rulespin
8 by Paul Kruger can i get a rules official ?
current events call for explanation
The Definition of “ Holed ” states , “ A ball is “ holed ” when it is at rest within the circumference of the hole and all of it is below the level of the lip of the hole .” With that in mind , do you have any idea how many golf balls can fit into a regulation hole and still be considered holed ?
This is actually a “ trick ” question given that the Definition of “ Hole ” does not specify the depth of a hole ! This Definition merely states , “ The ‘ hole ” must be 4¼ inches ( 108mm ) in diameter and at least 4 inches ( 101.6mm ) deep .” [ Emphasis added ]
One unofficial study has conclusively determined that you can putt as many as nine ( 9 ) golf balls into a hole with a standard hole liner sunk precisely one inch below the surface of the putting green , with all nine balls coming to rest below the lip of the hole . However , as shown in the adjacent photograph , if a tenth ball is delicately putted into this hole , it is not considered holed because a portion of this ball remains above the level of the lip of the hole .
With upwards of nine balls already in a hole , you would be hard pressed to putt with the right speed and your ball would most likely runneth over the hole . Even
if there were fewer than nine balls already in the hole , you would still be taking a chance that your ball would be deflected out of the hole . In such a case , even though your ball was momentarily within the circumference of the hole , it would not be considered holed because it would never have come to rest within the hole . This could be the reason why most golfers prefer to wait for the player holing out ahead of them to remove his or her ball from the hole , rather than risk their ball being deflected out of the hole . See Decision 16 / 5.5 [ Player Holes Short Putt and Allegedly Removes Ball from Hole Before It Is at Rest ] which states , “ The words “ at rest ” are in the Definition of “ Holed ” to make it clear that if a ball falls below the lip and thereafter bounces out , it is not holed .”
While we ’ re on the subject of a ball being deflected out of a hole , take note of the prescribed positioning of the hole-liner within the hole . The Definition of “ Hole ” points out that if a lining is used , it must be sunk at least one inch below the surface of the putting green . There have been numerous instances where a hole-liner was improperly positioned nearer to the
Paul Kruger is a PGA professional at The Landings Club in Savannah , Georgia .
surface of the putting green , causing a player ’ s ball to pop out of the hole after hitting the edge of the liner .
This may have been the case when Joe Daley was trying to regain his PGA Tour card during the 2000 Q-School . During the fourth stage , he rolled a perfect 5-foot putt only to see it emerge from the hole . The adjacent photographs show his ball about to drop into the hole , and his reaction of unbelief when his ball came out of the hole . Unfortunately , Daley missed gaining his PGA Tour card by a single stroke !
From The Open
Round 2 of The Open at the Royal Troon Golf Club in Ayrshire , Scotland featured a couple of rulings concerning , of all things , ball-markers .
At the 7th green , Zander Lombard of South Africa marked the position of his ball with his ball-marker , lifted his ball , and then tamped down the ballmarker with his putter . As he walked away , he noticed that his ball-marker had disappeared from the putting green . He then discovered that it had adhered to the sole of his putter due to the wet conditions !