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**poRmawayncmop** · 11-01-2010, 07:31 PM

Same as if you are in a hazard (red staked area). I was in a tournament and on my backswing hit the grass as my ball was sitting down in the grassy hazard and incurred a penalty.

How can you not hit grass on your backswing in a situation like this? I can understand sand but this one has me stumped.

Vegan, you were penalized needlessly. There is no penalty for touching the grass in a hazard as long as nothing was done to test the surface and you did not ground your club. The restriction is for touching the ground, water (in a water hazard), or any loose impediment in a hazard (a bunker is hazard). There is no prohibition for touching grass growing in a hazard, as long as it doesn't improve your lie or the area of your intended swing, it doesn't constitute testing the condition of the hazard (i.e touching the ground), and it doesn't meet the definition of "grounding", (the club's weight resting on the grass).

13-4/4 Touching Grass with Club During Practice Swing in Hazard

Q. A player takes a practice swing in a water hazard without grounding his club, but his club touches some long grass. Is there a penalty?

A. No — see Note to Rule 13-4. However, the player must ensure that his actions do not breach Rule 13-2 or constitute testing the condition of the hazard. (Revised)

When Club Grounded in Grass — See 18-2b/5.

11-01-2010, 07:31 PM	#18
poRmawayncmop Join Date Oct 2005 Posts 664 Senior Member	Same as if you are in a hazard (red staked area). I was in a tournament and on my backswing hit the grass as my ball was sitting down in the grassy hazard and incurred a penalty. How can you not hit grass on your backswing in a situation like this? I can understand sand but this one has me stumped. Vegan, you were penalized needlessly. There is no penalty for touching the grass in a hazard as long as nothing was done to test the surface and you did not ground your club. The restriction is for touching the ground, water (in a water hazard), or any loose impediment in a hazard (a bunker is hazard). There is no prohibition for touching grass growing in a hazard, as long as it doesn't improve your lie or the area of your intended swing, it doesn't constitute testing the condition of the hazard (i.e touching the ground), and it doesn't meet the definition of "grounding", (the club's weight resting on the grass). 13-4/4 Touching Grass with Club During Practice Swing in Hazard Q. A player takes a practice swing in a water hazard without grounding his club, but his club touches some long grass. Is there a penalty? A. No — see Note to Rule 13-4. However, the player must ensure that his actions do not breach Rule 13-2 or constitute testing the condition of the hazard. (Revised) When Club Grounded in Grass — See 18-2b/5.
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