Ball settles on top of another ball..

[DCH]

My ball in rough settles on top of another (not in play) golf ball…do I get relief or play as it lies?

 

[backwoodsman]

My ball in rough settles on top of another (not in play) golf ball…do I get relief or play as it lies?

The "other ball" is a moveable obstruction so you get relief. See rule 15.2a (2)
Basically, if your ball is on top of the other ball you get to lift yours, remove the other, then drop yours in the relief area. If the other ball is just near to yours, you can remove the other ball.

 

[salfordlad]

The "other ball" is a moveable obstruction so you get relief. See rule 15.2a (2)
Basically, if your ball is on top of the other ball you get to lift yours, remove the other, then drop yours in the relief area. If the other ball is just near to yours, you can remove the other ball.

Agree with your key point, but it's a replace scenario (rule 14.2) rather than a drop (14.3) if your ball is moved in the process of getting rid of the movable obstruction.

 

[Colin L]

Agree with your key point, but it's a replace scenario (rule 14.2) rather than a drop (14.3) if your ball is moved in the process of getting rid of the movable obstruction.

Just to clarify for anyone who doesn't follow that in the context of backwoodsman's post:
If your ball is lying on a movable obstruction, you remove the obstruction and drop a ball.
If your ball is lying other than on an obstruction and is moved when you remove an obstruction you must replace your ball.

And, as a reminder, when dropping you may use a different ball but when replacing you must use the original ball (for exceptions, see Rule 14.2a}

 

[davemc1]

I had this the other week while out practicing. Slight difference was my ball was lying on an embedded ball in water hazard. Does the same procedure apply?

 

[Colin L]

Yes, you may take relief from a movable obstruction when your ball is in a penalty area. Same rules apply. The relief area must be in the penalty area.

 

[salfordlad]

Just to clarify for anyone who doesn't follow that in the context of backwoodsman's post:
If your ball is lying on a movable obstruction, you remove the obstruction and drop a ball.
If your ball is lying other than on an obstruction and is moved when you remove an obstruction you must replace your ball.

And, as a reminder, when dropping you may use a different ball but when replacing you must use the original ball (for exceptions, see Rule 14.2a}

Fully agree. An issue with providing more detail, though, is it sometimes increases the need for even more detail.....

The practical question resulting from this "on" versus "other than on" a movable obstruction distinction is how do we treat the OP situation of your ball being on top of another ball. Helpfully, the USGA recently provided the answer on their F/B Rules page, the ruling being that "on" a movable obstruction (requiring a drop if relief is taken) applies when a ball is entirely on the obstruction; but if the ball is in contact with the course and the movable obstruction, it is not considered "on" the movable obstruction and the relief option is to move the movable obstruction and replace the ball (not drop) should your ball move in the process (likely in the OP example).

 

[rulefan]

They really should be publishing these ad hoc rulings on their and the R&A websites.

 

[salfordlad]

They really should be publishing these ad hoc rulings on their and the R&A websites.

Couldn't agree more.

 

[rulie]

Couldn't agree more.

As an non facebook participant, I definitely agree! The RB should not be using social media to provide their rulings without also including these rulings somewhere on their home page.