Good morning Linda,
Recently I was playing in a group where two of the players
were in a match competition. At one point, one player’s ball came to rest up
against a tree trunk. As he was not familiar with the Rules, he asked what his
options were. As I proceeded to explain his unplayable options, his
fellow-competitor asked me to stop, as he believed I was giving advice.
Was I giving advice or was I giving information?
Thank you,
Lou from Toronto, Canada
Dear Lou,
Information about the Rules of Golf is not advice
[Definition of “Advice”]. Telling another player his options under the
Unplayable Rule is not advice unless you go one step further and suggest which
option he should choose.
You may explain any Rule to any player at any time. I find
myself doing so quite often. I also make a special effort to warn a player who
is about to infringe a Rule, as should everyone. What better way to make a
friend on a golf course than saving him from a penalty of which he was unaware.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
