Covid Rules related query

[rulefan]

I thought I had seen a ruling re the following. A player knew he had hit their ball into a dry penalty area and was confident of the location in which it finished. He gets to the area and sees a ball but can't be sure that it is his. He is worried about touching this unidentified ball. The ruling said that he should drop a ball 'close' to the found ball in as near as possible on the same ground conditions and either play that ball as it lies or take penalty relief.

I have two problems and a question.
1) I can't now find the ruling to confirm the exact relief wording
2) I wonder why the RBs have not addressed the general situation about touching balls for identification anywhere on the course.
3) Was I dreaming?

 

[jim8flog]

It was one the things that made laugh about the guideline about not picking up stray balls*- if I have picked up the ball to identify it I may as well chuck it in to the bag if it was not mine.

The only way they could have got round this is to suspend the rule for hitting a wrong ball and I am 100% sure I did not see that. Imagine the agony of knocking a ball 150 yards out of the rough and only finding out when you reached it and could now identify it

*The only guideline we were given.

 

[backwoodsman]

I thought I was reasonably au fait with the covid guidelines issued - and don't recall seeing anything of that ilk in the EG "Framework". There was a bit in the section on foursomes/greensomes along lines of " it is permitted to drop another ball when taking relief". Dont know if that's what you recall seeing?

 

[rulefan]

I thought I was reasonably au fait with the covid guidelines issued - and don't recall seeing anything of that ilk in the EG "Framework". There was a bit in the section on foursomes/greensomes along lines of " it is permitted to drop another ball when taking relief". Dont know if that's what you recall seeing?

No. My recollection (rather shaky it seems) was that it was specifically about identifying a ball in a penalty area.
No matter, we'll be back to normal before it happens

 

[Colin L]

I thought I was reasonably au fait with the covid guidelines issued - and don't recall seeing anything of that ilk in the EG "Framework". There was a bit in the section on foursomes/greensomes along lines of " it is permitted to drop another ball when taking relief". Dont know if that's what you recall seeing?

I wouldn't think it was that. It is permissible to substitute another ball when taking relief anyway.

 

[rulefan]

I wouldn't think it was that. It is permissible to substitute another ball when taking relief anyway.

I think it was to do with 'substituting' without taking relief.

 

[TerryA]

Not sure it is any different to identifying your ball on the course. Mark it first then check it. If you are worried about covid then use a gloved hand and sanitise afterwards - players should carry a small container of sanitiser in their bag - not a rule but common sense.

 

[jim8flog]

Not sure it is any different to identifying your ball on the course. Mark it first then check it. If you are worried about covid then use a gloved hand and sanitise afterwards - players should carry a small container of sanitiser in their bag - not a rule but common sense.

Sanitiser on your golf glove

Cleaning the ball with it a no no unless in a situation which allows you to clean a ball.