Chopped up ball

[popeye]

While playing in my local comp last week my drive ended up in the semi rough on the left side of the fairway. As I was waiting for my playing partners to hit their shots we noticed one of the greenkeepers cutting in the area where my ball landed and sure enough when we got up there my ball had been shredded by the green keeper. I managed to gather together enough bits to confirm it was my ball before dropping a replacement but can anyone tell me what the correct ruling is in this situation-should I be penalised for the greenkeepers action?

 

[duncan mackie]

Your ball is damaged
Your ball has been moved by an outside agency

You may substitute the ball, and must replace it at your best estimate of its original position.

No penalty (shame about the ball).

 

[rulefan]

NB. Replace (ie put down) rather than drop.

 

[Slab]

Your ball is damaged
Your ball has been moved by an outside agency

You may substitute the ball, and must replace it at your best estimate of its original position.

No penalty (shame about the ball).

Just to clarify, so the only thing to be done differently by the OP is to replace the ball rather than drop it?


edit: I'm too late, rulefan got it

 

[CliveW]

I thought that a course could not be altered during a competition, or am I wrong?

 

[duncan mackie]

I thought that a course could not be altered during a competition, or am I wrong?

You are indeed wrong....

Grass grows, wind blows, rain falls and ground dries - so things change during the day anyway.

Mowing is a reality for golf courses, and it's not always possible to schedule it away from competitions (and people can compete - supplementals or comps) every day of the week!

For alternate day competitions there can be many changes within the same competition.

 

[rulefan]

I thought that a course could not be altered during a competition, or am I wrong?

Some things should not. Tee and hole positions. Penalty Area and Boundary markers. GUR except in special circumstances.