2010 #10 Erasure Rule

THE SCENE:

You are playing hole #2 on the Challenger course. Your drive is long enough but you pushed it to the right and it lands and rolls onto the cart path. You know that you get free relief from the cart path so you measure and find your nearest point of relief. It’s on the side nearest the hole, thank goodness. The only problem is that you are going to have to drop on the side of a hill.

So, you drop your ball and it rolls towards the hole. You shake your head, lift the ball and re-drop it. Again it rolls closer to the hole. You mouth a mild expletive and drop it yet again.

At that point one of the other players says, “Wrong! You know you can’t drop your ball 3 times. You have to place it! One stroke penalty.” You know she is right about dropping 3 times.

BUT WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

A. Take a one stroke penalty and place the ball where it first touched the ground the last time it was dropped.

B. Pretend you did not drop your ball the 3rd time and now place it where the ball first struck the ground when it was dropped the 2nd time.

B IS CORRECT

Rule 20-2 C vii says

A dropped ball must be re-dropped, without penalty, if it rolls and comes to rest nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. It goes on to say that if, when re-dropped, it rolls into the same position, it must be placed as near as possible to the spot where it first struck a part of the course when re-dropped.

So, if instead of placing it, you drop the ball a third time, Rule 20-6 (the erasure rule) allows you to pretend you didn’t drop it the third time. You can lift the ball without penalty and then proceed according to the rules. This is true any time you incorrectly substitute a ball, or incorrectly drop or place a ball.

See Rule

20-6. Lifting Ball Incorrectly Substituted, Dropped or Placed

A ball incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed in a wrong place or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules but not played may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed correctly.

So, if you know the rules you won’t be penalized for dropping your ball a third time. But make sure you don’t do anything else before you lift it and place it properly.

Here is a decision that explains why:

20-2c/2  Ball Dropped Third Time When Placement Required After Second Drop Q. A player dropped his ball twice under a Rule and each time the ball rolled nearer the hole. He then dropped the ball a third time instead of placing it as required by Rule 20-2c. What is the ruling? A. Before playing a stroke, the player may lift the ball and place it as prescribed in Rule 20-2c, without penalty (Rule 20-6). If he fails to do so and plays the ball, he incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for a breach of Rule 20-2c. REMEMBER: The Rules can help you, especially the Erasure Rule.

2010 #2 In Anger You Hit a Ball Back at the Following Group

THE SCENE:
You are playing in front of a group of men. All day long they have been hitting into your group. You are keeping up with the group in front of you. You are not playing slow. There is no reason for their behavior. And here comes another ball. It lands and rolls right up to your foot. Without thinking, you take your stance in front of their ball and hit a beautiful shot right back at them. Your partner gasps. “That’s a penalty!”

What would you do?

When you finish your round your should tell the pro what you did.

The Pro will tell you there is a penalty and she will probably show you the following decision:

1-4/4 In Anger Player Strikes Ball Played by Player in Following Group

Q. A is nearly struck by a ball played by a player in the following group. In anger, A hits the ball back towards the group. Has A played a practice stroke or a wrong ball?

A. No. However, in equity (Rule 1-4), A should incur the general penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.

REMEMBER: No matter how bad the group behind you is behaving and no matter how angry you get, you can’t hit a ball back at them. If you do you will be penalized.

2010 #1 Can You Hit Range Balls During Play?

THE SCENE:

On hole #1 you hit your drive. When you arrive at your ball there are umpteen range balls in the area. You have to actually search to find and identify your own. What a mess! While waiting for your fellow competitor to play, you hit some of the balls back onto the range where the machine will pick them up. Your friend said, “Hey! You can’t do that. It’s a 2-stroke penalty."

What would you do?

A. She explains that you are considered to be practicing when you hit other balls. So you take the 2 stroke penalty.

B. You say that you don’t believe that is true. But when you get in, you’ll report what you have done to the Committee and let them decide.

B is correct.

The Committee will tell you that there is no penalty.

