Sandy”?

Finally, long-time partners TS and BD were arguing about sandies. They’ve been playing together for over 40 years and they wanted to know whether a “sandy” was up and down for par or better out of any Bunker, or just a green-side Bunker. (Apparently, this was the first time the issue had arisen in their 40 years of play together).TS had hit an iron from a fairway bunker on the 12th hole, and the argument developed as he faced a 4-footer.

Thankfully, he said he missed the putt.

As usual, all comments or corrections are welcome!

(Oh yes…F promised to handicap the Democratic Presidential field! What an impressive slate of 24 announced candidates … all in a bidding war for the American voter!

But F doesn’t see a winner in this field. He has a stealth candidate….it’s Taylor Swift … she enters the field and emerges from the pack, sweeping the convention with her new hit song, “Let’s Give Texas back to Mexico”!).

Respectfully submitted,
F