rulespin
by Paul Kruger
don’t fence me in
“Don’t Fence Me
In” is the name of
a song written by
Cole Porter that was
popularized by Roy
Rogers in the 1944
movie
“Hollywood
Canteen.”
In a
manner of speaking,
Phil Mickelson got
“fenced in” during
the second round of
the 2016 Farmers
Insurance Open at
the Torrey Pines Golf
Course near San Diego. His
second shot sliced left, bounced
for a while on a paved area out of
bounds, and eventually came to
rest under the metal picket fence
that defined the course boundary
in that part of the course.
Rules Officials determined that
Phil’s ball was in bounds. Rather
than deem the ball unplayable,
Phil decided to play the ball as it
lay while standing out of bounds
and striking the ball with the toe
of a hybrid club. The ball ended
up in a greenside bunker, and Phil
ended up with a double-bogey on
the hole.
Phil’s “fence me in” scenario
offers a number of interesting
Rules teaching points.
These points are presented
herein by way of underlined
questions, followed by answers
with citations to the relevant
excerpts from the Rules:
When is a ball at rest considered
to be out of bounds?
The Definition of “Out of
Bounds” states, in part, “A ball is
out of bounds when all of it lies
out of bounds.”
When a fence defines the out
of bounds, where exactly is the
out of bounds line?
The Definition of “Out of
Bounds” states, in part, “When
out of bounds is defined by
reference to ... a fence ..., the out
of bounds line is determined by
the nearest inside points at ground
level of the ... fence posts ....” In
Phil’s “fence me in” scenario, the
Rules Officials determined that
Phil’s ball was barely in bounds
by stretching a string between
adjacent fence posts at ground
level.
What is the status of a ball
that goes out of bounds, but then
comes to rest in bounds?
Decision 19-2/3 [Player’s Ball
Strikes Own Caddie and Comes
to Rest Out of Bounds] points
out that if a ball comes to rest in
bounds, it is in play even though
the ball may have been out of
bounds for a while before coming
to rest in bounds.
Can a player take relief
without penalty from an out of
bounds fence?
No, because the Definition of
“Out of Bounds” states, in part,
“Objects defining out of bounds
such as walls, fences, stakes and
railings are not obstructions and
are deemed to be fixed.” Thus,
Phil’s two options were to take his
chances playing the ball as it lay
or deem the ball unplayable and
incur a one-stroke penalty.
Can a player stand out of
bounds when playing a stroke?
Yes, as the Definition of “Out
of Bounds” states, in part, “A
player may stand out of bounds
to play a ball lying within bounds.
Why didn’t Phil get relief for
stance interference by the paved
area when he took his stance out
of bounds?
The
Definition
of
“Obstructions” states, in part,
“An “obstruction” is anything
artificial, including the artificial
surfaces and sides of roads and
paths ... except ... (a)ny part of an
immovable artificial object that is
out of bounds....” Decision 242b/21 [Interference by Immovable
Artificial Object Situated Out of
Bounds] confirms that immovable
artificial objects off the course are
not obstructions; therefore, the
Rules provide no relief without
penalty from such objects.
Can a player turn a club
around to play a stroke?
Yes, as Rule 14-1a [Fairly
Striking the Ball] advises, “The
ball must be fairly struck at with
the head of the club and must not
be pushed, scraped or spooned.”
Decision 14-1a/1 [Playing Stroke
with Back of Clubhead] points
out that a player may play a stroke
with any part of the clubhead, so
long as the player fairly strikes the
ball.
Paul Kruger is a PGA professional at
The Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia.
9