Look at the following Decision from the USGA site:

7-2/5 Hitting Practice Range Ball Back to Range

Q. During play of a hole, a player saw some balls from the adjoining practice range lying on the course and flicked one back to the range with his club. Is there a penalty under Rule 7-2?

A. In some circumstances the hitting of a practice range ball back towards the range during the play of a hole would be a breach of Rule 7-2, but the casual flicking of a range ball, apparently only for the purpose of tidying up the course, is not a breach.

REMEMBER: You can’t practice on the course but you can tidy up the course by flicking practice balls back onto the range.

2009 #2 Don’t Know What to Do? Play a 2nd Ball.

THE SCENE:
You are playing in a stroke play event. Your first shot on hole #2 finds the bunker. But even worse, your second shot goes out of bounds. You are under the impression that you can take a penalty stroke and drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball went out of bounds. So you find your ball, drop it and take your stance. Then Mary says, “Wait! You can’t do that. You are out of bounds. You have to go back to the bunker.” You look back at the bunker. That is a long way.

What would you do?

A. You decide to play your dropped ball. When you get in, you will tell the Committee. If there is a penalty you will add it to your score.
B. You announce your intention to play a 2nd ball and that you want your first ball to count - if it is legal. After hitting the dropped ball you play another ball from the bunker. You play both balls into the hole. When you get in, you report what you have done to the Committee.


B is correct.
The Committee will tell you that Mary was right. If your ball is out of bounds you must hit another ball from where you hit before. Therefore your score will be that of your 2nd ball, the one you hit from the bunker.

If you chose A. the Committee would have disqualified you. You played from a wrong place (20-7). You committed a serious breech (you gained significant advantage in distance), and you failed to correct your error.

Look at the following rule:

20-7. Playing from Wrong Place
 b. Match Play
If a player makes a stroke from a wrong place, he loses the hole.
 c. Stroke Play
If a competitor makes a stroke from a wrong place, he incurs a penalty of two strokes under the applicable Rule. He must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place, without correcting his error, provided he has not committed a serious breach (see Note 1).
If a competitor becomes aware that he has played from a wrong place and believes that he may have committed a serious breach, he must, before making a stroke on the next teeing ground, play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules. If the hole being played is the last hole of the round, he must declare, before leaving the putting green, that he will play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules.
If the competitor has played a second ball, he must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card; if he fails to do so, he is disqualified. The Committee must determine whether the competitor has committed a serious breach of the applicable Rule. If he has, the score with the second ball counts and the competitor must add two penalty strokes to his score with that ball. If the competitor has committed a serious breach and has failed to correct it as outlined above, he is disqualified.
Note 1: A competitor is deemed to have committed a serious breach of the applicable Rule if the Committee considers he has gained a significant advantage as a result of playing from a wrong place.

REMEMBER: In a stroke-play event, any time that you are in doubt as to how you should proceed, play 2 balls and let the Committee decide.

2008 #12 When Should You Replace Your Ball?

THE SCENE:
You have hit your ball twice on #12, a long straight par-5 hole. A competitor hits her second shot. Everyone watches as the ball soars high into the air, then lands, on the fairway, rolls towards your ball then bumps it about 3 feet to the right. The competitor says, “Oh, I’m sorry. My ball hit yours. You will have to replace it.”

What would you do?
A. You play your ball as it lies. Only when your ball is moved on the green do you have to replace it.
B. You replace your ball. By doing so you avoid a 2-stroke penalty.

B is correct.
Look at Rule #18

#18 Ball at Rest Moved
18-5. By Another Ball
If a ball in play and at rest is moved by another ball in motion after a stroke, the moved ball must be replaced.

*Penalty for Breach of Rule:Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes

When your ball is moved by another ball, you must replace it. And there are no exceptions. Whether your ball is lying on the green, the fairway or in a hazard, if it is moved by another ball you have to replace it. And if you fail to do so you will incur a 2-stroke penalty in stroke play or a loss of hole penalty in match play.

REMEMBER: If your ball is moved by another ball, replace it.

2008 #10 Where Can You Stand?

