Bee on ball

[cliveb]

I've looked through the rules and can't find one that covers this situation that happened to me today...

My ball was on the fairway but there was a (live) bee on it who didn't want to move despite me waving a hand close to it.

Am I allowed to lift the ball to remove the bee, or do I just have to try and encourage it to move (or perhaps flick it off with a tee peg or scorecard), and hope the ball doesn't move as a result?

 

[Colin L]

A live insect is a loose impediment and is never considered to be sticking to your ball. You can remove it in any way you like without as you say moving your ball.

Alternatively you could play a Tiger Woods stinger.

 

[drdel]

Might give you 'wings' - apologises to Red Bull

 

[rosecott]

Puts me in mind of the permanent dilemma such incidents pose to the Buddhist golfer.

 

[CliveW]

I have been playing a yellow Titleist ball quite a lot this year and they seem to attract bees and hover flies more than a white ball does. Perhaps it looks like the middle of a flower.

 

[williamalex1]

Just hit it and say Bee good

 

[backwoodsman]

A live insect is a loose impediment and is never considered to be sticking to your ball. You can remove it in any way you like without as you say moving your ball.

Alternatively you could play a Tiger Woods stinger.

Is that not a change from the pre-2019 rules?? I think I recall that previously you could only "encourage" the insect to move rather than physically touch it? I'd not appreciated the change as I've still been wafting at the damn things

 

[Colin L]

My misty memory is that you are right that this is a change. The Definition of loose impediment includes this:

Interpretation Loose Impediment/5 - Living Insect Is Never Sticking to a Ball
Although dead insects may be considered to be sticking to a ball, living insects are never considered to be sticking to a ball, whether they are stationary or moving. Therefore, live insects on a ball are loose impediments.

 

[rulefan]

Previously
Loose Impediment
- worms, insects and the like,
providing they are not:
- adhering to the ball

23-1/5
A live insect is not considered to be adhering to the ball, and therefore is a loose impediment

 

[Colin L]

I did say my memory was misty.

 

[clubchamp98]

If the Bee is on your identification mark on the ball can you mark and lift it to remove the bee?
I know you can’t clean it in this case.

 

[rulefan]

If the Bee is on your identification mark on the ball can you mark and lift it to remove the bee?
I know you can’t clean it in this case.

If you know it's on your mark, why do you need to identify it?

 

[clubchamp98]

If you know it's on your mark, why do you need to identify it?

Because if it’s on your mark you can’t see it.
The op asked how to remove the bee that dosnt want to move.
It was a question nothing else!!

 

[rulefan]

Because if it’s on your mark you can’t see it.

If you can't see it how do you know it is your mark.

Just a pedantic joke

 

[clubchamp98]

If you can't see it how do you know it is your mark.

Just a pedantic joke

Chicken and egg we could be here a while.

 

[rulefan]

Chicken and egg we could be here a while.

You're only allowed 3 minutes now

 

[jim8flog]

You're only allowed 3 minutes now

That's a bit hard

 

[rulefan]

That's what the bee thought when you hit the ball without checking

 

[backwoodsman]

I did say my memory was misty.

As mine appears to be. Am now wondering why I spent all that time wafting & flapping at the darn things, rather than just flicking them into oblivion.

 

[Robster59]

If the bee won't move, and it isn't between the ball and where my club will strike it then I'd just take the shot.
Harsh on the bee I know but there you go.