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You
are on the 'Eagle' - Rules page
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Read
Sue Rawles' own Blog
on The Open Website where she is refereeing at the 150th anniversary
Open Championship at St Andrews.
Click
here for the link:
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Extract
above taken from the EWGA Newsletter Issue no: 20.
Click here to visit their site for more information and to sign
up for their newsletter.
Read below Sue's refereeing experiences at The
Open Championship in Turnberry in 2009.
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| Sue's
Etiquette and Rules Roadshow |
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Golf
Clubs often invite Sue Rawles to explain the rules of golf using her
"visual aid". This is an enjoyable and
most enlightening way to have the rules explained. Instead of
having to visualise ruling situations as they arise on a golf course,
Sue explains exactly what the golfer can or cannot do within the Rules
of Golf deftly using items that are found on a course.
Sue's mat replicates a golf course with rabbit droppings (raisens),
a burrowing animal (Robert, her husband's stuffed sock) to a bunker
full of loose impediments and obstructions. Do you
know which is which and what you may remove when in a bunker?
Here is a question for you:
"If your ball is blown by the wind from the putting green into
the bunker, you must play the ball as it lies" True
or False? Click here for the correct
answer. |
| ISue's
view from Inside the Ropes |
Sue
Rawles, who chairs EWGA's South West region, has joined the
elite band of women who have refereed at The
Open Championship. Read on for her ruling on the experience.
For years, Sue Rawles has joined the spectators at The Open.
This summer, though, she was inside the ropes at Turnberry
and helping to referee such players as Lee Westwood,
Justin Rose, and the eventual champion, Stewart Cink.
It was a far cry from officiating at amateur women's county
events, where Sue started out as a referee, before going on
to become one of EWGA's top rules experts.
"It was terrifying - but absolutely fantastic, with a capital
F," said Sue, who is a member at Tewkesbury Park in Gloucestershire. |
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Sue
was one of three women referees at the championship, among a
team of 60, drawn from all over the world. "There was great
camaraderie among the referees and they were very good to me,
very supportive. Some of them were hugely experienced and I
made no bones about the fact I was a novice and learning all
the time."
Preparation for the championship included lots of course walks
to identify possible trouble spots, and learning the TIO (temporary
immovable obstruction) rule, which covers, for example, grandstands
and TV towers. There's not much call for it at EWGA events!
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| For
three days of the championship, Sue was paired with an experienced
referee and worked as an observer, keeping ahead of the group
to watch their shots land. "A big bonus of being an observer
is that you will be with big names, because that's where two
people are needed," she said. |
Her
groups included the "absolutely charming" Stewart
Cink who did, in fact invoke the TIO rule when his ball
ended up behind a grandstand. Lee Westwood was another
of her charges and when she was filmed shaking hands with him
on the 18th green her phone was quickly buzzing with text messages
from friends.
On the last day, accompanying Justin Rose and Bristol's
Chris Wood she suddenly found herself right in the thick
of the action. "Chris had a real purple patch where he
went something like eagle, birdie, par, birdie and I heard over
the radio 'You have the leader.'
"We were suddenly awash with TV cameramen, I couldn't believe
how many people there were on the fairways, other than just
the players. We had to have a media liaison officer to organise
the Press! Chris shared the lead for a while, then he dropped
a shot and everyone disappeared as fast as they had come."
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On
one day, Sue had her own group which included a certain T
Wood, actually Tim Wood of Australia, alongside David
Smail of New Zealand and Oliver Fisher of England.
She set off, wearing her comfiest shoes and surrounded by her
entourage of bunker raker, scorer and board carrier, and soon
found her knowledge being tested. One player's ball finished
among some television cables: "That was an easy one and
it was good to get broken in with something straightforward."
The ruling? You move the cables and if the ball moves you replace
it.
On one of the holes which hug the coastline one of her players
found the beach. It's a water hazard - and he played a fantastic
shot out. Another put his ball at waist height in a gorse bush.
"That's the unplayable rule and it's my favourite because
it's really clear. He had to identify the ball and then go through
the dropping procedure." |
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An
embedded in the rough, a drop from a hazard, a spectator hit on the
leg, and the news that the group, like many others, had been put on
the clock, all claimed Sue's attention as they made their way to the
18th. "It was amazing coming down the 18th, with the Turnberry
Hotel in the background and all the grandstands around the green
with so many people cheering in the players."
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| And
while Sue was busy on the course, what of her husband, Robert? He
went out with the R&A wives!! |
"It was a very special week and I feel very lucky and privileged
- and grateful for all the support I've had from EWGA," said
Sue
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| Article
written by Lyndsey Hewison, with acknowledgement to EWGA. |
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| "Golf
Rules in Action" |
"Golf
Rules in Action" is a brand new DVD containing footage of the
world's top players applying the Rules in situations that golfers
of all abilities may encounter during their own round. Obstructions,
out of bounds, lost balls, unplayable lies, water hazards, loose impediments
and casual water are just some of the Rules that are explained in
this essential golf DVD.