THE SCENE:
Your drive lands on the front of the 7th green, rolls towards the flag and comes to rest just two feet from the hole. You putt for a birdie. Your ball rims the hole and curls out, stopping inches beyond the hole. You now have a tap-in. Two other balls have been marked beyond your ball.

What would you do?
A. Reach across the hole and tap the ball back towards you, between your feet?
B. Walk around the hole, avoid stepping on the other players’ lines by awkwardly placing your foot behind your own ball, and then tap it in?

Both A and B are correct.
Many players think A is illegal because Rule 16-1e says you can’t putt while standing astride the line of putt. Sam Snead used to putt this way, as if he were playing croquet, until the USGA outlawed it.

But A is legal. It is true that you can’t straddle the line of putt. But in your Rules of Golf book under Definitions it says:
‘The Line of Putt does not extend beyond the hole.’
In our scenario you are standing beyond the hole. So you are not standing astride the line of putt. Reaching across the hole and tapping the ball in towards you is OK.
And B is legal, too. The same rule, 16-1e, says:
‘The player shall not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball’.
In B you placed your foot behind your ball – that is on an extension of the line of putt behind the ball.

This is new: But Rule 16-1e goes on to say: There is no penalty if the stance is inadvertently taken on or astride the line of putt (or an extension of that line behind the ball) or is taken to avoid standing on another player’s line of putt or prospective line of putt.

In other words, if, because you are trying to avoid standing on the line of another player, you place your foot behind your own ball, that’s okay.

REMEMBER: When you have a tap in, don’t worry about where you place your feet. There is no penalty.

2008 #9 Ball Hits Partner’s Equipment

The Scene:
You are playing in a four-ball competition. (Better ball of the two-some) Your ball is in the bunker on hole #7. The flag is in the right back corner. You can’t see the green but you blast your ball out with enough force to land it on the top level of the green.

As you rake the sand in the bunker and climb out onto the green, you hear the other players arguing about penalty strokes. They explain that your ball landed where you wanted it to, but it kept going, all the way across the green and into the fringe where it hit one of your partner’s clubs.

What would you do?
A. Play your ball as it lies, with no penalty. You couldn’t see her club. It wasn’t on the green. There is no Rules infraction.
B. Play your ball as it lies but take a one stroke penalty for hitting your partner’s equipment.

B is correct
This is new because the penalty has been reduced to one stroke. Last year the penalty was two strokes in stroke play, and loss of hole in match play.

Rule 19-2 is very clear. If your ball, in motion, is stopped or deflected by you, your partner or equipment belonging to either of you, you incur a one stroke penalty. See below:

Rule 19 Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped
19-2 By Player, Partner, Caddie or EquipmentIf a player’s ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by himself, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

REMEMBER: When playing with a partner, don’t risk hitting her clubs. Make sure they are out of the way. But if you do, the penalty is now only one stroke.

2008 #4 Do Whiffs Count?

The Scene:
After 2 shots, your ball is lying in the fairway, short of the green, on hole #3. You address the ball, aim left - away from the water-, and you swing. Swisssshhhh! You missed the ball. You swing again. This time you make contact. The ball lifts high up into the air and lands on the green. What a beautiful shot!

You have hit the ball 3 times. Now, on the green, it takes you three more strokes – 3 putts - to hole your ball.

What is your score?
A. 6
B. 7

B is correct.
You actually hit the ball six times. But you took seven strokes. The whiff counted because it was a stroke.

Open your Rules of Golf book to Definitions. Then find ‘stroke’. You will see:
Stroke
A “stroke’’ is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball,…

You intended to hit the ball. You just missed. So your whiff was a stroke and it counts. Since you took seven strokes your score for the hole is seven.

REMEMBER: Count all your strokes, even your whiffs.

2008 #2 What if Wind Moves Your Ball?

The Scene:
Your drive lands on the green on hole #2. Your ball is way back in the left corner on a hill which runs off the green. You walk back to your ball, mark, lift and clean it. And then you replace the ball.

The ball stays there, at rest, while you view your line from both sides of the flag. Then your ball begins to move, slowly at first, then faster, and faster, rolling down the hill and off the green while you are yelling, “Stop! Stop you dumb ball!”

