Golf Nut, I have a golf rules question. I am right handed and my golf ball is next to a tree in such a way that I can’t hit it with the golf club right handed. But I can use the golf club left handed. In addressing the golf ball left handed, I am standing on the golf cart path. Can I take relief? Also if the relief frees up the golf ball so that I can use the golf club right handed is this allowed?

This is a very interesting golf rules question. And the answer may surprise some of us amateur golfers. The rules under Rule 24-2b say that relief is allowed since an abnormal (left handed) golf swing would be necessary to play towards the hole. So the first part of the question says that relief is allowed.

The correct procedure is for the golfer to take relief for a left handed golf swing. But then the rules of golf say that you may take your normal right handed golf swing.

I know that this sounds surprising, but I double checked the golf rules and this is allowed. Probably one of the keys is to make sure that the golfer has made a correct ruling that he/she cannot advance towards the hole except with a left handed golf swing.