By Jim Gibbons, Executive Director, Oregon Golf Association
(first published in Pacific Northwest Golfer, December 2000)

Have you ever played in a best-ball match? Probably not! Here are a few quick questions about golf. Select the best answer according to the USGA rules and guidelines:

1. If a ball may be lost or out of bounds, you should play a

a) second ball
b) provisional ball
c) either

2. When in doubt about a rules procedure, you should play a

a) second ball
b) provisional ball
c) either

3. In stroke play, the other golfers you play with are

a) fellow competitors
b) playing partners
c) opponents
d) a threesome

4. A rub of the green occurs when

a) the player gets a bad break
b) the ball hits the green and bounces wildly
c) a moving ball is accidentally stopped or deflected

5. A best-ball match is

a) one playing against the best score of two or three players
b) the one best score of four players on a team
c) two players counting their best score against the best of other teams of two

6. The areas on most courses covered with sand are

a) waste areas
b) sand traps
c) bunkers

7. The "pole in the hole" to indicate where the hole is located, is called a

a) pin
b) flagstick
c) hole indicator

8. If you play nearly all the holes, but less than 18 holes, you should

a) never post a score
b) just post a nine-hole score
c) post an 18-hole score taking net par or the most likely score you would have made on holes not completed

9. If you pick up in match play, a skins game or team play, you should

a) never post a score
b) just post a nine-hole score
c) post an 18-hole score taking net par or the most likely score you would have made on holes not completed

10. A player with an unplayable ball or a ball in a water hazard may not

a) drop along the line of flight
b) return to the place the previous shot was played
c) drop on a line going away from the hole as far as desired

Does it matter that you know the correct answers listed at the end of this article? Think about that after considering this. When we play golf, we are often competing against players in another pairing. The other players may be a group away, on the other side of the course, playing at a completely different time or even on another course. With players scattered around, it is the player’s responsibility to know the Rules of Golf and play by all of them. If players do not follow all the rules, then there would be "chaos." Any competition would be unfair and the game would not be enjoyable. If you know the rules, procedures and proper terms, you will uphold your responsibilities to the game of golf.

These questions were selected from feedback I’ve received at many Rules of Golf seminars conducted at member clubs over the years. It is amazing how many of us have learned the incorrect action from another player. Sometimes the difficulty stems from using incorrect terminology. Most often, a player proceeds wrongly because it seems it would not be "in equity" to proceed differently. An example involves taking relief from a cart path. You must drop on the one side offering closest relief. You may not choose which side of the path to drop the ball. That means if a tree or bush were in the way, you must drop behind the tree or bush or play the ball from the path. You may never drop along the line of flight. "line of flight" does not exist in the Rules of Golf.

Golfers are expected to also follow the rules of the USGA or RCGA Handicap Systems regarding the posting of scores. If we all had a fair and honest handicap, then competitions would be conducted with an equal chance for each player to win. Your local club handicap committee has the duty of enforcing the handicap system and you have the responsibility to assist them in protecting all players at your club.

There is a great amount of information to learn about your duties as a player. Take the time over the next year to increase your knowledge about the Rules of Handicapping and Golf and the related terminology.

The answers to the questions are 1-b, 2-a, 3-a, 4-c, 5-a, 6-c, 7-b, 8-c, 9-c, 10-a. The answers to the first seven questions are found in the definitions section of the USGA Rules of Golf Booklet. And yes, you must post match play and four-ball scores for handicapping purposes.