1-1: Yes Any type of device may be used to warm a player�s hands during a round. {Decision 14-3/13}

1-2: No The use of a device to warm a golf ball during a round is prohibited; however, it is permitted to artificially warm a golf ball prior to the start of a round. {Decision 14-3/13.5}

2-1: C  Teeing ground is defined as "the rectangular area two club-lengths in depth, the front and sides of which are defined by the outside limits of the two tee-markers". In stroke play if a player tees and plays a ball from outside the teeing ground, she incurs a 2-stroke penalty and must replay the ball from within the teeing ground. However, the original swing taken by the player from outside the teeing ground does not count in her score. {Rule 11-4}

2-2: A  A player may stand outside the teeing ground to play a ball within it. {Rule 11-1}

3-1: B A swing intended as a practice swing does not meet the definition of stroke, therefore the player did not make a stroke. Further, because the player had not yet made a stroke on the hole, the ball was not a ball in play and the player is permitted to replace her ball on the tee. {Decision 18-2a/19}
[NOTE: if the ball is in play and the player takes a practice swing and unintentionally moves the ball, she does not make a stroke but she incurs a 1-stroke penalty under Rule 18-2a for moving her ball in play and the ball must be replaced. {Decision 18-2a/20}]

3-2: B If a ball is knocked off a tee by a player addressing it before it becomes a ball in play, the ball may be re-teed without penalty. {Rule 11-3}

3-3: C Once a player makes a stroke at a teed ball, even if she whiffs, the ball becomes a ball in play. When the ball was moved during address, the player incurs a 1-stroke penalty and is required to replace the ball. {Decision 11-3/1}

3-4: No Once a player makes a stroke at a teed ball, even if she whiffs, the ball becomes a ball in play. Raising or lowering the tee results in moving the ball (which would result in a 1-stroke penalty and would require that the ball be replaced to where it was before the next stroke is taken). {Decision 18-2a/1}

3-5: B There is no penalty because a teed ball is not a ball in play until a stroke has been made at it. The ball may be re-teed without penalty. {Decision 11-3/3}

3-6: No Once a player makes a stroke, the ball becomes a ball in play. The ball must be played as it lies. {Decision 11-3/2}

4-1: water hazard - C; lateral water hazard - A; out-of-bounds markers - B. {Definitions (Note 1 to each definition)}

4-2: A When the margin of a water hazard/lateral water hazard is defined by stakes, the stakes are inside the hazard and the margin of the hazard is defined by the nearest outside points of the stakes at ground level. When the margin of a water hazard/lateral water hazard is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is inside the hazard. {Definition of water hazard/lateral water hazard (2nd paragraph) }

4-3: A When OB is defined by reference to stakes or a fence, the OB line is determined by the nearest inside points of the stake or fence at ground level. When OB is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is OB. {Definitions - out-of-bounds}

4-4: A A ball is OB when all of it lies OB. A player may stand OB to play a ball lying in-bounds. {Definitions - out-of-bounds}

5-1: 2-stroke penalty A player may ask for advice from only her partner or either of their caddies. {Rule 8-1}
5-2: 2-stroke penalty A player shall not give advice to anyone in the competition except her partner. {Rule 8-1}
5-3: OK A player may ask for advice from only her partner or either of their caddies. {Rule 8-1}
5-4: OK A player shall not give advice to anyone in the competition except her partner. {Rule 8-1}
5-5: OK After a player plays a shot, she may ask her opponent what club she used to play a similar shot. {Decision 8-1/7}
5-6: OK It is not against the Rules to respond. {Decision 8-1/7}
5-7: OK Before playing a particular shot, a player may ask her opponent what club she used for a shot on a previous hole. {Decision 8-1/6}
5-8: OK It is not against the Rules to respond. {Decision 8-1/6}
5-9: 2-stroke penalty Player A was in breach of Rule 8-1. {Decision 8-1/9}
5-10: OK A player may always seek and accept advice from her partner. {Rule 8-1}

6-1: B A player may take relief from an unplayable lie under penalty of one stroke. {Rule 28}

6-2: A The player is the sole judge as to whether her ball is unplayable. {Rule 28}

6-3: A, B, C are allowed. {Rule 28} D is specifically not allowed. {Decisions 26-1/15}