What would you do?

A. You know there is no penalty. You didn’t cause the ball to move. You hadn’t even addressed the ball yet. So you replace the ball on the green and then putt.
B. You play your ball as it lies.

B is correct.
You didn’t cause your ball to move. There is no penalty. But you must play it from where it lies. (Don’t replace it.) If you replace it you will be playing from a wrong place and penalized for that.
Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 20-3d. You will see:

If a ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed, and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.

If the ball had rolled into the hole you’d have had a hole-in-one. So this rule sometimes helps and sometimes hurts.

REMEMBER: If your ball moves because of wind or gravity or the great unknown, don’t replace the ball. Play it from where it lies.

2008 #1 Can You Lift and Mark Your Ball?

The Scene:
You are playing hole #4 with Nancy. Your approach shot stops just short of the green. Nancy’s ball is about 20 yards behind yours, at the bottom of the hill. The flag is up front. Nancy asks you to mark your ball. But your ball is not on the green.

What would you do?
A. Since your ball is not on the green you are not allowed to move it. So you refuse.
B. You mark your ball and lift it carefully so that you don’t clean it.

B is correct
If another player thinks your ball might interfere with her play and asks you to mark and lift your ball, you are not only allowed to lift your ball, you are required to. But be careful. Don’t lift your ball because you think it might interfere with her play. Wait until you are asked. Otherwise you will incur a one stroke penalty. Open your Rules of Golf. See Rule 22-2

22-2 Ball Interfering with Play
Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that the ball of another player might interfere with his play, he may have it lifted. …The ball must not be cleaned unless it lies on the putting green.
In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.
Note: Except on the putting green, a player may not lift his ball solely because he considers that it might interfere with the play of another player. If a player lifts his ball without being asked to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke for a breach of Rule 18-2a, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 22.

Incidentally, you are allowed to mark your ball without a request if you think it might help her play. (Rule 22-1)

REMEMBER: If someone asks you to mark and lift your ball anywhere on the course, do so. But unless your ball is on the putting green, don’t clean it.

2007 #8 Don’t Know Which Ball is Yours?

THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #3. Your drive goes straight up the middle of the apron towards the green but bounces left, toward the bunker and then out of sight. The next player’s ball follows yours. When you arrive, the two balls are close to each other but one is in the bunker, the other is in the rough. Both players claim the ball in the rough is theirs. Both balls are Titleists. Neither has an identification mark.

What would you do?
A.  The other player insists the ball in the rough is hers. You don’t like fights so you give in and play the other ball, the one in the bunker. You figure you are being a good sport.
B.  Both balls are ‘lost’. The penalty is stroke and distance. You lift one of the balls, mentally take a one stroke penalty and head back to the tee to hit it again.

B is correct. Your ball is lost so you must take a penalty stroke and replay your ball. If you failed to do this, you would be penalized 2-strokes for breach of Rule #27 (Lost Ball).

See Decision 27/10:
27/10 Player Unable to Distinguish His Ball from Another Ball

Q. A and B hit their tee shots into the same area. Both balls were found but, because A and B were playing identical balls and neither had put an identification mark on his ball, they could not determine which ball was A’s and which was B’s. What is the ruling? 

A. Since neither player could identify a ball as his ball, both balls were lost — see Definition of “Lost Ball.” This incident underlines the advisability of the player putting an identification mark on his ball — see Rules 6-5 and 12-2.

REMEMBER: Put an identification mark on your ball!! If you don’t and can’t tell your ball from another, take a penalty stroke, return to the spot from where you hit before, and hit again. If you don’t do that, you are then in beach of Rule #27 and must give yourself a 2 stroke penalty so you won’t be disqualified for turning in an incorrect score card.

2007 #4 Permission to Mark Ball

THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #15. Your second shot is short of the green.. You pitch your ball high in the air and even though you can’t see it, you think it settles near the hole. When you arrive on the green, however, you discover that you are away. You line up your ball and putt. It takes 3 putts to hole your ball. After everyone putts out, you notice a ball marker near the hole and ask who it belongs to. Your fellow competitor says, “Oh, that’s where I marked your ball. Why did you play from way over there?” You place your hands on your hips and say, “You did what!?! You had no right to lift my ball. You didn’t ask my permission.” You stab your finger at her. “You are going to get a big penalty.”

