THE SCENE:
Your ball rolls onto the cart path and stops. You know you get free relief from the path because it is an immovable obstruction. So, you drop your ball properly. You are holding several clubs. So, before taking your stance you select your 7 iron and toss your other clubs onto the ground.
Uh-oh! One of your clubs bounces and lands on your ball, causing it to move.
What would you do?
A. You hadn't yet taken your stance. So, there is no penalty. You reach out with your club and roll your ball back into place and then play it.
B. Your equipment accidentally caused your ball to move. You add a penalty stroke, replace your ball and then play it.
B is correct because even though you hadn’t yet taken your stance, your club did did cause your ball to move.
Look in your Rules of Golf book. Rule #18 says:
RULE #18 BALL AT REST MOVED
18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
When a player’s ball is in play, if:
the player … causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule,
the player shall incur a penalty stroke… The ball shall be replaced.
(ii)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 …
If you fail to replace your ball, you'll be in breech of Rule #18, a maximum 2-stroke penalty.
What this means to you is:
Your ball was at rest.
Your club (your equipment) caused your ball to move.
You incur one penalty stroke.
Your must replace your ball - or incur a 2-stroke penalty.
REMEMBER: If your equipment causes your ball to move, replace it and add a penalty stroke to your score for the hole.
Showing posts with label ball moved. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ball moved. Show all posts
28.6.11
2011 #1 Can You Lift and Clean Your Ball?
THE SCENE:
Your ball in lying in the fairway on hole #4. It has a hunk of mud adhering to it. You lift the ball and rub it against the grass to clean it. But then your fellow competitor calls you on it. She says, “Hey! You can’t do that! That’s a one stroke penalty.”
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
A. You did lift and clean your ball, so you take a one stroke penalty.
B. Your ball had mud on it. You couldn’t even tell if it was your ball until you cleaned it. So there was no penalty.
A IS CORRECT.
You are not allowed to lift your ball. If you do so, you will be penalized 1 stroke.
See 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:
(i) 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
the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.
You are not allowed to clean your ball.
If you lifted your ball to identify it, and if you followed the proper procedure for doing so (see Rules Tip 2008 #8 How to ID Your Ball), you will still be penalized 1 stroke for cleaning it.The following rule says you can’t clean your ball when you have lifted it to ID it.
Rule 21 Cleaning Ball
A ball on the putting green may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 16-1b. Elsewhere, a ball may be cleaned when lifted, except when it has been lifted: a. To determine if it is unfit for play (Rule 5-3); b. For identification (Rule 12-2), in which case it may be cleaned only to the extent necessary for identification; or c. Because it is assisting or interfering with play (Rule 22). If a player cleans his ball during play of a hole except as provided in this Rule, he incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball, if lifted, must be replaced. The only time you are allowed to Lift, Clean and Replace you ball on the fairway is when the Club has instituted Winter Rules. |
REMEMBER: When your ball lies in the fairway or ruff, even if it is very dirty, don’t lift it and clean it.
11.3.07
2007 #13 Did You Make a Stroke?
THE SCENE:
You are on hole #1, short of the bunker. You want to pitch your ball onto the green and let it roll to the hole. You pull out your pitching wedge and then line up to take a practice swing. You glance quickly at your target and swing back. Then your brain goes dead. Your arms reach out instinctively for the ball and the tip of your club head hits the ball, shoving it away from you.
What would you do?
A. It was a practice swing, not a stroke. You hadn't even taken your stance. So, it doesn't count. You reach out with your club and roll your ball back into place and then play it.
B. You took a stroke. You count it and then play the ball from where it lies.
C. You accidentally caused your ball to move. You add a penalty stroke, replace your ball and then play it.
C is correct because you didn't make a stroke but you did cause your ball to move.
Look in your Rules of Golf book under DEFINITIONS, page 3. You will see
A “stroke’’ is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of fairly striking at and moving the ball, ...
