Backspin may_2017 | Page 8

rulespin

by Paul Kruger cincodemayo

May 5 , the fifth day of the fifth month of the year , also known as Cinco de Mayo , is a Mexican holiday commemorating the Mexican army ’ s improbable victory over France in 1862 at the Battle of Pueblo . In the United States , Cinco de Mayo has become known as a day of celebration of Mexican culture . In this month ’ s quiz , your task is to determine whether or not (“ si ” o “ no ”) your stroke play score for the hole is 5 in each of the following scenarios .
1 . On the first hole of your round , you eagle a par-5 . However , on the way to the next hole , you realize that you started your round with 15 clubs in your bag . You immediately declare your 3-iron out of play for the remainder of the round .
2 . On a par-3 , your tee shot ends up in a greenside bunker . During the backswing of your bunker shot , your sand wedge barely touches a leaf , but you complete your stroke
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and your ball ends up resting against the flagstick . When you nudge the flagstick , instead falling into the hole , your ball ends up 6 inches from the hole . You then pick up your ball , place it on the lip of the hole , and tap it into the hole with your putter .
3 . On a short par-4 , your drive plugs in a greenside bunker . As you enter the bunker , you start to lose your balance and your club touches the sand when you use it to prevent yourself from falling . When you play the bunker shot , your ball caroms off the face of the bunker , and comes back and hits you in the chest . Your ball ends up in one of your footprints . You blast your ball out of the footprint and it comes to rest about two feet from the hole , and you make the putt .
4 . Your tee shot on a par-3 spins back off the green and ends up in the water hazard in front of the hole . In taking relief from the hazard , you drop a ball on the teeing ground . Before playing your next stroke , you pick up the ball and place it on a tee . You dump your next shot into the same water hazard . In taking relief a second time from the hazard , you first place your ball on a tee , but you then lift the ball and toss it on the ground . After all that , you then hole out with your next stroke !
Answers :
1 . Si Rule 4-4 [ Maximum of Fourteen Clubs ] advises that you must not start a stipulated round with more than fourteen clubs . The penalty statement for this Rule states , “ Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred ; maximum penalty per round – Four strokes ( two strokes at each of the first two holes at which any breach occurred ). Thus , your eagle 3 , plus two penalty strokes , becomes a five for the hole .
2 . Si According to Rule 13-4 [ Ball in Hazard ; Prohibited Actions ], in stroke play , you incur a two-stroke penalty if you touch or move a loose impediment lying in or touching the hazard before making a stroke at your ball that is in the same hazard . According to Rule 17-4 [ Ball Resting Against Flagstick ] states , “ When a player ’ s ball rests against the flagstick in the hole and the ball is not holed , the player … may move or remove the flagstick , and if the ball falls into the hole , the player is deemed to have holed out with his last stroke ; otherwise , the ball , if moved , must be placed on the lip of the hole , without penalty .” Thus , your score for the hole is 5 , comprised of the three talent strokes , plus the twostroke penalty for touching the leaf in the bunker .
3 . Si Exception 1 to Rule 13-4 states , in part , “ Provided nothing is done that constitutes testing the condition of the hazard or improves the lie of the ball , there is no penalty if the player … touches the ground … in any hazard … as a result of or to prevent falling ….” You incur a one-stroke penalty under Rule 19-2 [ Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped by Player …]. Thus , your score for the hole is 5 , comprised of four talent strokes and one penalty stroke .
4 . Si The only penalty strokes that you incur are the two penalty strokes for twice taking relief from the water hazard . There is no penalty for changing your mind about whether or not to tee your ball when returning to the teeing ground because your ball is not in play until you make a stroke with your ball on the teeing ground . See Definition of “ Ball in Play .” Thus , your score for the hole is 5 , comprised of three talent strokes and two penalty strokes .