He declared his ball lost, wanted to play his provisional that was lying 4 on the green. Rules official told him he must go identify the found ball and when he identified it as his ball, he had to play that original ball, which was in a terrible spot. He took penalty relief for it and struggled further. If he had NOT declared it a provisional ball, then he’d be putting his second ball lying four on the green. I believe his blunder was he should have never declared a provisional ball if he knew he would not want anyone to find his original. Do you see my point here?

Great point, thanks so much. The video was four years ago and hopefully the more current content does include that important info.

I’m so glad these videos are helping. Have you watched them all?

As of 2024 it's only limited to the general penalty because there was no "intervening act". So that's two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play. Intervening Act = "For the purpose of applying this Rule, there are two intervening events: -The completion of a stroke, and -Being aware or becoming aware of a breach of a Rule (this includes when a player knows they breached a Rule, when the player is told of a breach, or when the player is uncertain whether or not they have breached a Rule.)" It was hilarious when a guy actually did this in a tournament! I guess he didn't know any of the rules!

As of 2019 this player would only incur the general penalty (2 strokes in stroke play) Whether a player gets multiple penalties for breaching multiple Rules or the same Rule multiple times depends on whether there has been an intervening event and on what the player did. For the purpose of applying this Rule, there are two intervening events: • The completion of a stroke, and • Being aware or becoming aware of a breach of a Rule (this includes when a player knows they breached a Rule, when the player is told of a breach, or when the player is uncertain whether or not they have breached a Rule.)

It wasn’t great and landed very close to the edge of the penalty area again. She’s a 27 handicap so it was okay-ish 😅

that's exactly why I think this rule is so great!

lol. But that’s not a rule

Yes, that is permitted.

Let’s go even further, the player was set in position, the partner did not help him aim, just pointed at the “desired line” and then stayed there tending the flag,

@@arturomorales1142 pointing at the desired line would be considered helping him with alignment so that would be the general penalty (if the partner was behind the player) But if the partner was attending the flagstick and pointed at the a spot, and stayed there next to the flagstick that's fine. But, a partner or caddie cannot stand where they want the player to hit a putt or land a shot while the ball is in motion. They can point it out on the green and even stand on the spot, and then they must move before the player makes the shot.

Hmmm

Do you mark your provisional differently?

@@girlfriendsgolf I don’t play with one brand so while I often have alignment marks on can be a totally different ball

So many players don’t. How do you mark yours?

@@girlfriendsgolf I currently don't, but that seems to be the lesson from this video!

That’s 100% spot on. No shrinking for sure, but you don’t need to go get your driver to take relief - estimates are fine as long as you do the proper drop in the relief area

Nice, I like the way you work with two distinct numbers. I haven’t even fixed in a brand of ball yet or a model. Find a good few ProV1 and enjoy playing with them but as a high handicapper I don’t notice a huge difference between balls regards feel.

How sweet are they? And do they play golf?

@girlfriendsgolf Not, yet. Only 10 and 8 years old now. I bought them Putters and take them to the Practice Green near their home when I visit. Had to find out if they liked to Putt before investing in something they might not really enjoy.

You must have great eyesight

ahahah you're neat and tidy then. Nice. But yes, I agree, first one to hole out makes the most sense, they have all the time in the world.

Well, true but if you think about pace-of-play, what would be the most efficient pace? Which player the first or the last to putt out?

Yes, but I'm sort of getting at pace-of-play, and for a good pace, who would be the best person to replace the flagstick?

The first one that puts out

Back on the line outside the bunker is a two stroke penalty but stroke and distance is just a once stroke penalty. I can’t imagine why anyone would want to pay the two strokes rather than use one of the 3 options that just cost one stroke.

⁠@@girlfriendsgolf Please, count the strokes using the “tee” scenario you suggested If we hit our tee shot 200 yards into a bunker and decide to take an unplayable lie outside the bunker, we are laying three; the tee shot plus a two stroke penalty. Our next shot is our 4th. If we hit our drive 200 yards into a bunker and decide to take a stroke and distance penalty, we are still laying three; one off the tee, second is the penalty stroke, and the third is off the tee again. We hit our third shot the same distance but this time we’ve missed the trap. Again, our next shot is our 4th. I get your point; we can play under Rule 18.1 anywhere, any time, and even when a ball lands in a trap. But let’s think about where we are on the course. When the rules allow the same outcome, then there’s no need to hold up play.

Yes. Little marshmallows. I’m really talking about a short shot where you can see that plugged ball as soon as you see it. You don’t need to go up to get your original ball - you can just drop a substituted ball right there. Make sense?

Normally your relief area is one club length from the reference point when you are entitled to free relief, and two club lengths from the reference point when you are taking penalty relief.

Your last question is right: You can drop lateral inside the bunker but not lateral outside. In summary: You can use back on the line or lateral inside, or stroke and distance - all for one penalty stroke. Or back on the line outside the bunker for two strokes. Hope that helps!

@@girlfriendsgolf Helps heaps. Very Clear now,thanks

Well, I don’t know if it’s against the spirit of the game. It’s really for someone who is a newer player who could take three strokes to try to get out of a bunker with a fried egg and still can’t get out. I share this to help the ladies I teach. However, I’m glad to hear that you play by the rules, though, you’re a rare chap.

