Rule Question

[3puttwizard]

So Blofeld..

Whats the ruling on having interchangeable shafts in your bag but with no head on them? Do they count as a club even if they have no head on them and are unused?

This nearly happened the other week but I ditched them in the car before I started a comp.

[ask3l]

a club is defined as having a shaft and a head so a spare shaft should not constitute a club.
Now if you only had 13 in your bag, could you at any stage swap shafts?

[Blofeld]

a club is defined as having a shaft and a head so a spare shaft should not constitute a club.
Now if you only had 13 in your bag, could you at any stage swap shafts?

If I understand the Q correctly.....absolutely not.

You are not allowed to make alterations to the playing charachteristics of any club during the round.

[Tomba]

If I understand the Q correctly.....absolutely not.

You are not allowed to make alterations to the playing charachteristics of any club during the round.

What if the original shaft broke during the round, is it within the rules to allow a change/fix?

[ask3l]

What if the original shaft broke during the round, is it within the rules to allow a change/fix?

Should be OK as a repair or replacement is covered within the rules but only if the damage was not deliberate

[ask3l]

If I understand the Q correctly.....absolutely not.

You are not allowed to make alterations to the playing charachteristics of any club during the round.

I know what you are saying but if there were only 13 clubs to start. Could you not declare the driver with shaft A out of play, then create another club using shaft B. The player would then have used 14 clubs during the round?
You would not be chopping and changing but creating a whole new club, this has to come up in the future

[ask3l]

oops double post

[Blofeld]

I know what you are saying but if there were only 13 clubs to start. Could you not declare the driver with shaft A out of play, then create another club using shaft B. The player would then have used 14 clubs during the round?
You would not be chopping and changing but creating a whole new club, this has to come up in the future

I thought long and hard about this....and then thought that surely this has come up before....so consulted the decisions book....

Decision 4-4a/15...

Q: In addition to his clubs selected for play, a player begins his stipulated round with a clubhead and a shaft that are capable of being assembled into a club. What is the ruling.

A: A separate clubhead and shaft do not constitute a club. There forethe separate clubhead and shaft do not count towards the number of clubs the player may carry under rule 4-4a. However regardless of the number of clubs carried, it is not permissible to assemble a clubhead and shaft carried by the player during the stipulated round. If a player replaces or adds a club by assembling components carried by him during the round, in equity the player would be penalised in accordance with the penalty statement under Rule 4-3a or Rules 4-4a and b, as applicable.

So...although the decision scenario is slightly different to the one you describe, I think the intent is pretty clear...you cant build yourself a new club during the round!!!

[Tin Pot]

What if you leave your son's U.S.Kids 7 iron in the bag?

[Blofeld]

What if you leave your son's U.S.Kids 7 iron in the bag?

as long as you havent got more than 14 clubs in your bag then thats fine....there are some members of this forum that would probably benfity ftom having a kids length club in their bag.

[ask3l]

I thought long and hard about this....and then thought that surely this has come up before....so consulted the decisions book....

Decision 4-4a/15...

Q: In addition to his clubs selected for play, a player begins his stipulated round with a clubhead and a shaft that are capable of being assembled into a club. What is the ruling.

A: A separate clubhead and shaft do not constitute a club. There forethe separate clubhead and shaft do not count towards the number of clubs the player may carry under rule 4-4a. However regardless of the number of clubs carried, it is not permissible to assemble a clubhead and shaft carried by the player during the stipulated round. If a player replaces or adds a club by assembling components carried by him during the round, in equity the player would be penalised in accordance with the penalty statement under Rule 4-3a or Rules 4-4a and b, as applicable.

So...although the decision scenario is slightly different to the one you describe, I think the intent is pretty clear...you cant build yourself a new club during the round!!!

Good find. Makes it as clear as it could be.

[golf_bhoy]

What if you leave your son's U.S.Kids 7 iron in the bag?

Penalty.  Happened to a pro a few years back, I can't remember the details - or find it on google - but it has happened.

[BigJim]

Penalty.  Happened to a pro a few years back, I can't remember the details - or find it on google - but it has happened.

And wasn't it something even more ridiculous - like one of those plastic drivers?

[M0stly harm13ss]

I remember it too, but can't find it either! It was one of his children's toy/practice clubs, and even worse, had fallen down right inside the bag as it was so short, hence why no-one saw it.

[Keve]

I know rules are rule but there has got to be an element of common sense in that kind of situation.