Showing 1 - 10 of 23
Free relief, OB stakes and the one-club drop
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 11/02/2026
» Please allow me to try and explain what is an immovable obstruction once more. They are basically artificial, fixed objects like cart paths, sprinklers, or fences -- they allow for a free, one-stroke relief drop if they interfere with a player's lie, stance, or swing. Relief is not permitted for line-of-sight interference. Players must find the nearest point of complete relief, not closer to the hole, and drop within one club-length.
Unplayable lies: Know the three relief options
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 04/02/2026
» You have basically three options if your golf ball finds itself in an unplayable lie. An unplayable lie allows a golfer to take relief almost anywhere on the course but comes with a one-stroke penalty, excluding penalty areas. The player is the sole judge of whether a ball is unplayable. The 3-options for relief are -- stroke-and-distance, back-on-the-line, or lateral relief within two club-lengths of where the ball is at rest.
Penalty or no penalty? These tricky scenarios will test you
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 12/11/2025
» Let's see how good you know your golf rules; Here's some questions that will get you thinking -- You and your opponent are using the same type of ball in a match and inadvertently play each other's ball into the green. You're not sure who played a shot with the wrong ball first, so you finish out the hole as if nothing happened. Penalty or no penalty?
Golf made simple: Key rules every player should know
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 01/10/2025
» Carrying on with some basic 'easy to understand' golf rules that we all need to know well. To correctly drop a golf ball, you must release the ball from your hand at knee height, allowing it to fall straight down without touching your body or equipment before hitting the ground. The ball must then land and come to rest within the defined relief area for that required situation. Should it bounce away from the dropping area you can try two more times. If still unsuccessful -- you can then place the ball. If you drop the ball incorrectly, you simply must re-drop it without penalty, but you incur a penalty if you play the ball from a wrong place after dropping it.
From divots to bunkers: Clearing up rules
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 10/09/2025
» Feedback always comes back thick and fast when l mention the rules of golf as our rules can be confusing for many. Last week, l discussed the situation of if your ball embeds itself and from the feedback came the helpful comment that there's no relief if your ball comes to rest in another pitch mark or divot.
A few simple setup tweaks
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 06/08/2025
» Those of us getting on in life usually have more time to play but suffer from less flexibility, less range of motion and less speed. It's a sad combination, especially when your brain still remembers the swing you used to have.
One swing for pitch shots
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 30/07/2025
» Are you having problems with pitch shots around the green, perhaps you're undecided to hit it high or low or make it stop quickly. Here's a way of making the shot selection and execution process simpler.
How the original 13 rules shaped game
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 25/09/2024
» I'm always getting questions regarding the rules, and I answer them as best l can however, as we all know -- our rules can be somewhat complicated and catching out even the world's best players. Therefore, it's interesting to see how simple & refreshingly uncomplicated they were back in the day.
Simple tricks to keep your eyes over ball
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 17/07/2024
» Personally, l like a putting stroke that uses the arms and wrists; however, on a very long putt, you will need to use your shoulders and take a longer backswing and follow-through. Play the ball off the left heel and place your feet square to the line.
Like chess, it is forever challenging
Sports, Brett Brasier, Published on 31/01/2024
» The term 'average golfer' is often used but sometimes l wonder, what is the average golfer. I read somewhere that statistics show that the average male golfer shoots around 92. Personally, l find this hard to believe. Playing from stringent tees and holing every putt -- most golfers won't break 100.