In match play you compare your score to your opponents score for each hole and the lowest score wins the hole. There’s no requirement to keep a scorecard with scores in match play. You just keep track of who is “up” and the winner is determined when a player is up by more holes than there are left to play.

You don’t necessarily need to “go back” because if you hit a shot you know you’re not going to like, can you just pull another ball out of your pocket and hit it from right where you’re standing. Takes zero time!

@@girlfriendsgolf that accounts for one out of five or six balls where you definitely know you’re not gonna like it. More often than that you’re gonna show up and see your ball rolled or can’t be played or it’s in water. Casual golfer is don’t have the advantage of professional spotters. And it’s called a provisional when you pull another ball out and hit from the spot. And I don’t play with anybody that carries an extra ball in their pocket. Nobody in my three foursomes carries extra balls in their pocket.

It doesn't have to slow down play if you know as soon as you hit the first shot that you want to use stroke and distance. Just drop another ball right there and say you're going to use stroke and distance. Zero time wasted at all.

If you make an intentional swing at a ball, anywhere on the course, even on the tee when you are about to start play of the hole. So it’s a stroke and the ball is in play. ⛳️

@@girlfriendsgolf So by missing the ball on the tee if you intended to hit it puts the ball in play then?

And that’s cool for you and your buddies. I focus on helping players understand the rules and how to use them to their advantage. Many of the people that follow me on Instagram, FB, and attend my on-course clinics play competitively at their local clubs, and they do need to learn the rules. I try to make them easy and I DEFINITELY encourage a fast pace!!! ⛳️⛳️

That "equidistant" option was in the rules through 2018, but no longer. Now it is available only as a Model Local Rule that your club may choose to adopt.

you don't bring your measuring tape on the course?

@@girlfriendsgolf Yes I actually bring two . Because of this stupid rule. Don’t want to get DQed …Ha ha ha

I teach golf rules at courses all over the country, predominantly for women. When you're a newer player, you may not yet have the skill to hit a fried egg in a bunker, so this can be a great option and actually SAVES TIME because it takes just a second to drop another ball (from their pocket) right where they last played from. Walk up and grab the ball once you're up at the bunker. I would say that it's not recommended to walk way back 100+ yards to the tee, but quite often newer players are hitting a ball into an unplayable situation from 50 yards or less. And as I mentioned, you can just drop another ball right where you're standing, so no time spent whatsoever. It's not for everyone, every day, but it's important for all players to understand it's a perfectly legal option that can in fact safe you time if you use it correctly. I very much appreciate all the comments here from the better players out there. Great discussion, so thank you. Check out my IG @ GirlfriendsGuideToGolf for more videos

@girlfriendsgolf if you are new or even just a high handicapper, you're not going to be playing in tournaments. Just agree with your playing partners that your going to drop one under penalty of one stroke and move on. Bad golf fast!

Yeah, there’s no way I could maintain focus during rounds that long!!! I like fast play!

I appreciate your comment. I am definitely against slow play and during my golf rules clinics we discuss tips for keeping a great pace throughout your round. And I'm not suggesting a player go all the way back to the tee after hitting a 250 yard shot. But oftentimes you can see you hit your ball into the side of a bunker and it's plugged. You know you don't yet have the skillset for it, so you just drop another ball right where you are and hit it. You can pick up your original ball once you get up there to your substituted ball. I'm 100% with you on PACE!!!

that's correct

I feel like we all could use this kind of support and instruction.

To take penalty relief for an unplayable ball in a bunker, you have four options: -Lateral relief within two club lengths inside the bunker, no closer to the hole. (1 stroke penalty) -Back on the line relief inside the bunker. (1 stroke penalty) -Stroke and distance relief, go back to the location on your last shot, including if that was outside the bunker (1 stroke penalty) -Back on the line relief outside the bunker. (2 stroke penalty) Thanks for your comment. This one surprises a lot of players!

@@girlfriendsgolf a simple yes would have sufficed. lol.

Adam...you ALWAYS have the option (on any shot) to go back to where you hit the shot and drop another ball...it's not considered an unplayable ball. In her example, you would be hitting 3 from the same place you had your first swing but there are times that may be your best option.

@@skiphouston3412 so yes then.

It's a one stroke penalty, but I can see how it feels like two. Especially if you hit it a very long way!

You are correct!!! Back when I filmed this video that was not believed to be okay. I will actually remove this video now. Thank you for brining it to my attention!

Nick, I certainly want to encourage players to work on their game, and bunker shots are so important! But newer players should know this option - and execute it efficiently!

@@girlfriendsgolf Yes, i can certainly advocate for people knowing and understanding they rules of golf. But what your suggesting is really only going to apply to old women like my mom who can't get a ball out of a bunker (and the odd duffed or topped tee shot that goes right behind a tree, in which case going 3off the tee would be better). I wonder if people are gonna hear this message and think 'oh, just hit into another deep bunker. I cant get out of bunkers. May as well just drop and hit another one.' That's what my mom would start doing if she saw this video. Haha I'm not trying to hate on your video. What you're doing is cool. I can just see my mom and her friends thinking 'oh..we should just do that when we hit into the sand'