6-4: No Rule 28a permits the player to play �a ball . . . at the spot from which the original ball was last played.� The original ball was last played from the tree roots, not the tee. {Decision 28/7}

7-1: Yes When proceeding under the unplayable ball rule, a player may lift and clean her ball. {Rule 28}

7-2: Yes When proceeding under the unplayable ball rule, a player may substitute a ball. {Rule 28}

7-3: A, C, D If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Rule 28 - clause a, b or c (refer to a, b and c in question 6-3). If she elects to proceed under clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker. {Rule 28}

7-4: Yes A player may proceed under clause a (refer to a in question 6-3) without finding her ball. However, since clause b and c require reference to where the ball lay, a player must find and identify her ball in order to proceed under either of these options. {Decision 28/1}
[Note: the option to proceed under clause a and take a stroke and distance penalty is the same penalty that would apply to a ball that is lost or a ball that landed out-of-bounds.]

8-1: C A player may use any club in measuring, including a club belonging to a partner, an opponent or a fellow-competitor. {Decision 20/1}

8-2: B A player must drop the ball in that area. {Decision 26-1/15, refer to shaded area in diagram }

8-3: A It may be played from anywhere within the teeing ground and may be teed. {Rule 20-5a}

8-4: C When a player elects or is required to make her next stroke from where a previous stroke was made, she must proceed as follows:
- in a hazard: the ball must be dropped and must first strike a part of the course in the hazard (i.e. and it must come to rest in the hazard) .
- through the green (i.e. the whole area of the course except (a) the teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played and (b) all hazards on the course): the ball to be played must be dropped and when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.
- on the putting green: the ball to be played must be placed on the putting green. {Rule 20-5 b, c, d}

9-1: All A player must re-drop a ball in ALL of the situations. {Rule 20-2a, 20-2c (i)-(vii)}

[Note: some players will place a tee or other marker at the spot where the ball currently lies or defines the nearest point of relief so that it is easier to tell if the ball hits closer to the hole, ends up closer to the hole, or hits within the allowed distance - but be careful that the ball does not touch the marker, otherwise it must be re-dropped.]

9-2: A If the ball, when dropped touches any person or the equipment of any player before or after it strikes a part of the course and before it comes to rest, the ball must be re-dropped, without penalty. There is no limit to the number of times a ball must be re-dropped in these circumstances. {Rule 20-2a}

9-3: B-H If the ball when re-dropped rolls into any position listed above, it must be placed as near as possible to the spot where it first struck a part of the course when re-dropped. {Rule 20-2c}

10-1: OK A player may inquire about the accuracy of a distance marker, the yardage of a hole, or, in this case, the accuracy of the stated yardage of a hole. {Decisions 8-1/1 and 8-1/3}
10-2: OK It is not against the Rules to respond. {Decisions 8-1/1 and 8-1/3}
10-3: 2-stroke penalty During a round, a player may not give instruction (i.e. advice) to her competitor about her swing. {Decision 8-1/13}
10-4: OK Player Z incurred no penalty as she did not seek advice. {Decision 8-1/14}
10-5: 2-stroke penalty Even if she finished a particular hole, a player may not give instruction (i.e. advice) to her competitor. The 2-stroke penalty is added to Player A�s score for hole 14. {Decision 8-1/14}
10-6: OK Player Y incurred no penalty as she did not seek advice. {Decision 8-1/14}
10-7: 2-stroke penalty Player A�s suggestion could have influenced Player Z "in determining her play". Thus it constituted advice. {Decision 8-1/16}
10-8: OK Player Z incurred no penalty as she did not seek advice. {Decision 8-1/14}
10-9: OK Player A only gave Player Y information on the Rules about an unplayable lie and did not suggest to Player Z what action to take. Information about the Rules is not advice. {Definition of "advice"}
10-10: ??? If you are accessing this on your blackberry while you are out on the course, you may be in trouble. Hopefully you are reading this on your home computer, in which case there is no penalty because the "advice" rule only applies during a round. {Rule 8-1}
[P.S. I hope rule question #10-10 made you laugh; because if you aren't having fun while playing golf, what is the point? ]

