Bunker
A "bunker" is a hazard consisting of a prepared area of ground, often a hollow, from which turf or soil has been removed and replaced with sand or the like. Grass-covered ground bordering or within a bunker is not part ofthe bunker. The margin of a bunker extends vertically downwards, but not upwards. A ball is in a bunker when it lies in or any part of it touches the bunker.
Casual Water
"Casual water" is any temporary accumulation of water on the course which is visible before or after the player takes his stance and is not in a water hazard. Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Manufactured ice is an obstruction. Dew and frost are not casual water. A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches the casual water.
Ground Under Repair
"Ground under repair" is any part ofthe course so marked by order of the Committee or so declared by its authorized representative. It includes material piled for removal and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked. All ground and any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing within the ground under repair is part of the ground under repair. The margin of ground under repair extends vertically downwards, but not upwards. Stakes and lines defining ground under repair are in such ground such stakes are obstructions. A ball is in ground under repair when it lies in or any part of it touches the ground under repair.
Note 1: Grass cuttings and other material left on the course which have been abandoned and are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless so marked.
KNOW YOUR RULES
Rule 16: The Putting Green
This rule tells what is allowed when the ball is on the putting green. Putting green was not a term used in the beginning of golf. The green was the name for the whole area of the course - usually a meadow or public grassy area - and there was no distinction among tees, fairways, putting greens, or roughs.
How golf has changed. A putting green now not only has a very distinct identity, it also receives more attention than any other aspect of the course. More time and money are spent on its care. Its speed is always the topic of conversation. And it has its own Rule.
A key element of Rule 16 is that the line of putt generally can't be touched without penalty. As a practical matter, though, there are some exceptions. A player may move sand and loose soil in his line on the putting green by picking it up or brushing it aside with his hand or a club without pressing anything down.
Another notable exception is that a player may repair old hole plugs or ball marks on his line of putt. Any other imperfections - including spike marks - must be left alone. The other exceptions involve incidental contact, such as when the line is touched in lifting the ball.
In addition to not touching the line, the player is also not allowed to test the surface of the putting green by rolling a ball or roughening or scraping the surface.
The current generation of players is used to being able to lift the ball and clean it when it is on the putting green. This provision went into effect only in 1960.
Another addition to the Rules came in 1968 when croquet-style putting, then being made famous by Sam Snead, was prohibited. Now a player is not allowed to make a stroke from a stance astride the line of putt. Be careful, because this Rule is sometimes inadvertently broken when a player taps in a short putt to finish out the hole while courteously placing his feet in such a manner to avoid another player's line.
The situation of a ball overhanging the hole has always been a tricky one for the Rules makers. A player is not allowed to hit a moving ball, but how long should he be allowed to wait for a ball to fall that he claims is moving? There were instances of players waiting longer than a minute, so in 1964 the Rules were changed to allow no more that a few seconds to determine if the ball is at rest.
That was vague, so in 1984, it was changed to 10 seconds. The Rule reached its current form in 1988 after Denis Watson was penalized two strokes for waiting 35 seconds for his ball to fall - which it ultimately did - at the 1985 U.S. Open. Now, there is a one-stroke penalty if the ball drops after 10 seconds. There is no incentive to wait longer, since the player's score will be the same either way, but if he waits excessively he could be penalized two strokes under Rule 6-7 for un- due delay.
Reprinted from Golf Magazine July 2002- Stephanie Parel, Joint Deputy Secretary, World Amateur Golf Council.
