Tips on Learning the New Rules of Golf
#3 The Easiest Penalty to Avoid
Molly Cooper, PGA
Director of Tournament & Member Programs
Welcome back to our monthly rules article to help guide you to a successful 2019 season and beyond! Today we are going to learn more about the easiest penalty in golf to avoid. Advice and Help; Caddies which are both discussed in Rule 10. This topic seems perfect to release in March as it precedes our first couple team events of the year, the Holcomb-In-One Las Vegas Pro-Am and the PNW Pro-Assistant Championship.
This rule has already been so controversial on the Tours that the USGA and R&A recently released a follow-up on the new rule. Click here for the full updated Rule.
Rule 10.2b (4) discusses the restrictions on a player’s caddie standing behind the player. A partner standing behind the player would also be in violation of this rule.
Rule 10.2b (4) does not allow a player to have his or her caddie deliberately stand on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball for any reason when the player begins taking a stance for the stroke. Reference to “the stroke” means the stroke that is actually made.
The player begins to take the stance for the stroke that is actually made when he or she has at least one foot in position for that stance. If a player backs away from the stance, he or she has not taken a stance for the stroke that is actually made, and the second bullet point in Rule 10.2b (4) does not apply (Bullet point 2 reads - If the player takes a stance in breach of this Rule, he or she cannot avoid penalty by backing away).
Therefore, if a player takes a stance when the caddie is deliberately standing on or close to an extension of the line of play behind the ball, there is no penalty under Rule 10.2b(4) if the player backs away from the stance and does not begin to take a stance for the stroke that is actually made until after the caddie has moved out of that location. This applies anywhere on the course.
Backing away means that the player’s feet or body are no longer in a position where helpful guidance on aiming at the intended target line could be given.
Recently on the Web.com, a player earned a two-stroke penalty for breaching this rule. The player got penalized two strokes even though his caddie was already walking away before the player started his stroke. The penalty may seem harsh to some but the rule clearly states that it was not allowed. The player dropped out of the top 10 with his two penalty strokes. This is one reason they issued the change. Click here to view the full article.
Please keep in mind one important fact about this rule. This rule is not about where the caddie or partner is at the time the stroke is made but where the caddie or partner is when the player started taking their stance. That’s it.
This is a major change from the previous rules of golf. This rule will be applied on the location the caddie and/or partners was standing at the time the player started taking their stance, if they player then goes ahead with the stroke.
Rules 22, 23, and 24 confirm that in forms of play involving partners, a player’s partner and the partner’s caddie may take the same actions (with the same limitations) as the player’s caddie may take under Rules 10.2b(2) and 10.2b(4).
Jeff Ellison says it best – “You have all the rights and privileges of a partner...and all the responsibilities!”
As you gear up for team competitions or individual competitions, keep in mind to make sure your partner(s) and caddie know where to stand when you start taking your stance.
It’s easy to avoid penalty strokes by just having your caddie and/or partners stay off your extension of the line of play when it is your turn to play. My advice – have them stand off to the side (like a 90 degree angle) well off your line of play!
To continue learning more about the new Rules of Golf, visit www.usga.org.
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