Hypothetical Rules Question - Opponent Moves My Ball

[User 105]

Situation

Doubles Matchplay.

I play a shot from the bunker onto the green but stops in the line of my opponents putt. Whilst I go get my putter from my bag one of my opponents asks my partner if he can mark and move the ball over to take his putt to speed up play whilst I get my putter. i.e. My opponent marks and moves my ball over one putter club head, not my partner.

I don't see any of this happen and don't know my ball has been moved.

He takes his putt. I return to my ball and then replace my ball and pass the marker to my opponent and take my putt not realising my ball had been moved a club head over.

What and who gets penalty ?

My opponent for touching my ball (even with permission) or me for taking my putt from the wrong place (Without my knowledge). Or something else ?

 

[Ethan]

Situation

Doubles Matchplay.

I play a shot from the bunker onto the green but stops in the line of my opponents putt. Whilst I go get my putter from my bag one of my opponents asks my partner if he can mark and move the ball over to take his putt to speed up play whilst I get my putter. i.e. My opponent marks and moves my ball over one putter club head, not my partner.

I don't see any of this happen and don't know my ball has been moved.

He takes his putt. I return to my ball and then replace my ball and pass the marker to my opponent and take my putt not realising my ball had been moved a club head over.

What and who gets penalty ?

My opponent for touching my ball (even with permission) or me for taking my putt from the wrong place (Without my knowledge). Or something else ?

Your side gets the penalty. Your responsibility to communicate with your partner, and vice versa.

If you complete the hole without rectifying the mistake, lost hole. If you realise before completing, you must replace the ball under penalty.

Interestingly, the other side cannot waive the penalty if they feel guilty.

 

[Bunkers]

As far as i understand it, if another player marks and removes your ball then THEY must replace the ball not you. Watched this happen a few times at the Scottish Open at the weekend and every time another player moved another golfers ball then they had to replace it.

 

[viscount17]

we established this last week,

20-3a/0.5
If a ball is to be replaced, the player, his partner or the person who lifted or moved it must place it on the spot from which it was lifted or moved.

you would have to be pretty thick-skinned to mark someones ball then watch them replace it in the wrong place without saying something, but in the circumstances above defintely the partner at fault.