Rules Guy: Is it a penalty to gauge the wind’s direction by your partner’s cigar smoke?

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If a handkerchief is considered an “artificial object” as it relates to gauging wind, what about cigar smoke? I often play with one or more smokers, and cigar smoke is a perfect indicator of wind direction and velocity. Does observing this smoke result in a penalty for the observer? — Richard Ellis, Roswell, Ga.

First off: Kids, don’t smoke — and don’t break the Rules of Golf.

Just as having a handkerchief on the course itself isn’t a breach but using it as a quasi wind sock is, the same is true with cigarettes, cigars, pipes and so on. Smoking is a health issue but not a rules issue — generally.

However, because cigars et al. are artificial objects, per Rule 4.3a(2) using any of these things for the specific purpose of gauging wind-related information would be an issue.

So, Richard, a smoker — let’s call him Stan — breaching this rule would get the general penalty of two strokes in stroke play and loss of hole in match play for the first offense and disqualified upon a second offense.

Assuming you didn’t ask Stan to blow smoke in order to pick up its signals, you’re in the clear — save for the dangers of secondhand smoke.

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