1.
In stroke play, a player lifts his ball without authority, substitutesa new ball on the original spot to aid in identification, and plays it. What is the ruling?
Correct Answer
B. There is a two stroke penalty for improper substitution; there
is no additional penalty for lifting the ball without authority.
Explanation
The player receives a two-stroke penalty for improper substitution because they substituted a new ball without authority. However, there is no additional penalty for lifting the ball without authority.
2.
A player’s ball lies in a bunker completely covered by sand and loose impediments. In searching for the ball, he accidentally moves and completely uncovers it. What is the ruling?
Correct Answer
A. There is no penalty; the ball must be replaced and recovered
so that only part of the ball is visible.
Explanation
If a player accidentally moves and completely uncovers their ball while searching for it in a bunker, there is no penalty. The player must replace the ball and recover it so that only part of the ball is visible. This means that the ball should be partially covered by sand and loose impediments, as it was before it was accidentally uncovered.
3.
A player’s ball comes to rest inside a paper cup on the putting green. Then, the wind moves the paper cup with the ball inside to a new position. What is the ruling?
Correct Answer
C. He must lift the ball and place it as near as possible to the
spot directly under the place where the ball lay inside the
cup prior to the wind blowing it.
Explanation
The ruling is that the player must lift the ball and place it as close as possible to the spot directly under where it was inside the cup before the wind moved it. This is because the wind is not considered an outside agency in golf, so the ball cannot be played from its new position. The player must replace the ball to its original position before the wind moved it.
4.
In stroke play, a player’s ball is embedded in its own pitch-markin a closely mown area through the green. He takes relief under the embedded ball Rule, but, before dropping the ball, he repairs the pitch-mark. What is the ruling?
Correct Answer
C. There is a two stroke penalty.
Explanation
If a player's ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in a closely mown area through the green, they are allowed to take relief under the embedded ball Rule. However, in this scenario, the player repairs the pitch-mark before dropping the ball. According to the rules, if a player improves the conditions affecting the stroke by repairing the pitch-mark, they incur a two-stroke penalty. Therefore, the ruling in this case is that there is a two-stroke penalty.
5.
Which is correct regarding ground under repair?
Correct Answer
A. Deep cracks in the earth are not automatically ground under repair.
Explanation
Deep cracks in the earth are not automatically considered ground under repair. This means that just because there are deep cracks in the earth, it does not necessarily mean that the area is designated as ground under repair. Other factors or conditions may need to be present for an area to be considered ground under repair.
6.
In stroke play, a player searches for his ball for five minutes and does not find it. He looks for another minute, finds his ball and plays it. What is the ruling?
Correct Answer
B. There is a two stroke penalty for playing a wrong ball.
Explanation
According to the rules of golf, if a player cannot find their ball within the five-minute search time, the ball is considered lost. If the player then plays a different ball, it is considered a wrong ball and incurs a two-stroke penalty. In this scenario, the player found a ball after the initial search time and played it, which means they played a wrong ball and should be penalized accordingly.
7.
In stroke play, a player’s ball lies on a putting green. As he approaches the ball, the wind blows it into a nearby bunker. He replaces the ball on the putting green, holes out and tees off on the next hole. What is the ruling?
Correct Answer
C. He is disqualified.
Explanation
The player is disqualified because in stroke play, Rule 9.4b states that if a player's ball at rest is moved by the wind after the player has addressed it, the player must play the ball as it lies without penalty. However, if the player replaces the ball and then plays it, they are considered to have played from a wrong place and incur a two-stroke penalty. In this case, the player not only replaced the ball but also holed out and teed off on the next hole, which further reinforces that they played from a wrong place. Therefore, the correct ruling is that the player is disqualified.
8.
Which is correct regarding a player taking relief under the unplayable ball Rule?
Correct Answer
C. He may drop a ball within two club-lengths of the
spot directly under the place where it lies, if it lies in a tree.
Explanation
The correct answer is that a player may drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot directly under the place where it lies, if it lies in a tree. This is in accordance with the unplayable ball Rule, which allows a player to take relief by dropping a ball within two club-lengths of the original spot. If the ball is in a tree, the player can drop the ball directly under the tree within the specified distance.
9.
Which is correct regarding the player cleaning his ball?
Correct Answer
B. He may not remove cut grass adhering to the ball lying
through the green.
Explanation
The correct answer is that the player may not remove cut grass adhering to the ball lying through the green. This means that if there is cut grass stuck to the ball while it is on the fairway, the player is not allowed to clean it off before playing their shot.
10.
In stroke play, a player is in the process of taking relief from ground under repair through the green. Before he drops the ball, he removes sand and loose soil from the area in which he is to drop the ball. What is the ruling?
Correct Answer
C. There is a two stroke penalty.
Explanation
When taking relief from ground under repair through the green, a player is not allowed to remove any loose impediments, including sand and loose soil, from the area where they are going to drop the ball. By removing the sand and loose soil before dropping the ball, the player has breached the rules of golf and incurs a two-stroke penalty.