Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9 Page 10 Page 11 Page 12 Page 13 Page 14 Page 15 Page 16 Page 17 Page 18 Page 19 Page 20 Page 21 Page 22 Page 23 Page 24 Page 25 Page 26 Page 27 Page 28 Page 29 Page 30 Page 31 Page 32 Page 33 Page 34 Page 35 Page 36Paul Kruger is a PGA professional at The Canyon Club in Albuquerque, NM. He has authored numerous articles on the Rules of Golf, all with the goal of making them fun and interesting to learn. SometimesYouNeverSayNeverinGolf BYPAUL KRUGER Gregory Titelman’s America’s Popular Proverbs and Sayings says that the earliest known reference to the phrase “never say never” is in Charles Dickens’ first novel, The Pickwick Papers (1837). In this month’s True/False quiz, below, you must decide whether the phrase “never say never” may be applicable to the following statements incorporating the word “never.” Remember, there’s usually an exception to every rule, so never resist the temptation to think outside the box! 1. You may never be late for your tee time without being penalized. 2. You may never play a ball that is out of bounds without incurring the penalty for playing a wrong ball. 3. You may never place your ball on the putting green when taking relief from a water hazard. 4. You may never play a provisional ball from a point nearer the hole than where your original ball is located without incurring the stroke and distance penalty. 5. You may never have more than fourteen (14) clubs in your bag during a stipulated round. 6. A round can never be stipulated to be just seven (7) holes. 7. You can never play from outside the teeing ground and not be penalized. 8. When putting, your ball must never strike the flagstick when it is positioned in the hole. ANSWERS: 1. False In four-ball stroke play and four-ball match play, one partner may arrive late because a side may be represented by just one partner for all or any part of the stipulated round or match. See Rules 30-3a and 31-2. Also, Decision 6-3a/1.5 [Exceptional Circumstances Which Warrant Waiving Penalty Under Rule 6-3a] points out if the Committee determines that exceptional circumstances, such as providing medical assistance at the scene of an accident, have prevented a player from starting on time, there is no penalty. 2.False Decision 3-3/1 [Provisional Ball Used as Second Ball When Not Determinable Whether Original Ball Is Out of Bounds] describes the unusual situation in which a provisional ball becomes the second ball under Rule 3-3 for an original ball that may or may not be out of bounds. Both balls are then played and if it is determined that the original ball is out of bounds, then the score with the provisional ball counts with the stroke and distance penalty. 3. False If you had putted the ball from the putting green into a nearby water hazard, then one of the relief options under Rule 26 [Water Hazards] would allow you to proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which you putted your original ball. Rule 20-5 [Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made] requires that you place a ball on the putting green in these circumstances. 4. False Consider the situation where, unbeknownst to you, your original ball bounces 50 yards backwards down a cart path after ricocheting off a tree. Rule 27-2 [When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play] allows you to play a provisional ball until you reach the place where the original ball is likely to be. In this case, the likely location of your original ball is 50 yards beyond the actual location of your original ball. 5. False Decision 4-4a/8 [Retrieving Another Player’s Lost Club] indicates that it is permissible to place someone else’s lost club in your bag even though you will be carrying 15 clubs for the remainder of your round. Just don’t use it! 6. False As noted in the definition of “Stipulated Round,” the number of holes in a stipulated round is 18 unless a smaller number is authorized by the Committee. 7. False According to Rule 11-4a [Playing from Outside Teeing Ground], in match play, if you, when starting a hole, play a ball from outside the teeing ground, there is no penalty, but your opponent may immediately require that you cancel the stroke and play a ball from within the teeing ground. 8. False Rule 17-3 [Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant] states, in part, “The player’s ball must not strike … [t]he flagstick in the hole … when the stroke has been made on the putting green.” Thus, if you have putted your ball from off the putting green there is no penalty if your ball strikes the flagstick. RULES OFTHE GAME Junior Rising Star Gianna Clemente 8 years old – Warren, Ohio • Began playing at age of 2 • Has won 72 of 86 events played • Winner US Kids World Championship 2015 • Runner-up US Kids World Championship 2016 • Winner of 3 Hurricane major championships in Girls 13 & under • Finalist for upcoming Drive, Chip and Putt Championship Subscribe today at juniorgolfmag.net December 2016 | 29 You’re playing like a champion, Gianna!