Rules Riddler #16 - Resolved

With the introduction of Public Rules Nights in 2011, we have begun to introduce the Rules of Golf to an entirely new audience. These events, and everything else in the OGA’s Rules Education programming, mixes the Rules of Golf with Fun. Yes, it is possible to have fun learning the Rules of Golf and, as an association we have continued to create more and more opportunities for golfers, professionals and experienced officials alike the change to understand the Rules more completely. Our aim is simply to allow more people to find more enjoyment in playing the game. No one wants to be uncomfortable when playing the game and often it’s the Rules that create this discomfort. This is the intent of Rules Riddlers – we hope to enlighten golfers and banish many of the myths that continue to circulate about the Rules of Golf. In addition to the answer for Riddler #16 below, you can view the first new riddler of 2011 by clicking here. In Riddler #17, obstructions abound and you’ll have to sort it all out to get to the right answer.

OGA Rules Riddler #16 addressed the following Rules and situations:

1. Rule 30: Three-ball match play (this is for the 13% who answered the question - "what's a three-ball anyway")
2. Rule 10: Order of Play (match play specific)
3. Rule 18-2: Ball at Rest Moved
4. Rule 9-2: Wrong Information (match play only)

Rules Riddler #16 – The Question

Donder, Blitzen and Rudolph could not stop bickering as to who should lead the way on their upcoming sleigh ride. Tired of the ruckus, a large man in a red suit insisted they leave and suggested they play a three-ball to decide who would get to lead. A tie is worth a ½ point and a win worth a full point. Whoever has the most points will lead the way.

All three are playing great and through 17 holes the matches are all square. Donder has the honor on the 18th tee but Rudolph, always wanting to lead the way tees up and plays a very short drive down the left side of the fairway. Blitzen notices Rudolph’s mistake and immediately recalls his stroke. Donder simply tees up his own ball and blasts a drive that lands past where Rudolph’s drive finished. He looks over to Rudolph and jokingly says to him, “You really should let the rest of us lead the way more often, Rudolph.”

Rudolph smiles bashfully and scratches in the dirt next to the teeing ground as Blitzen tees up next and hits a beautiful drive down the left side; also well past the ball he required Rudolph to disregard. Rudolph pulls a second ball from their sleigh and plays another short drive, this time down the right side of the fairway.

Rudolph quickly arrives at his first ball and puts a great swing on it while the other two are not looking. The ball whizzes high over their heads and lands a few feet from the hole, bounces once and then disappears into the cup! Blitzen, not the least bit impressed, sternly reminds Rudolph he had to re-tee and stomps off to get ready to play his approach. Rudolph, distressed because he has upset Blitzen so, is lucky to catch the eye of Donder who smiles, winks and mouths “great shot!” Rudolph gets the feeling Donder knows something Blitzen doesn’t! Rudolph smiles back and proceeds to his other ball.

Rudolph addresses the ball and tries to recreate the image in his mind of his previous swing but when he looks down he has accidentally moved his ball. He quickly replaces the ball by rolling it back with his club head and sets for his shot.

Unfortunately, he plays a very poor shot that misses the green to the right. It comes to rest very near the place where a large man in a bright red suit stands, having just arrived wanting to know the result of play … and to know who will soon be leading his sleigh.

As Blitzen is preparing for his approach, Rudolph interrupts him to tell his opponents he moved his ball and incurred a penalty. “It doesn’t matter, our hole is already decided,” Blitzen mumbles quietly to himself, believing Rudolph played a wrong ball and already lost the hole.

Blitzen and Donder both play ordinary approaches onto the green that comes to rest about 20 feet from the hole.

As the three approach the green, the man in the red suit backs away to let the hole play out. Rudolph takes his time lining up his chip shot while Donder and Blitzen look on. Rudolph picks his line, takes a deep breath and plays his ball. Looking good from the start the ball tracks toward the hole and on the last turn falls quietly into the hole. Rudolph trots across the green and picks both his balls out of the hole.

Donder and Blitzen prepare to putt while the man in the red suit approaches to ask Rudolph why he lifted two balls from the hole. Rudolph explains and, very interested in knowing more, the man waits until Donder and Blitzen both hole out in two putts.

