Nina Caldwell
The stymie is an archaic golf rule that is no longer in use. It was eliminated when the first joint USGA and R&A Rules of Golf came into effect in 1952. Before that, if a player's ball on the putting green interfered with their opponent's line of putt, the interfering ball could only be marked if the two balls were within six inches of each other. If they were more than six inches apart, the player had to play around or over the obstructing ball. The term stymie is still used to describe a situation where a player's route is blocked by an object.
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What You'll Learn
Stymie definition in golf
Stymie is an archaic golf rule that is no longer in use. It was eliminated when the first joint USGA and R&A Rules of Golf came into effect in 1952.
The stymie rule applied when one golfer's ball sat on the putting green between the hole and the opponent's golf ball, blocking the hole for the opponent's putt. Unless the two balls were within six inches of one another, the ball closer to the hole was not lifted. If a player found their ball's path to the hole blocked by an opponent, they were stymied.
In such a situation, the player whose path was blocked could attempt to pop their putt over the opponent's ball or chip their ball over the opponent's ball. They might also try to slice or hook their putt around the intervening ball.
The stymie rule was modified several times before its eventual elimination. In 1920, the United States Golf Association (USGA) tested a modified rule for one year, allowing a stymied player to concede the opponent's next putt. In 1938, the USGA began a two-year trial, allowing an obstructing ball within six inches of the hole to be moved regardless of the distance between the balls. This rule change was made permanent in 1941. However, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews never modified their stymie rule.
While the stymie rule is no longer used in competition golf, the term "stymie" is still occasionally used to describe a situation where a golfer's ball is blocked by an object, such as a tree.
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Stymie rule changes
The stymie is a now-extinct rule in the game of golf that was eliminated worldwide with the release of the first joint USGA and R&A Rules in 1952. This rule change was significant as it addressed the issue of one player's ball on the putting green interfering with another player's line of putt, which was previously allowed under the stymie rule.
Prior to the 1952 rule change, there were several important stymie rule modifications. In 1744, the first rules of golf allowed that a ball could only be moved if it was touching another ball. This provision for moving balls that were in contact with each other was further refined in the late 18th century, with a new rule established in 1775 by the Gentlemen Golfers of Leith, allowing a ball to be moved if the balls were touching or within six inches of each other.
In 1812, the St. Andrews Golfers adopted a similar rule, stating that "When the balls lie within six inches of one another, the ball nearest the hole must be lifted till the other is played, but on the putting green, it shall not be lifted, although within six inches, unless it lie directly between the other and the hole." However, they maintained their stance on not modifying the stymie rule during this period of changing regulations.
In 1920, the United States Golf Association (USGA) tested a modified stymie rule for a year, allowing a player whose ball was stymied to concede the opponent's next putt. Then, in 1938, the USGA initiated a two-year trial that allowed an obstructing ball within six inches of the hole to be moved, regardless of the distance between the balls. This rule change was made permanent in 1941.
The stymie rule continued to evolve until its eventual removal from competition golf in 1952. While it is no longer used in tournament play, some golfers still apply it in casual or bounce games. The term "stymie" persists in golf terminology, describing a situation where a player's route is blocked, such as by a tree.
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Stymie in casual play
Stymie is an old rule in golf that is no longer used. It was eliminated in 1952 when the first joint USGA and R&A Rules of Golf came into effect. However, even though the stymie rule is no longer a part of the official rules of golf, the term "stymie" is still sometimes used in casual or bounce play.
The term "stymie" refers to a situation in which a player's route is blocked by an opponent's ball. For example, a player might say they are ""stymied behind a tree".
Prior to the rule change in 1952, if a player's ball on the putting green interfered with another player's line of putt, the interfering ball could only be marked if the two balls were within six inches of each other. If they were more than six inches apart, the player simply had to play around or over the interfering ball.
In the late 18th century, if balls were very near to one another on the playing surface but not touching, they had to be played as they lay. Then, a provision was made to move balls that were within six inches of each other. In the 1830s, stymies were restricted to matches in which there was only one ball per side.
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Stymie in match play
The "stymie" is an archaic golf rule that is no longer in use. It was eliminated when the first joint USGA and R&A Rules of Golf came into effect in 1952.
In the context of match play, a stymie specifically refers to a situation where one golfer's ball sits on the putting green between the hole and the opponent's golf ball, blocking the hole for the opponent's putt. This scenario was also known as "leaving a stymie" or "laying a stymie".
Prior to the rule change in 1952, if an opponent's ball blocked the putting line, it could only be marked and moved if the two balls were within six inches of each other. If the balls were more than six inches apart, there was no provision for moving the obstructing ball, and the player had to play around or chip over it.
During the early 20th century, stymies were a common feature of match play. However, they were eventually eliminated from competitive golf due to the frustration they caused. While no longer a formal rule, the term "stymie" is still used casually to describe a situation where a golfer's ball is blocked by an obstacle, such as a tree.
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Stymie in stroke play
The stymie is an archaic rule in golf that was eliminated when the first joint USGA and R&A Rules of Golf came into effect in 1952. It was not a common occurrence in stroke play but was a feature of match play during the early 20th century.
Under the stymie rule, if one player's ball on the putting green blocked another player's line of putt, the interfering ball could only be marked and moved if the two balls were within six inches of each other. If the balls were more than six inches apart, the obstructing ball could not be marked and the player had to play around or over it. This rule created a challenging situation for golfers, who had to devise strategies to navigate their ball towards the hole despite the obstruction.
In 1938, the USGA modified the stymie rule, allowing an interfering ball within six inches of the hole to be lifted regardless of its proximity to the other ball. This modification provided some relief to golfers facing a stymie situation. However, it is important to note that this rule change was not universally adopted, as the R&A, which governed rules in certain regions, did not implement this change at the time.
The stymie rule was eventually eliminated from golf in 1952 with the release of the first joint USGA and R&A Rules, which allowed for the lifting of an interfering ball on the putting green, regardless of its distance from the other ball. This rule change standardized the approach to stymies and provided a consistent solution to this unique challenge in stroke play.
Despite the official removal of the stymie rule from competitive golf, the term "stymie" is still occasionally used in casual or bounce play to describe a situation where a golfer's ball is blocked by an obstacle, such as a tree, and they must strategize an alternative approach to reach the hole.
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Frequently asked questions
A stymie is an old golf rule that is no longer used. It was eliminated when the first joint USGA and R&A Rules of Golf came into effect in 1952.
If one player’s ball on the putting green interfered with another player’s line of putt, the interfering ball could only be marked if the two balls were within six inches of each other. If they were more than six inches apart, the player had to play around or over the interfering ball.
The USGA modified the stymie rule in 1938 to allow an interfering ball within 6 inches of the hole to be lifted regardless of the proximity to the other ball.
If a player found their ball’s path to the hole blocked by an opponent, they were stymied.
Although stymies are no longer part of the rules of golf, the term stymie is still used to describe a situation when a player's route may be blocked. For example, a player might say they are "stymied behind a tree".
