Back to the Basics With SNGA and USGA Rules Expert Sue May

Here we are back with another Sue’s Rules and the Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame rules official takes us back to the basics for some rulings that we encounter nearly every round.

From Sue: There are still questions coming in about what you can and cannot do in a Penalty Area. Here is a breakdown.

Sue’s Ruling: You can do anything in a Penalty Area that you can do in the General Area EXCEPT take an Unplayable Lie. This means you can ground your club, take a practice swing or move a loose impediment (as long as your ball doesn’t move).

From Sue: Players are also still asking about a ball at rest moving on the putting green.

Sue’s Ruling: If you have marked your ball on the putting green, lifted it and replaced it, that’s where it lives. No matter why it moves, you replace it with no penalty.

Additional clarifications:

If you haven’t marked your ball and picked it up and it moves, it’s a one stroke penalty and you must replace it.

If you haven’t marked your ball and you accidentally move it (with a practice swing, kick it, or drop your club on it) no penalty replace it.

If you haven’t marked and lifted the ball and the wind moves it, play it where it lies.