Since you had no intention of striking the ball, you did not make a stroke. However, you did cause the ball to move. Rule #18 says:
RULE #18 BALL AT REST MOVED
18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
When a player’s ball is in play, if:
the player … causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule,
the player shall incur a penalty stroke… The ball shall be replaced
If you fail to replace your ball, you'll be in breech of Rule #18, a maximum 2-stroke penalty.
What this means to you is:
Your ball was at rest.
You, the player, caused your ball to move.
You incur one penalty stroke.
Your must replace your ball - or incur a 2-stroke penalty.
REMEMBER: If you cause your ball to move, replace it and add a penalty stroke to your score for the hole.
You are on hole #1, short of the bunker. You want to pitch your ball onto the green and let it roll to the hole. You pull out your pitching wedge and then line up to take a practice swing. You glance quickly at your target and swing back. Then your brain goes dead. Your arms reach out instinctively for the ball and the tip of your club head hits the ball, shoving it away from you.
What would you do?
A. It was a practice swing, not a stroke. You hadn't even taken your stance. So, it doesn't count. You reach out with your club and roll your ball back into place and then play it.
B. You took a stroke. You count it and then play the ball from where it lies.
C. You accidentally caused your ball to move. You add a penalty stroke, replace your ball and then play it.
C is correct because you didn't make a stroke but you did cause your ball to move.
Look in your Rules of Golf book under DEFINITIONS, page 3. You will see
A “stroke’’ is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of fairly striking at and moving the ball, ...
Since you had no intention of striking the ball, you did not make a stroke. However, you did cause the ball to move. Rule #18 says:
RULE #18 BALL AT REST MOVED
18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
When a player’s ball is in play, if:
the player … causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule,
the player shall incur a penalty stroke… The ball shall be replaced
If you fail to replace your ball, you'll be in breech of Rule #18, a maximum 2-stroke penalty.
What this means to you is:
Your ball was at rest.
You, the player, caused your ball to move.
You incur one penalty stroke.
Your must replace your ball - or incur a 2-stroke penalty.
REMEMBER: If you cause your ball to move, replace it and add a penalty stroke to your score for the hole.
13.3.06
2006 #13 Putter Used as Ball Marker
The Scene:
We were playing hole #18. All four balls lay on the green. I was away. I walked to my ball and placed my long putter behind it. Keeping my putter in place, I leaned over and lined up my ball. Then I removed my putter. But as I removed it, I twisted it against the ball and the ball rolled away a couple of inches. I replaced the ball. Should I take a penalty?
What would you do?
We weren’t sure what to do so we reasoned as follows:
First, I used my putter as a ball marker. Is that legal?
Yes, Decision 20-1/16 says
Examples of methods of marking the position of a ball which are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows: • placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball;
Second, when I removed my ‘ball marker’, the ball moved. Is there a penalty?
The following decision says there is no penalty.
20-3a/1 Ball Moved in Removing Ball-Marker After Replacing Ball Q. A player replaces his ball under a Rule and, in the act of removing the object marking its position, accidentally moves the ball. What is the ruling? A. Removal of the ball-marker is part of the replacement process. Accordingly, under Rule 20-3a, no penalty is incurred, and the ball must be replaced.
Third, to make doubly sure, we phoned the pro shop. They checked it out and said that as long as I had replaced the ball there was no penalty.
REMEMBER: If you accidentally move your ball when you lift the ball marker, there is no penalty IF you replace the ball.
We were playing hole #18. All four balls lay on the green. I was away. I walked to my ball and placed my long putter behind it. Keeping my putter in place, I leaned over and lined up my ball. Then I removed my putter. But as I removed it, I twisted it against the ball and the ball rolled away a couple of inches. I replaced the ball. Should I take a penalty?
What would you do?
We weren’t sure what to do so we reasoned as follows:
First, I used my putter as a ball marker. Is that legal?