The DVD features over 70 incidents featuring the world's best players,
quiz questions to test your knowledge, and bonus footage of complex
rules incidents. Golf Rules in Action is the official DVD of The
R&A and it is the perfect tool for golfers who wish to increase
their knowledge of the Rules while being entertained and is ideal
for golf clubs wanting to educate their members on the fundamental
Rules of the game. For more information or to obtain a copy, please
visit The R&A website at www.randa.org.
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The
answer to the question (see above under Roadshow)
about a ball being blown from a putting green into a bunker is
True Rule 18-1 |
| Listed
below are some of the principle changes to the Rules of Golf from
1st January 2008 |
| Rule
12 - 1 |
| Searching
in Obstruction - there is now no penalty if the ball is accidentally
moved whilst searching. |
| Rule
12 - 2 |
| Identifying
ball - now permitted in a hazard, so there is now a penalty for playing
a wrong ball in a bunker or water hazard. You should mark the position
of the ball, lift and clean just enough to identify. The ball should
then be replaced and the lie recreated. (2 stroke
penalty or loss of hole in match play.) |
| Rule
19 - 2 |
| Ball
in motion deflected by player, partner, caddie or equipment - penalty
reduced to one stroke in both stroke and match play. |
| Rule
24 - 1 |
| Movable
obstruction - now permits a flagstick that is lying on the ground
to be moved whilst the ball is in motion. |
| Rule
24 - 3, Rule 25 - 1c, Rule 26, Rule 27 - 1 |
The
term "reasonable evidence" replaced by "known or virtually
certain"
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| Rawles
Rules OK?! ! |
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Sue
Rawles, who is a member of Tewkesbury Park Golf & Country Club
has recently passed a referees' examination. Many congratulations
to Sue. This is her account:
I was invited by ELGA to attend the rigorous Royal & Ancient
Referees School at St.Andrews in February. The course extended for
4 days; there was no time for golf as the time was spent in role-play,
watching demonstrations and relevant videos. David
Rickman and his R&A Rules Team did a fantastic job, interpretation
of the Rules of Golf can be very humorous and entertaining!
It was a truly international event with over 70 delegates from all
around the world. Fanny Sunnneson and the BBC's Maureen
Madil were also on the course as well as a PGA Tournament Referee
from the USA (he would be officiating soon in the Masters at Augusta
in April).
On Thursday morning the delegates (including all the overseas visitors)
sat the exam, this takes the form of a 2 1/2 hour written paper,
we had all been preparing for this since last October and found
it tough to say the least. We were all a bit shaken after the exam
and a trip to the St.Andrews Golf Museum made a welcome break. There
were photographs taken on the windswept 1st fairway and then back
to base for a session with Andy McFee, refereeing on the PGA Tour.
We were accommodated in the luxurious St.Andrews Bay Hotel and the
R&A hospitality was excellent throughout the week, culminating
in Dinner in the R&A Clubhouse on Friday evening. After dinner
there was a bit of a tour around the hallowed Clubouse; we were
shown into the Secretary's Office and out on to the famous balcony
- WOW if my Dad could see me now!
I felt very privileged to be part of the School and am grateful
to ELGA for giving me the opportunity to attend. But, most of all
I am very relieved to have passed the exam!
Sue
P.S. The pass mark was 60% and my mark was 86% - Yes I'm amazed
too!
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The
picture shows Ruth Whitehead from ELGA North West on the right with
Sue Rawles on the left standing next to the Walker Cup.
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| A
change in the Rules of Golf for 2004 limits tee height to four inches. |
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| The
following article appeared in the Daily Mail on 30 May 2003. |
| Women
get the vote on rules |
Women
golfers, who make up around 20 per cent of the world's playing population,
are to have a say in how the rules are drafted and administered for
the first time.
The all-male Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, guardians
of the rules since 1897, are to cede their powers to a new limited
company in which women will have the right to vote.
R & A secretary Peter Dawson said: "Now our members will
not have the right to vote on rule changes as they did, say, in the
Sixties, when they delayed the introduction of the new big ball from
America."
By setting up a series of new companies, the 2,500 members of the
R & A will no longer be personally liable for any legal actions
taken against the club. One company will be responsible
for distributing £50million of Open Championship profits over
the next seven years in a more tax-efficient way.
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| So
you think you know the rules? |
Under
pressure it is very easy to get it wrong, remember, in stroke play,
under Rule 1 - 3 it is illegal to "agree to waive a rule"
and the penalty is disqualification for all parties involved.
