Golfer Penalized for Using Handkerchief to Check Wind Direction

Office worker A faced a dilemma before teeing off on a par-3 hole: should he use a 7-iron or 8-iron? The downhill hole had significant elevation change, and he was hitting into a headwind.

While waiting in the golf cart for his turn, A held up a handkerchief to check the wind's direction and strength. Companion B, who was losing the bet, spotted this and called it a rule violation. A protested: "Don't professional golfers also toss grass into the air to check wind direction and strength before their shots? Why should I be penalized?"

Who was right?

The answer: A receives a general penalty—two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match play.

Golf rules restrict equipment (excluding clubs and balls) that artificially eliminates or reduces the need for essential skills or judgment during play. Players also cannot gain potential advantage by using equipment in an abnormal manner when making a stroke.

Regarding wind and weather conditions, players may obtain any publicly available weather information, including wind speed from forecasts. Checking weather forecasts on mobile phones is permitted. Temperature and humidity may also be measured on the course.

However, players cannot measure wind speed on the course. They also cannot use "artificial objects" to obtain wind-related information. Tossing powder, handkerchiefs, or ribbons to check wind direction is prohibited. Using "natural objects" such as grass or fallen leaves to determine wind direction is permitted under Rule 4.3a.

What about cigarettes? If a player naturally observes wind direction and strength from smoke while simply smoking, there is no violation. However, if the player intentionally lit a cigarette to check wind direction, a penalty applies.