4/11/2026 - Oaks North (North / East)

I've been wondering for a while - is it a penalty if your ball moves when you are marking it?

Per Rule #13.1-d-1, there is no penalty if you accidentally move the ball on the putting green.  This is true when you're marking it, addressing it, or anything else.

A weird part of this rule is that if the ball is moved by natural forces, if you have marked it, then you must replace it.  If you have not yet marked it, then you play the ball from its new spot. 

I think this used to be a penalty.  I think the USGA should keep the old rules available online for comparison. 

3/23/2026 - Del Mar Golf Center

When switching golf bags (long story), I found an old glove (pic below) that I had used at a lesson.  The instructor drew lines on the glove with a sharpie to help me with my grip.  Can I use this glove in tournament play?

This is covered (not surprisingly) in the Equipment Rules.  Part 6 of the Equipment Rules covers "Devices and Other Equipment."  Section 2 covers gloves.

The wording is a little clunky, but it says "features, other than visual aids, designed to assist the player in placing his hands..."  (emphasis added).  My interpretation of this is that drawn lines are okay, but something tactile would be illegal.

So I can use this glove for tournament play.

Another statement in the rules on gloves indicates that any sort of padding is illegal.  Anything more than 0.635mm thicker than the adjacent areas is considered padding.  This means that the Bionic gloves that I used to use are non-conforming.  So I guess I need to retroactively DQ myself from some past tournaments, if I could just remember which ones I might have worn a Bionic glove in.

Rule 4.3 of the Rules of Golf covers equipment and refers to the Equipment Rules. 

 

 

3/21/2026 - Admiral Baker North

I just covered this rule in my last post, and it came up again today.  I was in a bunker, and I touched the sand on my backswing.  This is the Patrick Reed rule, and I earned a two stroke penalty for my efforts.  Yay.

I thought it was just one stroke, but it is the general penalty (2 strokes).  I was not clear whether or not I needed to replay the shot.  I could not find anything indicating that I need to, so I assume not.

I've had a rough time on #11 my last three rounds at ABN.  Today was a 10 with the two stroke penalty and a lost ball.  The prior two rounds, I had an 8 and a 9.  Ugh.

It was also "Superintendent's Revenge" day on the course, so all of the pins were placed in ridiculous places on the green.  Either tucked right behind a bunker, at the very back of the green, or on a slope within a yard of the edge of the green.  I'm very curious to see what the PCC will be. 

3/19/2026 - Oaks North

I reached into the bunker with my wedge to grab the rake.  My club touched the sand.  Penalty, or no?

I think this was a penalty under the old rules, but the new rules are much more lenient.

Rule #12.2-b covers this.  If you touch the sand to test the condition of the sand, or to improve your lie, then it's a penalty.  If you touch the sand in a practice swing, or on your backswing, then it's a penalty.  That last part always gets me, but I think that's what Patrick Reed did in the Bahamas a number of years ago.  It's clever, but it's cheating.

There is no penalty for touch the sand in other ways, including striking the sand in frustration.  That one surprises me.  It's not a good look.

 

2/27/2026 - Admiral Baker North

I pulled my tee shot into the woods, and it came to rest directly behind a tree.  I took unplayable relief and dropped the ball on a bed of pine needles and other tree detritus.  As I was taking my swing, I could see the ball moved noticeably.  It wasn't the club hitting the ground near they ball, but my weight shifting on the loose ground.  I continued the swing and knocked the ball back into the fairway.

Per Rule #9.1b, if the ball is moved during the backswing (or downswing), and the player continues the stroke, then there is no penalty, and you play the ball where it came to rest.  This is true whether you make solid contact with the ball or not.  Presumably, if I had completely whiffed, the stroke would count, and I would play my next shot from where the ball ended up.

I'm terrible at backing off, but what if I had stopped my swing?  This is covered by Rule #9.4.  If the ball is deliberately moved, then it's probably a penalty.  But per Rule #9.4a, if it's not deliberate, then you must replace the ball back on its original spot.  There is no penalty here.