Who does get penalized?
A. She didn’t have the right to lift your ball. She incurs a penalty of one stroke.
B. You are penalized for playing a wrong ball (a ball that has been set aside)
C. There are no penalties for anyone. You must re-putt from where your ball was lifted.

C is correct There are no penalties. It is true that she didn’t have the right to lift your ball without your authorization (Rule 20-1) but in Stroke Play she is not penalized. (Rule 18-4)

Rule 20-1 Lifting and Marking
A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player, his partner or another person authorized by the player.
Rule 18-4 Ball moved by Fellow-Competitor, Caddie or Equipment in Stroke Play
If a fellow-competitor, his caddie or his equipment moves the player’s ball, touches it or causes it to move, there is no penalty. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced.

Since you didn’t know your ball had been set aside, you incur no penalty. But you must replay from where your ball was lifted.

Decision 15-3b/3 Fellow-Competitor Lifts Competitor’s Ball and Sets It Aside; Competitor Plays Ball from Where Set Aside


Q. In stroke play, B marked the position of A’s ball on the putting green, lifted it and placed it nearby on the green. A failed to replace the ball. He putted it from where it lay and holed out. The error was then discovered. What is the ruling?

A. When a ball is lifted, it is out of play. When A played a stroke with his ball which was out of play, he played a wrong ball….
..If A did not know that B had lifted his ball, A could not be penalized for playing a wrong ball. If he became aware of the mistake before playing from the next tee, he was required to replace his ball on the correct spot, without penalty, and complete the hole. If he learned of the mistake after playing from the next tee, the score with the wrong ball would stand and there would be no penalty.

REMEMBER: If you want to mark someone’s ball on the green, first ask her permission. Then don’t set the ball aside. Hand it to her and show her where you marked it. There is no penalty for failing to do this, but we should show consideration for others on the course at all times.

2007 #2 Who Can Replace Your Ball?

THE SCENE:
You are raking the sand in the bunker on hole #15 when Audrey asks for permission to mark your ball on the green. You say of course and when you walk onto the green she hands you your ball and points to her ball marker which is marking your ball.

What would you do?
A. You place your ball in front of the marker then give Audrey her ball marker.
B. You give the ball back to Audrey and ask her to replace it.

Either A or B is correct.
Actually either procedure is allowed. Three people can replace your ball: You, your partner, or the person who lifted it.

Rule 20-3 in your Rules of Golf book answers the question:
20-3 Placing and Replacing
a. By Whom and Where


A ball to be placed under the Rules must be placed by the player or his partner. If a ball is to be replaced, the player, his partner or the person who lifted or moved it must place it on the spot from which it was lifted or moved

But do make sure that if she marked the ball in an unusual way (not directly behind the ball) that you replace the ball accordingly.

REMEMBER: If someone marks your ball for you, it is all right for you to replace it, yourself.

2006 #17 Can You Mark and Lift Your Ball?

THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #4 with Nancy. Your approach shot stops just short of the green. Nancy’s ball is about 20 yards behind yours, at the bottom of the hill. The flag is up front. Nancy asks you to mark your ball. But your ball is not on the green.

What would you do?
A.  You are not allowed to move your ball. So you refuse.
B.  You mark your ball and lift it carefully so that you don’t clean it.

B is correct
If another player thinks your ball might interfere with her play and asks you to mark and lift your ball, you are not only allowed to lift your ball, you are required to.

But be careful. Don’t mark your ball because you think it might interfere with her play. Wait until you are asked. Otherwise you will incur a one stroke penalty. See Rule 22-2

22-2 Ball Interfering with Play
Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that the ball of another player might interfere with his play, he may have it lifted. …The ball must not be cleaned unless it lies on the putting green. 
In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball. 
Note: Except on the putting green, a player may not lift his ball solely because he considers that it might interfere with the play of another player. If a player lifts his ball without being asked to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke for a breach of Rule 18-2a, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 22. 



