Sue’s Rules – Recent Rulings from a Vegas College Tournament

This is another in a series of rules with one of our Women’s Southern Nevada Golf Association experts, Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame rules official Sue May.

When a Rules Official plays golf, other players always ask Rules questions. None of us mind, because we love what we do and educating players.

This column is a place you can get answers to the Rules questions you’re not sure if you understand correctly. Rather than asking your husband, significant other or best friend, send it in and get the correct answer. Do you have a question for Sue? Email [email protected] today

Some rulings from a recent College Tournament:

Player’s questions:

I took a practice swing in the rough and accidentally moved my ball, why should it be a penalty? I didn’t mean to move it.

Ruling was: The player needed to replace the ball back on the original spot with a one stroke penalty (Rule 9.4).  If you don’t replace the ball and make a stroke at it, it’s a two stroke penalty (Rule14.7).

My ball is in the penalty area. Do I have to use the Dropping Zone or may I tee it up again?

Ruling was: Unless otherwise stated on the Rule Sheet, Dropping Zones are an extra option for the player. You still have all your other options under (Rule 17.1) so tee it up again.