Yes, Decision 20-1/16 says
Examples of methods of marking the position of a ball which are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows: • placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball;
Second, when I removed my ‘ball marker’, the ball moved. Is there a penalty?
The following decision says there is no penalty.
20-3a/1 Ball Moved in Removing Ball-Marker After Replacing Ball Q. A player replaces his ball under a Rule and, in the act of removing the object marking its position, accidentally moves the ball. What is the ruling? A. Removal of the ball-marker is part of the replacement process. Accordingly, under Rule 20-3a, no penalty is incurred, and the ball must be replaced.
Third, to make doubly sure, we phoned the pro shop. They checked it out and said that as long as I had replaced the ball there was no penalty.
REMEMBER: If you accidentally move your ball when you lift the ball marker, there is no penalty IF you replace the ball.
6.6.05
2005 #6 You Hit Your Ball by Accident
THE SCENE:
You are playing hole #4. Your ball is in the fairway about 30 yards short of the green. You drive up, grab your sand wedge and putter and walk over to your ball. After planning your shot you take a practice swing. Now, you have no intention of striking your ball but your brain doesn’t understand that. Unaccountably, during your practice swing, your hands just reach out and your club strikes the ball, moving it sideways a couple of feet.
What would you do?
A. Since we have Winter Rules and are allowed to move our balls in the fairway you pretend you just moved it to that spot on purpose and you play it from there.
B. You replace your ball and take a one stroke penalty for moving your ball.
B is correct.
There is a decision in the Rules of Golf that addresses this specific problem.
18-2a/20 Ball in Play Moved Accidentally by Practice Swing
Q. A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club. Has he made a stroke?
A. No. He had no intention of moving the ball — see Definition of “Stroke.”
However, he incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play, and the ball must be replaced.
If you fail to replace your ball, that penalty becomes 2 strokes.
Our Winter Rules allow you to mark, lift, clean and place your ball within one club length of where it lies. At Beech Mountain we often roll our balls into place. But the player in our scenario was obviously not doing that. So (A) above is not correct.
REMEMBER: If by accident you cause your ball in play to move, be sure to replace it. Then take a one stroke penalty.
You are playing hole #4. Your ball is in the fairway about 30 yards short of the green. You drive up, grab your sand wedge and putter and walk over to your ball. After planning your shot you take a practice swing. Now, you have no intention of striking your ball but your brain doesn’t understand that. Unaccountably, during your practice swing, your hands just reach out and your club strikes the ball, moving it sideways a couple of feet.
What would you do?
A. Since we have Winter Rules and are allowed to move our balls in the fairway you pretend you just moved it to that spot on purpose and you play it from there.
B. You replace your ball and take a one stroke penalty for moving your ball.
B is correct.
There is a decision in the Rules of Golf that addresses this specific problem.
18-2a/20 Ball in Play Moved Accidentally by Practice Swing
Q. A player makes a practice swing and accidentally moves his ball in play with his club. Has he made a stroke?
A. No. He had no intention of moving the ball — see Definition of “Stroke.”
However, he incurs a penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball in play, and the ball must be replaced.
If you fail to replace your ball, that penalty becomes 2 strokes.
Our Winter Rules allow you to mark, lift, clean and place your ball within one club length of where it lies. At Beech Mountain we often roll our balls into place. But the player in our scenario was obviously not doing that. So (A) above is not correct.
REMEMBER: If by accident you cause your ball in play to move, be sure to replace it. Then take a one stroke penalty.
23.11.04
2004 #13 You Address Your Ball. Then the Wind Blows.
The Scene:
It is a very windy day. You chip your ball onto the green on hole #8, and it rolls up close to the pin. You walk forward to tap it in for a 5. You take your stance and ground your club. Then before you can swing your putter back the wind moves your ball closer to the hole.
What would you do?
You had already addressed your ball when it moved. Therefore you are ‘deemed’ to have moved it and must take a one-stroke penalty. But should you replace it?
