Can I Count this game?

[Martin B]

Sometimes I play when my course is almost empty. To improve my short game, I'll play multiple balls when I'm close to the green. If I always count the first ball that I hit, can I still claim the game for handicapping purposes?

[jvincent]

According to the letter of the handicapping law, I would have to say no since you are not playing according to the rules.

[sillywilly]

after you sink your putt you can do whatever you want until you tee off on the next hole

[jvincent]

I see you have been reading the online rules.

You are correct, once you have finished the hole you can practice chips and putts. I interpreted Martin's original post as he was hitting multiple balls from the same location before he holed out.

[mpare]

Am I wrong in assuming that the location within which you can practice between holes is limited? Rule 7-2 limits that practice to an area on or near the green of the hole that you just finished playing, any putting green, or the next teeing ground, before you actually tee off. Also, you can't practice from a hazard.

7-2. During Round
A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole. Between the play of two holes, a player must not make a practice stroke, except that he may practice putting or chipping on or near:
(a) the putting green of the hole last played,
(b) any practice putting green, or
(c) the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided a practice stroke is not made from a hazard and does not unduly delay play
.
Strokes made in continuing the play of a hole, the result of which has been decided, are not practice strokes.

…..

Penalty for Breach of Rule 7-2:

Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes. In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.

Note 1: A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be taken at any place, provided the player does not breach the Rules.

…………………

I see you have been reading the online rules.

You are correct, once you have finished the hole you can practice chips and putts. I interpreted Martin's original post as he was hitting multiple balls from the same location before he holed out.

[jvincent]

No, I don't think you are wrong.

I seem to remember a decision that clarified the "near" part of the rule.

[mpare]

Thanks, John. That was my impression as well.

The putting green exception is a good one. I recall that in our club championship at Oakfield (Halifax area), a few people became agitated when I practiced on the putting green between the 9th and 10th holes. There was a backlog on the 10th tee, and no local rule had been issued prohibiting such practice. Some of the boys insisted that I had breached the rule prohibiting practicing during the round. I disagreed. The pro confirmed my understanding. It's a good rule to know!

No, I don't think you are wrong.

I seem to remember a decision that clarified the "near" part of the rule.

[gbower]

In the OVGA tournaments they have a local rule that you can't practice around or on the green of the hole just completed.

[sillywilly]

I see you have been reading the online rules.

You are correct, once you have finished the hole you can practice chips and putts. I interpreted Martin's original post as he was hitting multiple balls from the same location before he holed out.

yeah, I'm pretty sure that is what he meant. I was just telling him that there is way around it and yes, I've been reading up on the rules. I'm serious about golf this year. I'm playing for fun but I want to keep a legit cap this year and I want to follow all the rules... not foot wedge this year

[sillywilly]

what is the tourney is be playing on a 9 hole course and you are gonig to play that same hole again in 2 hours, same pin placement?? Are you still allowed to practice putting? That seems unfair...

[jvincent]

I'd have to look that one up but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a decision to cover that since it is pretty unusual.

[BC MIST]

I'd have to look that one up but I wouldn't be surprised if there was a decision to cover that since it is pretty unusual.

Since a stipulated round is 18 holes and the rules allow chipping on or near the last green played, a practice green or the next teeing ground, I see no reason why this practice should be restricted because the course is only 9 holes.

7-1b/7 does not cover the exact scenario above, but is close enough in that it covers practice between holes when the competition is over 36 holes on one day, and where all holes will be played again. Practice IS allowed.

[big mac]

Is there not a rule defining "practice swings"? I thought I read last year that you could not take a "full" swing--all power etc on or near the tee-box during a game?

[jvincent]

Other than the rules about improving your lie, touching a hazard, there are no explicit rules about practice swings.

What I think you are referring to is the situation where a player is on the tee box waiting and hits a "practice ball" into a lake/forest or other area that is out of play. That is not permitted since it falls outside of the definition of what is allowed that Mike posted earlier.

[Kilroy]

A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be taken at any place, provided the player does not breach the Rules.

The term Swing does not appear in the definitions, but Stroke does.

Stroke
A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

[mberube]

A practice swing is not a practice stroke and may be taken at any place, provided the player does not breach the Rules.

The term Swing does not appear in the definitions, but Stroke does.

Stroke
A "stroke" is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.

I don’t understand. Doesn’t this mean that you can take a practice swing as long as you are not hitting a ball? I don’t see the difference between practicing a chip or a putt on a finished hole and hitting a practice drive in a lake or field. Both seem the same to me.

Can anyone elaborate?

Mike

[Kilroy]

I don’t understand. Doesn’t this mean that you can take a practice swing as long as you are not hitting a ball?

Yes. A practice swing does not contact a ball. A stroke does contact a ball.

I don’t see the difference between practicing a chip or a putt on a finished hole and hitting a practice drive in a lake or field. Both seem the same to me.

7-2 is clear on this.

7-2. During Round
A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole. Between the play of two holes, a player must not make a practice stroke, except that he may practice putting or chipping on or near:
(a) the putting green of the hole last played,
(b) any practice putting green, or
(c) the teeing ground of the next hole to be played in the round, provided a practice stroke is not made from a hazard and does not unduly delay play
.
Strokes made in continuing the play of a hole, the result of which has been decided, are not practice strokes.

[mberube]

Ty