Rule 13-2 is one of the fundamental foundation of golf Rules. It directs the player to play the ball as it lies except as permitted by Rules.Free relief is provided when the ball is in abnormal ground conditions, ball embedded in a closely mown area or a wrong putting green(R 25). The other major free relief is when there is interference by an Obstruction(R 24). In addition, he can remove loose impediments (R 23) and movable obstructions(R 24-1), without penalty. Relief under penalty situations involve Rule 26- ball in water hazard, R 27- ball lost/OB, R 28- ball unplayable.
The most common infringement is improving the area of intended stance.Rule 13-2 allows some concession for player to make minimum improvement in FAIRLY TAKING HIS STANCE.In the year 2005, I was officiating as a IGU referee in the Coimbatore amateur event. On the par 5 , 5th hole, Lt col. Lakhra missed his approach shot to the green and his ball was close to an ant hill and a sapling.The local rule did not provide free relief for ant hills or sapling.Consequently, I denied his request for relief for both conditions. Then,while taking his stance, he stepped on the sapling and broke it, thus unintentionally improving his area of intended stance.I was forced to impose a penalty of 2 strokes on the player under R 13-2, since he had not taken his stance in the least intrusive manner -a principle enunciated in Decision 13-2/1. He could have gone around the sapling in fairly taking his stance and causing minimum improvement.
Another common occurrence is the improvement in area of intended swing while taking practice swings.Knocking off leaves while taking practice swing is a common scene.While, Decision 13-2/22 lays down guidelines indicating in some cases, knocking down one leaf will be an infringement while knocking down many leaves will not be. Players have of late realized this aspect and are careful. In the recently concluded Eagleton Juniors, I have to dock 2 strokes penalty to Majumdar when his pracice swing dislodged a cluster of leaves on the 7th hole,In my opinion and I was in a good position to observe the incident, he improved his area of intended swing and hence the penalty. Players are well advised to stand quite a distance away when they take practice swings in such situations.