Incidentally, you are allowed to mark your ball without a request if you think it might help her play. (Rule 22-1)

REMEMBER: If someone asks you to mark and lift your ball anywhere on the course, do so. But, unless your ball is on the putting green, don’t clean it.

2006 #16 Your ball strikes hers. Is there a penalty?

THE SCENE:
You are playing in the first stroke play Championship round, on hole #8. All four balls are on the putting green. One is beyond the cup. You are away, putting steeply downhill. None of the players has marked her ball.

What would you do?
A. Ask the players to mark their balls to prevent a 2-stroke penalty if your ball strikes one of them?
B. Say nothing and hope the player whose ball is beyond the cup leaves it there? If your ball misses the cup, her ball could act as a backstop. And she would get the 2-stroke penalty, not you.

A is correct. You would be penalized 2-strokes if your ball, after a stroke on the putting green, hit one of the other balls.

Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 19-5. You will see the following:
Rule 19 Ball in motion deflected or stopped
19-5. By Another Ball
a. At Rest
If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies. In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty unless both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case the player incurs a penalty of two strokes.

REMEMBER: The only time there is a penalty when your ball hits another ball at rest is in stroke play, when both balls are on the green prior to the stroke.

2006 #11 Ball Lost in an Immovable Obstruction

The Scene:
You are playing hole #17, just before the Bay Hill Invitational. You hit a fantastic high drive but it draws, and drops down left of the green. Bang, crack, it hits the grandstand and rattles around underneath. When you arrive at the hole, you walk under the stand and search for your ball. But you can’t find it.

What would you do?
A. Realize that your ball is lost, take a penalty of stroke and distance, go back to the tee and hit again?
B. Determine where your ball entered the grandstand? Take free relief from that spot? Find your nearest point of relief and drop a ball within one club length of that point, no closer to the hole?

B is correct.
The grandstand is an immoveable obstruction and your ball is lost in it.
Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 24, Obstructions.

24-3. Ball in Obstruction Not Found
(new 2008) It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward an obstruction is in the obstruction. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the obstruction. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

 24-3b. Ball in Immovable Obstruction Not Found
If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in an immovable obstruction, the player may take relief under this Rule. If he elects to do so, the spot where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction must be determined and, for the purpose of applying this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player must proceed as follows:

(i)Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot through the green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(i).

24-2. Immovable Obstruction
 b. Relief
(i)Through the Green:If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

So, as in B above, determine where your ball entered the grandstand. Take free relief from that spot. Find your nearest point of relief and drop a ball within one club length of that point, no closer to the hole.

REMEMBER: Prior to the Bay Hill Invitational many new structures are built on the course. If you know your ball went into one of them and stayed there, but you can’t find it, your ball is lost in an immoveable obstruction, and you get free relief! Take advantage of the Rules. They can help you.

2005 #10 Your ball strikes hers. Is there a penalty?

The Scene:
You are playing in the President’s Cup, a match play event. You are playing hole #1. Both your ball and your opponent’s ball are on the putting green. You are away. Your opponent’s ball lies on the green, just beyond the cup.

What would you do?

A.  Ask your opponent to mark her ball to prevent a 2-stroke penalty if your ball strikes hers?
B.  Say nothing and hope she leaves it there? If your ball misses the cup, her ball could act as a backstop.


B is correct. There is no penalty if your ball strikes hers, even though both of your balls are on the putting green. Why? Because you are playing match play.
Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 19-5. You will see the following:

Rule 19 Ball in motion deflected or stopped
19-5. By Another Ball
a. At Rest
If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies. In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty unless both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case the player incurs a penalty of two strokes.

REMEMBER: The only time there is a penalty when your ball hits another ball at rest is in stroke play when both balls are on the green prior to the stroke.

2005 #3 What if you can’t play your ball?