A. You know you almost always have to replace your ball when something moves it, so you replace it now.
B. Wind moved your ball. You feel the ball should be played from where the wind moved it.
A is correct.
If you had not yet addressed your ball when the wind moved it, you would play it from where it lay. But since in this instance you had addressed it you are deemed to have moved it, yourself. So you have to take a penalty stroke and replace your ball. If you don’t, you will be playing from a wrong place and penalized for that.
Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 18-2b. You will see:
b. Ball Moving After Address
If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be replaced unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.
There is a simple way to avoid this penalty. On windy days don’t ground your club until you are ready to putt. You have addressed the ball only when you have taken your stance and have also grounded your club. On a windy day take your stance but don’t let your club touch the ground until you are ready to putt. Then if the wind moves your ball you will not be penalized and you will not have to replace it.
REMEMBER: If it is windy, don’t ground your club until you are ready to putt.
It is a very windy day. You chip your ball onto the green on hole #8, and it rolls up close to the pin. You walk forward to tap it in for a 5. You take your stance and ground your club. Then before you can swing your putter back the wind moves your ball closer to the hole.
What would you do?
You had already addressed your ball when it moved. Therefore you are ‘deemed’ to have moved it and must take a one-stroke penalty. But should you replace it?
A. You know you almost always have to replace your ball when something moves it, so you replace it now.
B. Wind moved your ball. You feel the ball should be played from where the wind moved it.
A is correct.
If you had not yet addressed your ball when the wind moved it, you would play it from where it lay. But since in this instance you had addressed it you are deemed to have moved it, yourself. So you have to take a penalty stroke and replace your ball. If you don’t, you will be playing from a wrong place and penalized for that.
Open your Rules of Golf book to Rule 18-2b. You will see:
b. Ball Moving After Address
If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be replaced unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.
There is a simple way to avoid this penalty. On windy days don’t ground your club until you are ready to putt. You have addressed the ball only when you have taken your stance and have also grounded your club. On a windy day take your stance but don’t let your club touch the ground until you are ready to putt. Then if the wind moves your ball you will not be penalized and you will not have to replace it.
REMEMBER: If it is windy, don’t ground your club until you are ready to putt.
2004 # 1 Did Your Ball Move?
The Scene:
You hit a great approach shot that comes to rest about 10” from the hole. You walk up to your ball, ready to tap in for a birdie when your putter accidentally touches your ball. The ball moves, or at least it rocks towards the hole and then rocks back.
What would you do?
A. Tap in for a birdie but then add a one stroke penalty for causing your ball to move?
B. Tap in for your birdie with no penalty.
B is correct because your ball did not move.
Open your Rules of Golf book to page 3. This is Section II, DEFINITIONS. Now find the definition for ‘Move or Moved’. You will see the following:
A ball is deemed to have “moved’’ if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.
Since your ball just rocked forward and then rocked back ending up in the same position it started out in, your ball has not moved. So there is no penalty and you can tap in for your birdie.
REMEMBER: If your ball doesn't actually move to a new location, just play it. There is no penalty.
You hit a great approach shot that comes to rest about 10” from the hole. You walk up to your ball, ready to tap in for a birdie when your putter accidentally touches your ball. The ball moves, or at least it rocks towards the hole and then rocks back.
What would you do?
A. Tap in for a birdie but then add a one stroke penalty for causing your ball to move?
B. Tap in for your birdie with no penalty.
B is correct because your ball did not move.
Open your Rules of Golf book to page 3. This is Section II, DEFINITIONS. Now find the definition for ‘Move or Moved’. You will see the following:
A ball is deemed to have “moved’’ if it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place.
Since your ball just rocked forward and then rocked back ending up in the same position it started out in, your ball has not moved. So there is no penalty and you can tap in for your birdie.
REMEMBER: If your ball doesn't actually move to a new location, just play it. There is no penalty.
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