Barb Hanson

In The Rules of Golf, Rule 10 is “Order of Play.”

It states that on the tee, the person who scored lowest on the previous hole, or in the case of match play, the player who won the previous hole, goes first.

In the fairway or on the green, we probably all know that the ball farthest from the hole is played first. But what are the consequences if you play out of turn whether it be on the tee, in the fairway or on the green?

In match play there is no penalty for playing out of order, but your opponent may immediately require you to cancel the stroke you just made and make another stroke in the correct order.

Likewise, in stroke play there is no penalty unless two players have agreed to play out of turn in order to give one of them an advantage.

However, in the interest of pace of play (especially in a stroke play situation), it’s often a good idea to play out of turn just to keep the game moving. As long as there is no intentional advantage or safety issue, go ahead and play the shot.

Barb Hanson

My ball has been stuck up against a rake in the bunker a couple of times lately which prompted me to wonder whether rakes should be left in the bunker or outside of the bunker. Here’s what the USGA has to say in Decisions on the Rules of Golf:

“There is not a perfect answer for the position of rakes, but on balance it is felt there is less likelihood of an advantage or disadvantage to the player if rakes are placed outside of bunkers.

“It may be argued that there is more likelihood of a ball being deflected into or kept out of a bunker if the rake is placed outside the bunker. It could also be argued that if the rake is in the bunker it is most unlikely that the ball will be deflected out of the bunker.

“However, in practice, players who leave rakes in bunkers frequently leave them at the side which tends to stop a ball rolling into the flat part of the bunker, resulting in a much more difficult shot than would otherwise have been the case. This is most prevalent at a course where the bunkers are small. When the ball come to rest on or against a rake in the bunker and the player must proceed under Rule 24-1, it may not be possible to replace the ball on the same spot or find a spot in the bunker which is not nearer the hole….

“If rakes are left in the middle of the bunker the only way to position them is to throw them into the bunker and this causes damage to the surface. Also if a rake is in the middle of a large bunker it is either not used or the player is obligated to rake a large area of the bunker resulting in unnecessary delay.

“Therefore, after considering all these aspects, it is recommended that rakes should be left outside bunkers in areas where they are least likely to affect the movement of the ball.”

“Slow play may be caused by three types of golfers. People who aren’t ready to play when it’s their turn because they’re too busy chatting, or watching their friends hit, are slow. Indecisive players, second-guessing their club selection, are slow. Players who give themselves swing lessons as they address the ball are slow.”

Be sure you’re not one of these players. In my opinion, there is nothing more important in the game of golf than keeping a good pace of play.

Barb Hanson

Those of us who love the game of golf understand its great history and tradition.  We respect that history and tradition by responding to it in many ways:

We play by the rules.
We observe specialized etiquette.
We rely on our own personal integrity to “referee” ourselves.
We adhere to certain standards and expectations associated with the game.

One of the basic standards is that of proper attire.  Dressing appropriately for the golf course immediately says:  “I respect this game.  I respect my fellow golfers.  I understand the expectation and am happy to comply.”

As a teacher, I often had the opportunity to observe students on “dress-up days”.  The students planned everything from  “Seventies Day” to “Team Day” to “Pajama Day”.  But the day that was the most interesting was the day when everyone was supposed to dress in nice clothes.  The change in attitudes and behavior was astonishing. There was a different type of decorum present.

I believe that to be taken seriously as a golfer, I should look like a golfer.  In order to play my best, I start with trying to look my best.

A negative habit I’ve observed on occasion is that of scooping the ball out of the hole with the head of the putter. There’s too much potential for damage to the cup when doing this.

Good etiquette is simply being considerate of the course and other players.

Do motorized carts speed up play? Not necessarily. It depends on how effectively the cart is used.

• Riders should be willing (if able) to walk some short distances in order to keep play moving.
• The driver and passenger might have to exchange roles occasionally.
• Carters should only take one trip from the cart to their ball. Bring a choice of clubs if uncertain about yardage, lie or type of shot.
• After completing a shot, consider whether putting the club away in the bag is most time-efficient at that moment or not.