Wheelchair Golf USGA Rules

Wheelchair Golf USGA Rules For Golfers Requiring Wheelchairs

Definition of "Stance"

The use of assistive devices raises the question of what constitutes taking the stance. This is a critical element in determining relief from an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2) and abnormal ground conditions (Rule 25-1) and whether or not a player is subject to penalty if his ball moves prior to his playing a stroke. The following Definition is recommended:

Stance: Taking the "stance" consists in a player who is using an assistive device placing the device and, if applicable, his feet in position for and preparatory to making a stroke. The assistive device is deemed to be part of the player's stance.

Rule 1-2 (Exerting Influence on the Ball), Rule 13-1 (Ball Played as It Lies) and Rule 18-2a (Ball at Rest Moved by Player)

Prior to making a stroke, golfers who play from a wheelchair have traditionally moved the ball a short distance to facilitate positioning it in their stance before address, a maneuver often referred to as "bumping" the ball. Increasing the pace of play and decreasing turf damage by not having to precisely position their chair are the reasons which are often cited to justify this practice. Everyone would like to increase the pace of play while simultaneously decreasing turf damage. Consequently, the rationale for "bumping" the ball is not without some merit. However, such an action violates one of the two most fundamental principles of the game - playing the ball as it lies.

Drafting language which would permit such a procedure is more difficult than it might seem. For example: By what means may the player "bump" the ball? How far may he "bump" it? When is the ball back in play? If the ball moves after it has been "bumped," must it be replaced, played as it lies or may the player "re-bump" it? If the ball moves after it has been "bumped," is the player subject to penalty? Must the ball remain on the same part of the golf course (teeing ground, through the green, hazard and putting green) after it has been "bumped"? If it must remain on the same part of the golf course, may a player who is "bumping" the ball only several inches through the green move it from high rough to short rough or to the fairway? If the original ball had come to rest in a divot hole, may the player "bump" the ball out of the divot hole?

With respect to the next-to-the-last question, it seems logical to conclude that, at a particularly crucial point in his round, the player who has the opportunity to move his ball from tall grass to short grass is much less likely to make a concerted effort to precisely position his chair than the player who would have to move his ball from short grass to tall grass.

Ultimately, "bumping" the ball becomes a mechanism by which "preferred lies" are endorsed. Certainly, this is not a desired result. Therefore, this practice should be discouraged, realizing that there is and will continue to be a marked difference in how strictly the Rules of Golf are applied by and to recreational and competitive golfers.

Rule 6-4 (Caddie)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches for additional considerations regarding this Rule.

In addition, it would be permissible for a wheelchair golfer to employ both a caddie and an aide to assist him provided the aide does not carry or handle the player's clubs (see Rule 8-1 below). Depending on his responsibilities, the status of the aide would need to be clarified (see discussion of "Coach" under Blind Golfers; see also discussion of "Supervisor" under Mentally Handicapped Golfers).

Rule 8-1 (Advice)

If a wheelchair golfer employs both a caddie and an aide (see Rule 6-4 above), the aide would be prohibited from giving advice to the player.

Rule 13-2 (Improving Lie, Area of Intended Swing or Line of Play)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches.

Rule 13-3 (Building Stance)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches.

Rule 14-2 (Physical Assistance)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches.

Rule 14-3 (Artificial Devices and Unusual Equipment)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches.

Rule 16-1e (Standing Astride or on Line of Putt)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches.

Rule 17-3b (Ball Striking Flagstick or Attendant)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches.

Rule 20-1 (Lifting)

Rule 20-1 states in part:

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of lifting the ball under a Rule or marking its position, the ball or the ball-marker shall be replaced. There is no penalty provided the movement of the ball or the ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of marking the position of or lifting the ball. Otherwise, the player shall incur a penalty stroke under this Rule or Rule 18-2a.