11-1: No, but only if it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a water hazard/lateral water hazard (whether the ball lies in the water or not). If it is not known or virtually certain, then the player must proceed under the lost ball rule. {Rule 26-1}

11-2: B A player may not touch the ground (if the ball is not in the water) or the water in a water hazard/lateral water hazard with her hand or a club; if she touches the ground or water she incurs a 2-stroke penalty. {Rule 13-4b}

11-3: A-True, B-False {Rule 26-1 (at end of second paragraph)}
C-True, D-True {Rule 26-1 (the paragraph after subpoint c)}
E-True {Rule 26-1a}
F-False, G-True {Rule 26-1b}
H-True {HVWGC Rules of Golf "One Ball in Water"}

11-4: B and D
- A player may take relief only from the point where her ball last crossed the margin. Because the margin of a lateral water hazard extends vertically upwards and downwards, the ball enters the hazard when it is in the air over the margin around the hazard and not when it hits the water. {Rule 26-1 a, b, c and Definition of lateral water hazard (last sentence of 2nd paragraph)}
- The special local HWVGC club rule pertains only to water hazards and not to lateral water hazards.

11-5: C See answer to question 4-2. {Definition of water hazard/lateral water hazard (2nd paragraph) }

12-1: C A player may not touch the ground in a hazard with her hand or a club; otherwise she incurs a 2-stroke penalty. {Rule 13-4b}

12-2: C If a ball lies in a hazard, any player must not touch or move any loose impediment lying in or touching the same hazard; otherwise she incurs a 2-stroke penalty.
[Note: This rule means that if Player X's ball is in a hazard and Player N removes a loose impediment from that same hazard, Player N incurs a 2-stroke penalty.
- The rule on loose impediments in a hazard also applies to water hazards.
- Any loose impediment may be removed without penalty in all situations EXCEPT when both the loose impediment and the ball lie in or touch the same hazard.] {Rule 23-1 and Note}

12-3: C If the unplayable ball is in a bunker and the player elects to proceed under clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker. {Rule 28}

12-4: B Rule 28a permits the player to play "a ball . . . at the spot from which the original ball was last played." The original ball was last played from the bunker, not the location from where she hit into the bunker. {{Decision 28/7}}

12-5: C Casual water is an abnormal ground condition, which is covered by Rule 25. If a ball is in casual water in a bunker, the player may lift the ball and drop it under either of these two options:
--- Without penalty, the player may drop the ball at the nearest point of relief which must be in the bunker; the ball must be dropped in the bunker within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. If complete relief is impossible, the player may drop a ball within the bunker as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole, that affords maximum available relief from the condition.
--- Under 1-stroke penalty, the player may drop the ball outside the bunker, on the line extending from where the hole is and where the ball currently lies, with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped. {Rule 25-1b (ii)}

13-1: No A player may not improve the position or lie of her ball, the area of her intended stance or swing or her line of play. {Rule 13-2}
[Note: this is one of those unfortunate situations that occurs when a previous player violates the etiquette of the rule of golf which states "Before leaving a bunker, players should carefully fill up and smooth over all holes and footprints made by them and any nearby made by others. If a rake is within reasonable proximity of the bunker, the rake should be used for this purpose." {Rules of Golf, etiquette section}]

13-2: A Rule 25 governs obstructions. A player may take relief from a movable obstruction by moving the obstruction; this applies to all areas of the course. {Rule 24-1a}

13-3: A If the ball moves in removing the obstruction, it must be replaced, and there is no penalty, provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction. Otherwise, Rule 18-2a applies. {Rule 24-1a}
[Note: If a player is concerned that her ball may move while she moves an obstruction, she may mark her ball with a ball marker; however, she may not hold her ball in place to prevent it from moving. {Decisions 24-1/4 and 24-1/5}]

13-4: B If the ball lies in or on a movable obstruction, the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must be dropped (or if on a putting green, placed) as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, but not nearer the hole. {Rule 24-1b}

13-5: B It is recommended that rakes be placed outside bunkers, as far away from the bunkers as is practical and in positions where they will be least likely to affect play. {Decisions Misc/2}
[Note: some courses prefer that rakes be kept in bunkers so that the mowers do not have to move them when they mow.]

