YOUR QUERIES RESOLVED

My mate got disqualified in a Stableford competition recently for adjusting his club on the 17th tee before a member pointed out to him that it was illegal. As he was unaware of this Rule, he immediately adjusted it back to what it was before and then teed off. This was witnessed by the other players. What Rule governs this, and does he have a case to appeal?

bigg111, GM website forum

If a club’s performance characteristics are changed by using an adjustable feature but, before the club is used to make a stroke, the club is restored to its original position by adjusting the feature back to where it was, there is no penalty and the club may be used to make a stroke. However, if you change the performance characteristics and use the club, the penalty for making a stroke in breach of Rule 4.1a is disqualification. Ultimately, the Committee’s decision is final, so now the competition has closed, the Committee’s decision stands. We had a debate about this in the club tonight, so I’m looking for the correct ruling. I know you can’t touch the sand on practice swings in the bunker, but the question raised was, are you allowed to touch the sand on your backswing when you are about to play your shot? I was fairly adamant in that I thought you couldn’t, but others at the club thought differently.

User99, GM website forum

Before making a stroke in a bunker, you cannot deliberately touch sand in the bunker with a club right in front of or behind the ball, in making a practice swing or in making the backswing for the stroke. If you did touch the sand on your backswing, you would be in breach of Rule 12.2, which results in loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.