In match play, no penalty for striking ball on putting green

Q. I was told that during match play if I play my ball from the putting green and it strikes another ball that was at rest on the putting green, it was not a penalty. I always thought that anytime I putt from the putting green and my ball hits another ball on the green I received a penalty. Where in the Rule Book can I find this? — Tim Reed

A. Rule 19-5 states: If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies. In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty, unless both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case the player incurs a penalty of two strokes. Interesting rule to use when you’re playing a four-ball match.

Q. Is the player responsible if the total on his scorecard is wrong? What happens if I put down a score that is higher than I actually made on the hole? I know I’m disqualified if I put down a lower score. — Shadric

A. The competitor is responsible for the correctness of the score recorded for each hole on his score card. If he returns a score for any hole lower than actually taken, he is disqualified. If he returns a score for any hole higher than actually taken, the score as returned stands. The nice thing is the rules don’t expect the player to know how to add up his own scores; the committee is responsible for the addition of scores.

Q. I played in my first tournament last week and there were two terms on the rule sheet I wasn’t sure of. Can you clarify what “through the green” and “integral part” of the golf course mean? — Claire Wilson

A. When you are reading a tournament rule sheet you will almost always see those terms. Through the green is defined as the whole area of the golf course except: a) the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played, and b) all hazards on the course. Integral part of the golf course is something that the committee has declared to be a part of the golf course where free relief will not be granted. A good example of this could be stone walls or railroad ties in bunkers.

Q. If I’m not delaying play, may I practice putting after the hole is over? — B.C.

A. Yes you may as long as you don’t have anyone standing in the fairway with their hands on their hips waiting for you to finish. Rule 7-2 states that between the play of holes, a player 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.

Sue May is a U.S. Open rules official, a member of the USGA Senior Women’s committee and tournament director of the Women’s Trans National Championship. Address your rules questions to suemay@cox.net.