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.