Golf Rules: How to Handle Play Suspension and Wind Effects

Winter makes it difficult to get out on the course. Harsh winds blow even at driving ranges. Naturally, time spent indoors grows longer. This winter presents a good opportunity to tackle tasks long postponed—one being studying golf rules. This series examines easily confused rules through various cases from last year's Korea Professional Golf Association (KPGA) Tour and Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA) Tour.

This season's LPGA Tour faced disruption from its opening event. The Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions, which concluded on February 1 at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando, Florida, was reduced from a 72-hole to 54-hole competition.

The LPGA Tour initially cited "concerns about player injuries due to cold weather and strong winds" as the reason for shortening the event. However, controversy arose when inadequate preparation for Monday play was later revealed as the direct cause.

Hwang Yu-min, making her LPGA Tour debut, unexpectedly drew attention during the tournament. On the 17th hole of the third round, her par putt rolled slightly past the hole, then continued rolling in the wind until it stopped in the rough off the green. Hwang shook her head in disbelief, and play was suspended after a rules official reported the situation via radio.

Two golf rule questions arise from this incident: procedures for play suspension and rules regarding wind effects.

First, play suspension. When the committee declares a general suspension of play, players between holes must not make a stroke to begin another hole. Players mid-hole, like Hwang, may choose to stop immediately or complete that hole before stopping. Hwang chose immediate suspension. However, immediate suspension is mandatory when danger is imminent, such as lightning. Violation results in disqualification (Rule 5.7b).

When suspending play, players may mark their ball's position and lift it. Upon resumption, players replace the original ball or another ball and continue play.

If the ball was not lifted, players may play it as it lies, or mark its position, lift it, and replace it or another ball at the original spot.

If the ball or ball-marker moved during the suspension, it must be replaced at the original spot. If that spot is unknown, it must be estimated (Rule 5.7d).

Second, wind effects. While not identical to Hwang's situation, this concerns balls moved by wind. When natural forces move a player's ball at rest, there is no penalty, and the ball must be played from its new position.

However, if a ball on the putting green was lifted, replaced, and then moved by wind, it must be replaced at its original spot (Rule 9.3).