Try your knowledge with some questions, the answers can be found below..
If you get any wrong, read the rule and the decision in the
book, "Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2002 - 2004 by the
Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews and the United States Golf
Association". (Your own Club should keep a
copy of this book in the ladies locker room - you never know when
you might need it!)
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The
questions below have been compiled by Ian Watkins who is the
Secretary of The Gloucestershire Golf Union and a fully qualified
EGU Referee. Ian has been Captain of his club, Tewkesbury
Park Hotel and Country Club, Captain of Eastern Counties Alliance
and Captain of The Gloucestershire Captains.
If you have any questions or queries you would like to ask Ian, please
email christine@businessladiesgolf.com
who will pass them on to him. We intend to update
this page regularly. We will select some of your
questions which you have sent in and post them onto the site. Hopefully,
the answers will help us to understand some of the complex rules of
golf. |
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True
or False?
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| 1. |
A
ball is out of bounds if any part of it is out of bounds |
| 2. |
A
player's ball may be lost in a water hazard may play a provisional
ball if her original ball is lost. |
| 3. |
A
player may lift her ball in a bunker if she considers it might assist
any other player |
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4.
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In
a match a player sees her opponent remove a loose impediment from
a bunker. She knows this is a breach of rule 13
- 4 but decides not to say anything. What is the ruling
(a), (b) or (c)?
(a)
The player is disqualified under rule 1- 3
(b) There is no penalty as the player is entitled to overlook
the breach.
(c) Both player and opponent are disqualified for a breach
of rule 1- 3
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| 5. |
A
player unable to find her ball puts another ball into play. She
then discovers the original ball is in the hole. What
is the ruling (a), (b) or (c)?
(a)
The player must continue with the second ball put into play.
(b) The player has played a wrong ball under rule 15
(c) The score with the original ball counts
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| 6. |
A
player's ball comes to rest against a boundary stake. She
declares the ball unplayable and drops within 2 club lengths of where
the ball originally lay, as prescribed by Rule 18b. After
the ball has been at rest, it rolls and comes to rest out of bounds. What
is the ruling (a), (b) or (c)?
(a) The ball is out of bounds
(b) The player drops the ball again
(c) The player places the ball within bounds
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Answers
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| 1. |
False
-
see definition of out of bounds |
| 2. |
True
-
see Rule 27 - 2, amended by Dec. 27 - 2c/1 in the 2002-04 book |
| 3. |
True
-
see Rule 22 |
| 4. |
(b)
see Rule 2. Decision 2 - 5/1
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| 5. |
(c)
see Rule 1 - 1. Decision 1 - 1/2 |
| 6. |
(a)
see Rule 27 |
| By
the way, whilst looking in the 2002 - 04 Decisions book, check out
Decision 25 - 6 which has been reached to satisfy Tiger Wood's and
David Duval's recent disgusting habit on the course! |
What
do you do when your ball decides to go for a swim?
Water Hazard rules are shown below:
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1.
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If
you (and your playing partner) did not see your ball go into the
water and you cannot find it, I'm afraid you will have to treat
it as a lost ball under Rule 27 and play a ball from where the previous
shot has been played. See Rule 26-1 for rules on
how to play a ball (under penalty of one stroke) if all players
agree that the ball landed in the water hazard.
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2.
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You
do not have to play the same ball you hit into the water hazard
even if you find it. Any rule that says "play
a ball" and not "play the ball" means you
can use a different ball to play the next shot under penalty.
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3.
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You
can play a ball moving in water. See Rule
14-6.
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4.
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If
the flow of water moves a ball "out of bounds" it is out
of bounds. If a ball is moved back into bounds
by the flow of water, it is "in bounds". Water
is not an outside agency.
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If
you want to know how to stop hitting your ball into the water instead
of hitting it sweetly over the hazard click
here.
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Sue
Rawles, Gloucestershire Handicap and Rules Adviser
has sent me some questions - do you know the answers (see below)?
