8.1 A player’s ball is 150 yards to the hole. Before making his stroke, the player repairs a divot 5 feet in front of the ball directly on his line of play. What is the ruling?
Answer: Under Rule 8.1a, we are not allowed to alter the surface of the ground by eliminating holes. But Interpretation 8.1a/2, if the hole is not an issue for a 150-yard shot, the player will not be penalized. It would be different if the hole was on the fringe and the player wanted to putt.
8.2 Before making a stoke at his ball in the woods, a player breaks a large branch on his practice swing near the ball. Because he is afraid of being penalized, he changes his direction of play. The broken branch was not anymore on his backswing. Does he still get a penalty?
Under Interpretation 8.1a/3, a player can’t fix a broken branch. He will be penalized even if he changes direction.
8.3 Before entering a wooden area, a player wraps a towel around his waist, goes in the woods and makes a stroke on his ball with the towel still wrapped around him. How many penalty strokes?
For the same reason a player may use a rain gear it is permitted to wrap a towel around our body during a stroke. If we put a towel on the ground or on an object, the player will receive a two-stroke penalty if he makes a stroke. Ref. Interpretation 8.1a/5
8.4 The player take relief by dropping a ball. The ball rolls into a bunker. He goes inside the bunker to retrieve the ball and smooths the sand with a rake. He drops again and makes the stroke over the bunker. Was the player allowed to smooth the sand?
As stipulated in Interpretation 8.1d(2)/3, A player is not allowed to repair a damage done by himself before making a stroke. The penalty is two strokes.
QUESTIONS ON RULE 9
Ball played as it lies, ball at rest lifted or moved
9.1 A player thinks his ball is in a tree. He climbs in the tree in order to play the ball, but the ball falls down on the ground. Instead of replacing the ball he goes back to the previous stroke and make his stroke. The ball is on the green and he makes a putt that goes in the hole. What is the player’s score?
9.2 The ball is on a plastic bag. When arriving near the ball, the wind moves the bag and the ball a few yards away. What is the ruling?
9.3 The player’s ball is 6 feet from the hole. He marks the ball and replaces it. A few seconds later the wind moves the ball to another position. The player plays his next stroke from the new position. Did the player proceed correctly?
9.4 When a player arrives near the green, he sees his ball, on the green, moved by the wind and ends up in a bunker. It was not sure on the Rule, and he played the next stroke from the bunker. Before making his stroke from the next tee, he calls a referee. What is his decision?
9.5 After completing his tee shot, player sees a fox running with the ball in his mouth. He never finds the ball. What are the players options?