14-1: B If a player�s club strikes the ball more than once in the course of a stroke, the player shall count the stroke and add a penalty stroke, making two strokes in all. {Rule 14-4}
[Note: this rule applies to all situations and is not limited to the bunker]

14-2: B If a player�s ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by herself, her partner or either of their caddies or equipment, the player incurs a 1-stroke penalty and the ball is played as it lies. {Rule 19-2}
[Note: this rule applies to all situations and is not limited to the bunker]

14-odd bonus question: A The bunker rule for unplayable lie does not apply in this case. A tree in a bunker is not part of the bunker. Unlike the margin of a water hazard, the margin of a bunker does not extend upward. {Decision 13/2}

15-1: B The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted. {Rule 16-1b}
[Note: one way to ensure that you comply with this rule is to use the same hand to lift your ball that you used to place your ball marker.]

15-2: C (but see below NOTE) The preferred placement of a ball marker is immediately behind the ball. {Rule 20-1 Note (first sentence) }
[Note: this placement is where most, if not all, professional golfers place their ball markers ]
[NOTE: While the Rules of Golf indicate the preferred placement is immediately behind the ball, the Rules do not restrict where the ball marker must be placed. If a player chooses to position her ball marker in front of the ball on the putting green, she must take care not to do anything to the green that might influence the movement of the ball when played (e.g. press down a tuft of grass), in which case a 2-stroke penalty under Rule 1-2 in incurred. {Decision 20-1/19}]

15-3: No While the Rules do not specify the distance of "immediately" (see answer 15-2), the ball marker should be placed in such a way that the ball is replaced in the same spot from where it was lifted. {Rule 16-1b}

15-4: No The marker should be moved one or more clubhead-lengths to one side (not one or more club-lengths to the side). {Rule 20-1 Note (second sentence)}
[Note: when moving their ball marker out of another player's way, some golfers turn it upside down so that they remember to move it back before they putt - - because if a player places her ball in the incorrect spot and putts she incurs a penalty. ]

16-1: A The player incurs a 2-stroke penalty and plays her ball as it lies. {Decision 17-3/3 }

16-2: C There is no penalty to either the player or the person who moved the flagstick. {Decision 17-1/7 , this is a rule change effective 2008}

16-3: D       16-4: B       16-5: A   All three situations are governed by the same rules.
    The player�s ball is governed by Rule 19-5a. If after a stroke a player�s ball is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player plays her ball as it lies. In stroke play, the player incurs a 2-stroke penalty if both balls lay on the putting green prior to her stroke. If either of the balls is not on the putting green, then the player incurs no penalty. {Rule 19-5a }
    The moved ball is governed by Rule 18-5. If a ball in play and at rest is moved by another ball in motion after a stroke, the moved ball must be replaced. The person whose ball is moved incurs no penalty. {Rule 18-5 }

16-6: B If a player's ball is accidentally stopped by any equipment of the player or her partner, she incurs a 2-stroke penalty and the ball must be played as it lies. {Rule 19-2b NOTE: this rule applies whether the ball is on the putting green or not}
- However, if a player's ball on the putting green is accidentally stopped by any equipment of her opponent/fellow competitor, the stroke is cancelled. There is no penalty but the ball must be replaced and the stroke replayed. { Rule 19-1b }

16-odd bonus question: No Both ball are holed and there are no penalties incurred by either player. It is a breach of Etiquette for the first player to leave her ball in the hole if the second player requests her to remove it. {USGA website Q&A }

17-1: for left-handed hitters: E-C-A-D-B, for right-handed hitters: B-D-A-C-E {The PGA Manual of Golf}

17-2: in order by words: Approach Q, Bump and run I, Chip J, Chunk A, Cut F, Draw O, Duck hook P, Fade N, Flop H, Hook M, Lob G, Pitch E, Pull D, Punch K, Push C, Shank B, Slice L
- in order by answers: A Chunk, B Shank, C Push, D Pull, E Pitch, F Cut, G Lob, HFlop, I Bump and run, J Chip, K Punch, L Slice, M Hook, N Fade, O Draw, P Duck hook, Q Approach    {The PGA Manual of Golf}

18-1: False
18-2: True
18-3: True
18-4: True
18-5: True 18-1 through 18-5 per {HVWGC 2009 Rules Committee Chair}