Rules of Golf - Playing the Ball as it Lies

Rule 13 of the "Rules of Golf" simply put, states that the golfer must play the ball as it lies, without modifying the course, except as otherwise provided in the Rules. You may not improve the position of your ball, your stance or the intended line of play, by moving or breaking tree limbs or bushes, replacing divots, or removing dew, frost or water. There are exceptions for moving a ball located on "ground under repair", teeing the ball and lifting and cleaning a ball on the green. One famous example of a PGA Tour player improving his stance involves Craig Stadler. At the San Diego Open at Torrey Pines in 1987, Stadler placed a towel under his knee so that his pant knee would not get wet as he kneeled to hit a shot from under a tree. See link. Stadler a/k/a "The Walrus", is not known as one of the better dressed players on the PGA Tour and this gaffe cost Stadler over $35,000 (in 1987!) when viewers called the PGA Tour and Stadler was disqualified.

As the Local Rules Committee I have modified Rule 13 slightly. Rule 13 is fine for the PGA Tour. The Tour courses are in pristine condition and when they are not, the course superintendent and the PGA Tour get an earful from the players. The fairways are like green carpets, the bunkers have the appropriate amount of sand and are perfectly raked and the putting surfaces are unblemished, with ball marks properly repaired and no spike marks. PGA Tour players get upset if a golfer walks on the "through-line"! (I had no idea what the through-line was until recently).

First of all, if you hit a shot in the fairway, you are entitled to have grass under your ball so if your ball settles on a bare spot in the fairway, you are entitled to roll the ball with your club onto a tuft of grass (you may not pick up the ball and clean it!). Not even the USGA or R&A should object to this Rule modification! This Local Rule is known as "winter rules" although I play it year-round and although we hardly have what a Northerner or Midwesterner would call "winter" in Phoenix.

A bit more controversial Local Rule is what I call the "Fluff the Lie Rule". This Local Rule permits a high handicap golfer (handicap to be negotiated but no less than my then current handicap) to fluff the lie within 5 yards from the fairway and 3 yards from the green. For a high handicap golfer to hit the ball within 5 yards of the fairway or within 3 yards of the green is a good shot. It is dispiriting to the high handicapper to hit a relatively good drive only to find that he can barely see the top of the golf ball and he will have to wedge the ball back into the fairway, or for the high handicapper to hit a good approach shot and need the strength of Tiger Woods and the finesse of Phil Mickelson to get the ball to, and then to stay on, the green. This is a golf course design or maintenance flaw! The high handicapper should not be penalized and by Local Rule is permitted to fluff his lie without penalty so that the ball is "sitting up" and he has a reasonable chance of contacting the ball with his club and advancing the golf ball up the fairway from the rough or onto the green from greenside.