Be the Referee: Wrong Green
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
April 29, 2026
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Wrong Green - Listen
The weather’s getting nicer so we’re breaking out the golf clubs and hitting the links. But our game is still a little rusty.
The first three holes go well enough. But on hole number 4, our tee shot is off target. Way off target. And it lands on the green for a different hole. Now what? Can we just hit our approach shot from the wrong green?
No – but you do get free relief if your ball is on the wrong green.
Identify the nearest point of relief that is not closer to the hole – and completely off of the wrong green, including your stance – and drop your ball within a club-length of that point. Now you are good to hit your next shot.
If you were to take a shot from the wrong green – and not take the free relief – that would be a two-stroke penalty.
Previous 2025-26 editions
April 21: Injured Runner - Listen
April 14: Officiate Michigan Day - Listen
March 11: Basketball Replay - Listen
March 3: Over the Back - Listen
Feb. 24: Wrestling Out-of-Bounds - Listen
Feb. 17: Backwards Skiing - Listen
Feb. 10: Faking Being Fouled - Listen
Feb. 3: Bowling Pins - Listen
Jan. 27: Ski Gates - Listen
Jan. 20: Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 13: Basketball Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 6: Bowling Ball Bounces Out of Gutter - Listen
Dec. 9: Puck on Goal Netting - Listen
Dec. 2: Goaltending vs. Basket Interference - Listen
Nov. 25: Football Finals Instant Replay - Listen
Nov. 18: Volleyball Libero Uniforms - Listen
Nov. 11: Illegal Substitution/Participation - Listen
Nov. 4: Losing a Shoe - Listen
Oct. 28: Unusual Soccer Goals - Listen
Oct. 21: Field Hockey Penalty Stroke - Listen
Oct. 14: Tennis Double Hit - Listen
Oct. 7: Safety in Football - Listen
Sept. 30: Field Hockey Substitution - Listen
Sept 23: Multiple Contacts in Volleyball - Listen
Sept. 16: Soccer Penalty Kick - Listen
Sept. 9: Forward Fumble - Listen
Sept. 2: Field Hockey Basics - Listen
Aug. 26: Golf Ball Bounces Out - Listen
Be the Referee: Baker Bowling
By
Paige Winne
MHSAA Marketing & Social Media Coordinator
February 28, 2023
Be The Referee is a series of short messages designed to help educate people on the rules of different sports, to help them better understand the art of officiating, and to recruit officials.
Below is this week's segment – Baker Bowling - Listen
What happens if a player bowls out of turn during a Baker game?
First – what’s a Baker game? That’s when the five members of a team alternate bowling frames. The number one bowler goes in frames 1 and 6 … and on down the line.
If a bowler goes out of turn during MHSAA competition, in accordance with USBC Rule 8, Item d, a dead ball would be declared – the delivery does not count, the pins must be re-spotted, and the correct bowler is then required to continue play.
While a recent change to NCAA Bowling rules would penalize bowling out of order on the wrong lane with a zero for the attempt starting with the first infraction, the NCAA rule is not used for MHSAA competition.
Instead, the frame is re-set, and the correct bowler is free to continue.
Previous Editions:
Feb. 21: Ski Finish - Listen
Feb. 14: Swimming Touchpads - Listen
Feb. 7: In or Out-of-Bounds in Wrestling - Listen
Jan. 31: Over the Back - Listen
Jan. 24: Competitive Cheer Judges - Listen
Jan. 17: More Lines - Listen
Jan. 10: On the Line - Listen
Jan. 3: Basketball Measurements - Listen
Dec. 13: Pregame Dunks - Listen
Dec. 6: Gymnastics Judges - Listen
Nov. 22: Football Finals Replay - Listen
Nov. 15: Back Row Illegal Blocker - Listen
Nov. 8: Swim Turn Judges - Listen
Nov. 1: Soccer Referee Jersey Colors - Listen
Oct. 25: Cross Country Tie-Breaker - Listen
Oct. 18: Soccer Shootouts - Listen
Oct. 11: Safety in End Zone - Listen
Oct. 4: Football Overtime Penalty - Listen
Sept. 27: Kickoff Goal - Listen
Sept. 20: Soccer Timing - Listen
Sept. 13: Volleyball Replays - Listen
Sept. 6: Switching Sides - Listen
Aug. 30: Play Clock - Listen
Aug. 23: Intentional Grounding Change - Listen