Greendale Women's Golf Association, Alexandria, Va

Hi Ladies,

If your ball is in the bunker, you may move or touch a loose impediment such as stones, loose grass, leaves, branches, sticks, animal waste, dead animals, worms, insects and similar animals that can be removed easily and the mounds or webs they build and clumps of compacted soil (including aeration plugs). You may also touch the sand in a bunker with your club to keep your balance while stepping in the bunker or leaning on the club to rest with no penalty.

The exception to the rule, with a 2-stroke penalty, is when you touch the sand (1) with your hand or club to test the conditions of the bunker, (2) in making a practice swing, (3) with the club in the area right behind or in front of the ball or (4) in making the backswing for the stroke.

Sue

Hi Ladies,

One of the five relief options available to you last year, if you were in the red penalty area, was to drop your ball on the opposite side from where the ball last entered that penalty area. This option has been eliminated. To be honest, I don’t believe this option would have been to our advantage at Greendale and I would be hard pressed to tell you of any hole that you could have used this option. Just one more thing we don’t need to know!!!!!

Sue

Hi Ladies,

When you are in the penalty area, you are now allowed to move loose impediments, touch the ground with your hand or club or ground the club when addressing the ball.

Hi Ladies,

Last year, you would be penalized 2 strokes if you touched the line of your putt or green when pointing out a target.

Now, there is no penalty for doing these things as long as doing so does not improve the conditions for your stroke.

Sue