This Rule requires no modification for use by disabled golfers. However, because physical limitations and assistive devices, especially chairs, may restrict access to the ball, the Rule should be interpreted loosely enough to give the disabled golfer the benefit of the doubt in cases where directly attributable becomes an issue.

Rule 20-2a (Dropping and Re-dropping; By Whom and How)

Rather than have a disabled golfer who uses a wheelchair hold the ball above his head and drop it or throw the ball upwards to what shoulder height would be if he were able to stand erect, and in an effort to provide some uniformity, the following modification to Rule 20-2a is recommended:

20-2. Dropping and Re-dropping

a. BY WHOM AND HOW

A ball to be dropped under the Rules shall be dropped by the player himself. He shall either stand or sit erect, hold the ball at shoulder height and arm's length and drop it. If a ball is dropped by any other person or in any other manner and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player shall incur a penalty stroke.

Rule 20-3 (Placing and Replacing)

While a player may give another person the authority to retrieve or lift his ball, only the player or his partner may place a ball under the Rules. Because of physical limitations, it may be difficult or impossible for the disabled golfer playing from a wheelchair to place a ball as provided in Rule 20-3a. The solution to this issue is not very straightforward. Rather than suggesting that another person be authorized by the player to place the ball for him or that the player simply do his best, even if this means dropping the ball a few inches, it seems reasonable to wait and see whether or not this concern becomes a real issue.

Replacing the ball should rarely pose any difficulty, as Rule 20-3 allows for replacement not only by the player or his partner but also by the person who lifted it.

Rule 22 (Ball Interfering with or Assisting Play)

Disabled golfers using assistive devices may be inclined not to lift their ball on the putting green in an effort to reduce the potential for damage to the putting green surface. This is not the problem it may seem to be, as the player may authorize another person to lift and mark his ball. The development of assistive devices which minimize the load per square inch will also help eliminate this concern.

Rule 24-2 (Immovable Obstruction) and Rule 25-1 (Abnormal Ground Conditions)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches.

Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable)

See same entry under Golfers Requiring Canes and Crutches for additional considerations regarding this Rule.

Obviously, the most significant issue here is how this Rule should be applied to the disabled golfer who is using a wheelchair and cannot get to his ball when it lies in a bunker. At present, the wheelchair golfer often moves the ball close to the edge of the bunker and plays it, without penalty, or drops a ball outside of the bunker under penalty of one stroke.

This procedure creates the potential for a very definite inequity. Consider the case in which two wheelchair golfers are playing against one another, and the balls of both players come to rest in a bunker. If one of the balls is playable and the other ball is truly unplayable, both players are handled identically - a decidedly advantageous result for the player whose ball was unplayable.

Before suggesting a solution to this problem, another potential inequity must be examined. Consider the available options for the able-bodied golfer when he plays a stroke and the ball comes to rest in a bunker. He may play the ball as it lies. If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he shall, under penalty of one stroke:

Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played; or
Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole; or
Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped.
If the unplayable ball lies in a bunker the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

Therefore, the able-bodied golfer may play his next stroke from outside of the bunker, but instead of simply dropping a ball just outside of the bunker, he must go back to the spot from which he last played. In some instances, this may result in his having to play a full shot just to get back to the area of the bunker - the equivalent of a two-stroke penalty and a very definite inequity.

Keeping in mind the goal of allowing able-bodied and disabled golfers to play against one another on an equitable basis, the following modification to the language of Rule 28 is recommended:

If a disabled golfer deems his ball to be unplayable in a bunker, he shall:

Proceed under Rule 28a, b or c; or
Add an additional penalty of one stroke and play a ball outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.
While this modification eliminates the inequity for the able-bodied golfer, it appears to create one for the disabled golfer. However, it is anticipated that future refinements in the USGA Handicap System will resolve this concern by allotting proportionally more handicap strokes to the disabled golfer who is playing from a wheelchair as the number and the severity of the bunkers increase from one golf course to another.