rulespin
by Paul Kruger
quiz yourself
It is rumored that, shortly after the Alabama Crimson Tide
defeated the Clemson Tigers for the 2015 National Championship,
Clemson Coach Dabo Sweeney challenged Alabama Coach Nick
Saban to a rematch consisting of a round of stroke play the next
morning. In this month’s quiz, your task is to help these two coaches
by rendering the correct rulings in the following situations:
1. Due to the Alabama
celebrations
extending
through the night, Nick had
to rush to the course, and
did not realize that he had
15 clubs in his bag until just
before their tee time. As
there was no time to return
and leave the extra club in the
golf shop, he told Dabo that
he was taking his long putter
out of play for the round and
placed it on the floorboard
of his golf cart. What is the
ruling? (a) Nick is penalized
two strokes on the 1st hole
and another two strokes on
the 2nd hole for carrying
too many clubs. (b) Nick is
only penalized two strokes
on the 1st hole. (c) There
is no penalty. (d) Nick is
disqualified.
2. Without his long
putter, Nick elected to putt
and chip with his 3-wood
during the round. In doing
so, he would occasionally
position the top of the grip
against his left bicep, and
then clamp his right hand
against his left forearm to
hold the shaft in place during
the stroke. What is the ruling?
(a) This method of making
a stroke is permissible for
chipping strokes only. (b) Nick
incurred a one-stroke penalty
every time he made a stroke
in this manner. (c) There is
no penalty. (d) Nick incurred
a two-stroke penalty every
time he made a stroke in this
manner.
3. Dabo nailed a 3-wood
for his second shot on the
par-5 4th hole, but his ball
disappeared in an area of tall
grass. As he neared the area,
he sensed that his ball might
not be found even though
there were some spectators
searching for it. He turned
around and walked back
to where he last played,
announcing that he would
be playing a provisional
ball. Just after he dropped a
ball, a spectator shouted that
he had found the original
ball. What is the ruling? (a)
Dabo may continue play
with the original ball. (b)
Dabo must play the dropped
ball under penalty of stroke
and distance. (c) Dabo may
play the dropped ball as a
provisional ball just in case
the spectator did not actually
find his ball.
4. Dabo’s approach shot
to the 13th green ends up
on the edge of the fringe,
just behind his pitch-mark
on the green. In the process
of repairing the pitch-mark,
Dabo accidentally causes
his ball to move. Before
playing his next stroke, Dabo
replaces his ball. What is the
ruling? (a) Dabo incurs a twostroke penalty for repairing
the pitch-mark since his ball
was not on the putting green,
and another penalty stroke
for causing his ball in play to
move. (b) Dabo is permitted
to repair the pitch-mark, but
he is penalized one stroke for
causing his ball to move. (c)
There is no penalty.
Paul Kruger is a PGA professional at
The Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia.
Answers on Page 13
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