By Michael Sweeney
Directors of Rules and Competitions

10. You may always use rangefinders (distance measuring devices) during play.
Distance measuring devices are still not permitted under Rule 14-3 (Artificial Devices, Unusual Equipment and Unusual Use of Equipment), which states that during a stipu­lated round the player must not use any artificial device or unusual equipment, or use any equipment in an unusual man­ner ... for the purpose of gauging or measuring distance. For these devices to be permitted the Com­mittee or your club must adopt a Local Rule allow­ing players to use devices that measure or gauge distance only (Decision 14-3/0.5).

9. If you fail to get your ball out of a bunker you cannot rake the area from which you just played your shot.
The second exception to Rule 13-4 (Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions) states that after making the stroke from a bunker, if the ball is still in the bunker, the player may smooth sand or soil in the bunker, provided nothing is done to improve your lie, area of intended stance or swing or line of play for your next stroke. You can always rake after playing from a bunker if the ball ends up outside the bunker.

8. Whatever brand and type of ball you use to begin your round, you must use that same brand and type of ball for the entire round.
This is only true if the One Ball Condition has been adopted. This condition is in effect for all USGA and CGA competitions and SCGA gross events. It is not in effect for SCGA net events.

7. After searching for a few minutes you can go back and play a provisional ball.
For a ball to be a Provisional Ball, Rule 27-2 states that the player must inform his opponent or fellow competitor that he intends to play a provisional ball, and he must play it before he or his partner goes forward to search for the original ball. If he fails to do so and plays another ball, that ball is not a provisional ball and becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1); the original ball is lost.

6. If you declare your ball lost, it is lost even if someone finds it within five minutes. Decision 27/16 states that a player cannot render a ball lost by a declaration.
The definition of Lost Ball says that one of the follow­ing actions must take place for a ball to become lost:
a. It is not found, or identified as his by the player, within five minutes after the player’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it; or
b. The player has made a stroke at a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or from a point nearer the hole than that place (Rule 27-2b); or
c. The player has put another ball into play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1a); or
d. The player has put another ball into play because it is known or vir­tually certain that the ball, which has not been found, has been moved by an outside agency (see Rule 18-1), is in an obstruction (see Rule 24-3), is in an abnormal ground condition (see Rule 25-1c) or is in a water hazard (see Rule 26-1); or
e. The player has made a stroke at a substituted ball.

5. It is against the Rules to have the flagstick attended for a stroke played from off the putting green.
Rule 17-1 (Flagstick Attended, Removed or Held Up) states that before making a stroke from anywhere on the course, the player may have the flagstick attended, removed or held up to indicate the position of the hole.

4. After your next stroke in match play has been conceded, if you putt and miss instead of picking it up, the concession doesn’t count.
Rule 2-4 (Concession of Match, Hole or Next Stroke) states that a player may concede his opponent’s next stroke at any time, provided the opponent’s ball is at rest. The opponent is considered to have holed out with his next stroke and the ball may be removed by either side. A concession may not be declined or withdrawn. Decision 2-4/6 does point out that if the act of putting out after a concession would be of assistance to a partner in a four-ball or best-ball match, the partner is, in equity (Rule 1-4), disqualified for the hole.

3. Tire ruts are ground under repair even if not marked.
Remember that one of the principles of the game is to play your ball as it lies and play the course as you find it. Tire ruts are not ground under repair unless marked or declared to be so by the Committee in charge of the competition. Furthermore Decision 25/16 (Rut made by Tractor) asks: “Is a rut made by a tractor considered a hole made by a greenkeeper and thus GUR? If not, should the Committee declare such a rut to be ground under repair?” The answer: “Such a rut is not a hole made by a greenkeeper. The Committee would be justified in declaring a deep rut to be GUR, but not a shallow indentation made by greenkeeping equipment.”

2. When a ball is replaced on the putting green, it isn’t back in play until the ball marker is lifted.
Rule 20-4 (When Ball Dropped or Placed is in Play) states that if the player’s ball in play has been lifted, it is again in play when dropped or placed (even if the ball mark is still on the ground). If a gust of wind then moves ball, it must be played from its new position (Decision 20-4/1).

1. If my ball clears the water hazard and crosses on the green side, I can drop on the green side of the hazard.
This answer depends on what type of water hazard your ball crossed into. See Rule 26-1 (Relief for Ball in Water Hazard) and Definition of Water Hazard and Lateral Water Hazard.
• No: Water Hazards (yellow stakes and yellow lines)
• Yes: Lateral Water Hazard (red stakes and red lines).

Reproduced from SCGA Fore Magazine, May/June 2008