Linda, I watched a PGA tour player last year at the Heritage
Classic play a shot out of a lateral water hazard and on his backswing, the
club moved what looked like a dead twig very slightly. He called a
penalty on himself and I think he lost the tournament by one shot. My
question is if my ball lies in a hazard and I can play the shot, how do I avoid
a penalty by my club’s touching something, like a blade of grass or a leaf or
twig? I am very confused about what the rules say on this
situation.
Thanks,
Lou from Texas
Thanks,
Lou from Texas
Dear Lou,
You are not permitted to touch or move a loose impediment in
a hazard before you make your stroke [Rule 13-4c]. Your backswing is not part of your stroke [Definition of
Stroke]. The penalty for moving the dead twig is two strokes (loss of hole in
match play).
A dead twig or leaf lying in the hazard is a loose
impediment. However, a blade of grass that is growing in the hazard is not
a loose impediment. Neither is a bush or a tree. If your club contacts a
living, growing thing in a hazard, even on the backswing, there is no penalty
[Rule 13-4, Note]. However, if you take a practice swing and flatten a blade of
grass, thereby improving the area of your intended swing, you cannot escape
penalty.
Linda
Copyright © 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
