Monday, June 14, 2010

Rule: 13-1 Golf ball hit the fairway and lands in a divot

Some of my friends asked me the following question on the course:

If a golf ball is hit onto a fairway and lands in a divot, are you allowed to move it out of the divot without a penalty?

And the cruel answer is: of course not!

See rule 13-1 of USGA rules of golf: The ball must be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the Rules.

However, some golfers want this rule changed whenever the ball land on a divot...

"From a purely logical standpoint, why penalize a player for hitting the ball down the fairway?  If golf, in all of its majesty and historical significance, is a game of individual accomplishments where excellence is judged by the physical execution of the golf swing and the positive outcome resulting from those actions, why should a player be penalized for the actions of another player (the player who made the divot)?  If the ball lands on a sprinkler head in the middle of the fairway or in an area soaked with water, the ball is moved, albeit no closer to the hole.  Why not afford a player the same consideration for a condition on the course not cause by them?"

"It's time for another change – divots in the fairway should be considered ground under repair."

And you, what do you think about it? Give us your opinion!

Keep Golfing!

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