Golf rules usually don’t have many holes in them

For those patrons rolling through the grounds at Colonial Country Club this week, there’s a consistency to what they’ll see inside the ropes that’s typically missing in a regular weekend foursome, and it’s not necessarily the excellence in play.

The PGA Tour follows the rules established by the USGA, as does every course in the United States.

But that doesn’t mean your playing partners are paying close attention to them or, for that matter, know much about some of golf’s established rules and procedures.

Wes Frazier, head professional at Trophy Club Country Club (Ben Hogan’s only course design), said handling rules disputes or explaining procedure can vary from the simple to the downright comical or bizarre.

“Just this year I’ve had three instances where some players needed an explanation of the one-ball rule,” Frazier said. “And then an additional explanation that their interpretation of us waiving the one-ball rule wasn’t a free-for-all.

“One of the things I think we’ve managed to damage in our industry is making the game less accessible or harder to play for some folks. I think we’ve missed the boat on the anchored putting ban and a couple of other things, but I think one of the things we can do better is offer better explanations of how the game is played.”

Players trying to make sense of or understand the rules is no doubt part of a long history of golf.

Here’s a quick look at some of the most commonly missed, everyday scenarios in golf:

14-club rule

When your ball is in the air after your opening tee shot, if there are 15 clubs in your bag, it’s a two-shot penalty. The 14-club limit was adopted in 1938-39 as the transition from hickory shafts to steel was in full force and the number of clubs developed began to increase.

Taking a proper drop

You’ve moistened your precious $4.50 golf ball in the creek lining the fairway. There are three options you can take:

▪ Re-teeing the ball from the tee (not recommended);

▪ Taking two club-lengths from the spot the ball crossed into the defined hazard but not nearer the hole;

▪ Keeping the spot your ball crossed between you and the hole, going as far back as you want to play your now third shot (perhaps not applicable or not advised).

“There is no such thing as line of flight; that’s my favorite excuse,” Frazier said. “In no way does the procedure for dropping your ball include anything that has to do with the flight of the ball as a marker for this. Only where the ball entered the hazard.”

Marking your ball

Most every player knows that you can mark your ball on the green, clean your ball and replace it to set up your next shot.

But most players don’t realize that while it’s always advisable to do everything in your power to identify your ball without touching it, the rules allow for a ball to be marked and identified through the green. Meaning you can use a coin or a tee to mark your ball, say, in the fairway or rough.

The catch is you must replace the ball exactly or as close to exactly as it was before, which includes recreating the lie in a hazard as well.

“I officiated a match once where a player told me he wanted to make sure it was his ball,” Frazier said. “Next thing I knew, he was working his third consecutive hole doing this and was picking up his ball and rolling it around in his hand. That is a violation of the rule. Simply take a look and put it back.”

One-ball rule

This is a rule generally used in conditions of competition, which is to say, the brand and type of ball you hit your first shot with is the one you should hole out with on the final hole of a stipulated round.

Generally, courses, clubs and organizations waive this rule in as much as, the brand and type can be different throughout your round.

“A lot of that really has to do with costs, some of these nice competitive balls run near $5 per ball, so I understand the concern,” Frazier said. “But if you tee off with a Titleist NXT, a ball known for better distance, you can’t mark your ball and switch to a softer Pro-V1 to putt out. That’s just against every spirit of the rule and the game.

“You must finish the hole with the ball you started with or the same brand and type if you’re forced to substitute a ball.”

Casual water

This is a rule that’s been more applicable of late in the North Texas area. With the torrential rains and flood-like conditions, it’s possible to hit your ball in an area that is usually playable in pre-dominant conditions.

But if you find your great tee shot sitting in a water puddle in the middle of the fairway, don’t fret.

The procedure is similar to ground under repair, in that you must find an area no closer to the hole and as close to the original lie of which casual water does not exist.

Taking your proper stance from that position and marking the club head’s position with a tee, you can drop the ball one club-length from that position no closer to the hole and play your next shot without penalty.

However, you must take complete relief, which is to say your stance must be free of casual water as well.

The other option is play it as it lies.

This story was originally published May 24, 2016 at 6:56 PM with the headline "Golf rules usually don’t have many holes in them."