THE SCENE:
You are playing from a tee on a high hill. It is a par three hole with a green far below. Your drive soars toward the green. Then it veers left, lands way short of the green and bounces down towards the street. It stops right in front of some rocks that hold up the bunker and the side of the hill. You walk down to the ball. It is in bounds but you can’t play it. You are facing the rock. And you can’t wedge yourself between the rock and the ball to hit it sideways.

What would you do?
A. Hit it left handed. You have to get it out of there to a spot from where you can hit it onto the green.
B.  Declare the ball unplayable. Take a one stroke penalty and hit from the tee again.

Of course you are allowed to hit the ball left handed (A.) but it would still be hard to reach the green from down by the street. So the most reasonable thing to do would be (B.) Hit from the tee again.

Look at Rule #28, below.
Rule 28. Ball Unplayable
The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.
If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:
a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.

You can deem your ball unplayable anywhere except in a water hazard. You don’t have to prove it’s unplayable. If you don’t want to play it from wherever it lies, just say it’s unplayable. Take one penalty stroke.

Then you have 3 options:
1) Play from where you played before, in this case, the tee.
2) Drop your ball on an imaginary straight line that starts at the hole, passes through the ball and goes back as far as you wish. In this case that would put you out in the street.
Drop within 2 club lengths of where the ball lies, no nearer the hole. In this case that wouldn’t help very much, so hit from the tee again.

REMEMBER:You can deem your ball unplayable almost anywhere. So, if you get in trouble and know your next shot is going to be very difficult, just take a penalty stroke and use one of the Unplayable options above

2005 #2 Cart Runs Over Ball

THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #11. Your drive landed in the trees between hole #11 and hole #13. You can’t see your ball in the rough so you drive around through the trees while your partner searches on foot. Suddenly your partner holds up her hand and yells, “Wait!” You stop the cart but it’s too late. You have already run over your ball. The ball was pushed straight down into the ground.

What would you do?
A. There is no penalty because you moved your ball while you were searching for it.
B.  There is no penalty because you couldn’t see your ball. You play it as an embedded ball.
C. Take a one stroke penalty because your equipment caused your ball to move. Then place your ball in a similar lie.

C is correct. Look at Rule #18-2

Rule 18 Ball at Rest Moved
18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
a. General
When a player’s ball is in play, if:
the player, his partner or either of their caddies lifts or moves it, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule, or
equipment of the player or his partner causes the ball to move,  the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced

Since your equipment caused your ball to move, you incur a penalty of one stroke. Since the original lie of your ball was altered, you must place it in the most similar lie, within one club length. See 20-3b below:

Rule 20-3b. Lie of Ball to Be Placed or Replaced Altered
If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered:
(i) except in a hazard, the ball must be placed in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard;

REMEMBER: If you run over your own ball with your golf cart, take a one stroke penalty and replace the ball. If the lie has been changed, place the ball in a similar lie.

2005 #1 What if your ball hits your golf cart?

THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #13, stroke play. Both carts are parked beside the green. Your ball is in the trees out to the right but you have a clear path for a pitch to the green. You line up your shot, take a practice swing and then … OH, NO!!! You shank your ball right into your golf cart. It bounces off and lands in the rough.

What would you do?
A. The cart is not yours. You are riding with someone else in their cart so there is no penalty. You count the stroke that hit the cart and then play your ball as it lies.
B.  You take a 1 stroke penalty and play the ball as it lies because your ball hit your own equipment.

B is correct. You are sharing a cart with the cart’s owner. Open your Rules of Golf book to the section called Definitions. Look at Equipment. It says:

Equipment
Note 2: When a golf cart is shared by two or more players, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of one of the players sharing the cart.
If the cart is being moved by one of the players (or the partner of one of the players) sharing it, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be that player's equipment. Otherwise, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of the player sharing the cart whose ball (or whose partner's ball) is involved.

So the cart is deemed to be your equipment and according to Rule 19-2 you will be penalized 1 stroke.

Rule 19 Ball is motion deflected or stopped
19-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
If a player's ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by himself, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. (New in 2008) The ball must be played as it lies,

REMEMBER: If your ball strikes your golf cart, or one that you are sharing with another player, you are penalized one stroke and must play the ball as it lies.