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| 1. |
What
colour are the stakes marking |
(a)
(b)
(c) |
Lateral
water hazard
Out of bounds
Water hazard |
| 2. |
A
ball is in the bunker when any part of it touches the bunker. True
or False? |
| 3. |
A
ball is Out of Bounds when any part of it lies Out of Bounds. True
or False? |
| 4. |
Your
ball is in play but close to an Out of Bounds post, which of the following
is correct? |
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(a) |
You
can remove the post to make the next shot easier. |
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(b) |
You
can stand Out of Bounds when playing the next stroke. |
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(c) |
You
can pick up your ball and drop it without penalty at the nearest point
offering relief from the post. |
| 5. |
Your
ball lies just off the putting green and there is casual water on
your line on the green. May you: |
|
(a) |
Move
your ball so as to avoid the water |
|
(b) |
Mop
up the water on your line |
| 6. |
Your
ball lies in a water hazard and there are loose twigs around your
ball, may you remove them? |
| 7. |
Luckily
your ball is stopped by the rake from rolling into the bunker, but
when you move the rake, the ball rolls into the bunker. Should
you: |
|
(a) |
Replace
the ball and add a one shot penalty |
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(b) |
Play
the ball as it lies - No penalty |
|
(c) |
Replace
the ball - No penalty |
| 8. |
A
sudden gust of wind moves your ball, should you |
|
(a) |
Replace
the ball |
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(b) |
Play
the ball as it lies |
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Answers
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| 1. |
(a)
Red (b) White (c) Yellow |
| 2. |
True
- Definitions |
| 3. |
False
- Definitions - all the ball must be out of bounds - the out of bounds
line is determined by the nearest inside points of the fence, if a
line on the ground, then the line itself is out of bounds. |
| 4. |
(b)
is correct - objects defining out of bounds are not deemed to be obstructions,
they are fixed and no relief without penalty. |
| 5. |
Neither
of these options are available to you. Rule 25-1b Relief
only if your ball lies on the putting green, Rule 13-2 Improving Lie,
area of intended stance or line of play. |
| 6. |
No
- Rule 23 - 1. Two shot penalty. |
| 7. |
(c)
is correct 24-1. |
| 8. |
(b)
is correct. Rule 18 Definitions "neither wind nor water
is an outside agency." |
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Still confused?!! Email me for any further explanations
and I will ask Sue Rawles who kindly compiled the above questions
Nos. 1 - 8. Further updates about rules to come.
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| Match
Play - choose which is correct. (Compiled
by Don Lilley, WGU referee) |
| 1. |
In
a match between player "A" and player "B", "B"
has the honour and plays from outside the 14th tee, "A"
then plays from within the tee. "A" 's tee shot
finishes in the rough, "B" lies in the middle of the fairway
which is true? |
| a. |
Both
balls are in play |
| b. |
"A"
may require "B" to cancel her stroke and play again from
within the tee |
| c. |
"B"
loses the hole for playing from outside the tee |
| d |
"A"
may claim the hole before they play from the 15th tee |
| 2. |
In
a 4 ball better ball match, A and B are playing X and Y. All
4 balls are on the putting green. It is team A /
B's turn to play. B putts towards the hole but misses,
the ball rolls past the hole and collides with A (her partner's) ball
which has not been marked and lifted. |
| a. |
There
is no penalty, A must replace her ball, B's ball must be played as
it lies |
| b. |
B
receives a two stroke penalty |
| c. |
B
loses the hole |
| d. |
A
and B lose the hole |
| 3. |
During
play of the 6th hole a player sees her opponent ground the club in
a bunker in breach of rule 13-4. To claim the hole,
the claim must be made before:- |
| a. |
Any
player plays another stroke |
| b. |
Both
players hole out |
| c. |
Any
player plays from the next tee |
| d. |
Before
she leaves the last green at the end of the match |
| 4. |
Player
A has holed out for a 5, her opponent B has a 10 ft putt for a half. Before
B plays, A gives her advice as to the speed of the green. |
| a. |
Player
A loses the hole |
| b. |
The
hole is halved |
| c. |
Player
B now has two putts for the half |
| d. |
Player
B must make the putt for a half as A cannot incur a penalty after
she has holed out |
| 5. |
Player
A plays her 3rd stroke to the green. Before player
B plays she asks A how many strokes she has played. A
replies four. B then plays her 5th stroke to the
green. As they approach the green A corrects her
error by telling B she has actually played 3 strokes. |
| a. |
The
hole must continue with A lying 3, and B lying 5. |
| b. |
The
hole must continue with A lying 4 and B lying 5. |
| c. |
B
wins the hole |
| d. |
A
receives a two stroke penalty so both A and B are lying 5. |
| 6. |
A
and B are playing a knock out match, the result of which must be decided
by Sunday the 20th. They arrange to play on Wednesday
the 16th. During the match, the weather becomes bad
with a heavy shower. On the way to the 10th hole
A suggests to B that they break off play and shelter in the clubhouse
until the worst of the rain is over, B agrees. They
spend about 45 minues in the clubhouse. They then
resume play from the 10th. |
| a. |
There
is no penalty and the game must continue |
| b. |
A
is disqualified as it was her suggestion to suspend play |
| c. |
Both
A and B are disqualified for suspending play |
| d. |
The
result of the match is null and void as they have suspended play during
the round and the match must be replayed before the deadline |
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| Pay
a visit to Don
Lilley's Website for more rules. Don, who is
a WGU referee and writes articles for the Fairway Golf News magazine,
also gives an excellent explanation about the new stroke index system. |
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