Donder and Blitzen near Rudolph and the man when he says, “Before anyone leaves the green, let us go over what has occurred on this final hole.”

They all relay their accounts of the hole as described above. Who will lead the sleigh?

Rules Riddler #16 – Resolved

In order to understand this riddler we first need to understand the three-ball format. In a three-ball (one of my personal favorites) each player is playing a match again the other two and each player plays their own ball throughout the hole. For example, A, B & C are playing a three-ball match – A vs B, B vs C, and A vs C. On occasion, as seen in this Riddler, you may end up with a different score in your two matches due to what happens on the hole.

To start, the three matches were all square to start the 18th hole and both Blitzen and Donder score a four (4) on the hole – two strokes to the putting green and two putts for a four. They halve their match and, as stated in the intro of the Riddler, the large man in the red suit would award each ½ point for the match ending all square.

Now, what about Rudolph. The Riddler begins with Rudolph playing out of turn. Order of play in match play is covered by Rule 10-1. Remember in a three ball each match is separate and when Rudolph plays first he is playing out of turn (before either Blitzen or Donder who were to play before him). However, only Blitzen recalls the stroke. In the match Rudolph is playing with Donder, the ball he played out of turn is the ball he must score with because Donder did not recall the stroke. But, in the match he is playing with Blitzen, he is required to replay the shot.

Therefore, when Rudolph holes his original ball on his second shot from the fairway, he scores two (2) in his match against Donder, who scored four (4) and Rudolph wins, 1up. The large man in the red suit would award 1 point to Rudolph for the win and Donder would get zero. Donder finishes both of his matches with just ½ point earned in his match against Blitzen.

Now we will look at the match between Rudolph and Blitzen. Rudolph played out of turn and Blitzen had the right, under Rule 10-1a, to immediately recall his stroke, which he did. Immediately, means before any player in the match makes a stroke. With a stroke recalled we would disregard Rudolph’s original ball when looking at the Rudolph vs. Blitzen match and just use the next ball he played from the tee. With this ball, he was lying one in the fairway and before playing his second shot his ball moved after he addressed it (meaning his feet, hooves, were in position to play the stroke and then his club touched the ground). Rule 18-2b requires Rudolph to replace the ball and he incurs a one-stroke penalty.

When he finally plays his next stroke from the fairway, the ball comes to rest just off the putting green and he now lies three (3). Because he incurred a penalty, and this is match play, Rule 9-2 requires Rudolph to inform his opponent has incurred a penalty as soon as practicable. In this case because the players are all rather close, this would have to be done prior to Blitzen playing his next stroke. Rudolph does this in following the Rule. Had he not said anything, he would have breached Rule 9-2 which requires players to inform their opponent they have incurred a penalty or they will lose the hole. There are some exceptions, for example, you do not need to say anything if you are obviously proceeding under a Rule involving a penalty and your opponent is observing your actions.

Rudolph makes a great chip that falls into the hole for his four (4) on the hole. Because Blitzen also holed out in four (4) the hole is halved as is the match which ends all square.

Therefore, the final tally of points finishes:

Rudolph 1 ½
Blitzen 1
Donder ½

Rudolph will be leading the sleigh!

Congratulations to the 38% of you that correctly answered that question (or just guess that the Riddler would follow the story) and put Rudolph in the front of the sleight. To test your knowledge of the Rules on Riddler #17, which is all about obstructions, click here.

The OGA is a national leader in Rules of Golf Education both through our many programs and the knowledge of our instructors. We are your source for fast, up-to-date answers to the region's Rules of Golf questions. Our educational opportunites include Public Rules Nights, Rules of Golf Presentations, On-Course Clinics and Rules of Golf Workshops. Regardless of whether you prefer to learn online, in the classroom, on the course or just want to call to ask a question; if you're interested in learning the Rules of Golf the OGA has a program for you.

Craig Winter is the Director of Junior Golf and Rules Education for the Oregon Golf Association and is one of a handful of Rules Officials to acheive a perfect score in consecutive years (2010 & 2011) on the PGA/USGA Rules of Golf Exam. You can contact Craig at the OGA Administrative offices at 503-981-4653 or by e-mail.

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Rules Riddler #16 - Resolved

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