Expert: John Brott - 10/2/2009

Question
BEFORE TEEING OFF ON A TEE WHERE THE WHITE AND BLUE MARKERS WERE PLACED BACK TO BACK, MY OPPONENT MOVED THE BLUE TEE MARKER FROM BEHIND THE WHITE TO FACILITATE HIS SWING .  LEGAL?

Answer
Hello Rick:  The penalty for what you describe is:  Match Play:  Loss of Hole – Stroke Play:  2 Stroke Penalty and occurs once he has moved the marker.

“11-2. Tee-Markers
Before a player makes his first stroke with any ball on the teeing ground of the hole being played, the tee-markers are deemed to be fixed. In these circumstances, if the player moves or allows to be moved a tee-marker for the purpose of avoiding interference with his stance, the area of his intended swing or his line of play, he incurs the penalty for a breach of Rule 13-2.”

You can see this and the other rules by going to:
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rule-13/

Fairways and Greens,
John
www.golfnutts.com