Identifying ball problems

[splashtryagain]

Couple of quick ones

1. When a pair are looking for one of the players balls and finds a ball and asks - is it a "Callaway 2?" - I always thought you shouldn't ask like that. Before the ball was found he said he wasn't sure.

2. "It's a Titleist with a black triangle on it" - I had found a Titleist but with alignment tracks on it (Titleist printed, not drawn on) - "oh yeah that's what I meant" was his statement - again, not ringing true.

 

[Neilds]

Depends if you have any doubts about your playing partners. You soon know if any always find ‘their’ ball

 

[KenL]

Is it not up to them to identify their ball?
I always ask “there is a Titleist here, do you want to check it?”

 

[SteveJay]

If I find a ball whilst looking for a playing partner's ball, I always ask "What are you playing" before declaring the brand/model that I have found.

 

[Backache]

I just tell people that I've found a ball. It's up to them to identify it. Some people do forget, I'm not policing them.

 

[splashtryagain]

If I find a ball whilst looking for a playing partner's ball, I always ask "What are you playing" before declaring the brand/model that I have found.

This is what I would, and have, done.

 

[salfordlad]

There is no explicit rules guidance on these questions. Rule 7 makes it the player's responsibility to identify their ball. But everyone has a responsibility to protect the field in stroke play if you suspect bad behaviour. If you think someone may be taking liberties, I would be inclined to ask "what are you playing", as others have suggested.

 

[Backache]

Maybe it's just me I play with a number of seniors who regularly lose balls and play with pichups and cannot always remember which ball they have put into play after their first one. I don't believe they are cheating and extend them the courtesy of trusting them. If I did have reason to believe they were being deceitful it is a different matter but generally I don't.

 

[salfordlad]

Maybe it's just me I play with a number of seniors who regularly lose balls and play with pichups and cannot always remember which ball they have put into play after their first one. I don't believe they are cheating and extend them the courtesy of trusting them. If I did have reason to believe they were being deceitful it is a different matter but generally I don't.

A variation on the "Old golfers never die, they just lose their balls"?

More seriously, if I'm playing with such folk, I'm keeping track of their ball and when helping search I'm going to keep them on the right track. If they need help to get it right, I'm giving help.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

At a bit of a tangent...

Played my approach to our par 3 13th yesterday...hit green. Playing companion missed green then chipped on. Went to mark and pick my ball and spotted that my companion was playing the ball I'd lost on our 5th hole. He'd found it on the 12th hole which runs parallel to our 5th. We'd looked for my ball in completely the wrong place - it had hit a tree a ricocheted off a tree then across the fairway into the first cut rough of the adjacent hole...my mate had found it as he played 12 and used it on 13.

Now that hasn't happened to me before

And as an aside - he hit me with a shot on our 11th - in 50+ yrs of playing I'd never been hit by a ball - and it was full on from about 25yds - right onto my forearm - ouch - as I dived (literally) to try and get out of the way! - two 'never befores' for me on the same day.

 

[salfordlad]

At a bit of a tangent...

Played my approach to our par 3 13th yesterday...hit green. Playing companion missed green then chipped on. Went to mark and pick my ball and spotted that my companion was playing the ball I'd lost on our 5th hole. He'd found it on the 12th hole which runs parallel to our 5th. We'd looked for my ball in completely the wrong place - it had hit a tree a ricocheted off a tree then across the fairway into the first cut rough of the adjacent hole...my mate had found it as he played 12 and used it on 13.

Now that hasn't happened to me before (and as an aside - he hit me with a shot on our 11th - in 50+ yrs of playing I'd never been hit by a ball - full on from about 25yds - right onto my forearm - ouch! - two 'never befores' for me on the same day)

LOL, many lost balls are lost because the player is looking in the wrong place.

 

[rulefan]

At a bit of a tangent...

Played my approach to our par 3 13th yesterday...hit green. Playing companion missed green then chipped on. Went to mark and pick my ball and spotted that my companion was playing the ball I'd lost on our 5th hole. He'd found it on the 12th hole which runs parallel to our 5th. We'd looked for my ball in completely the wrong place - it had hit a tree a ricocheted off a tree then across the fairway into the first cut rough of the adjacent hole...my mate had found it as he played 12 and used it on 13.

Now that hasn't happened to me before

And as an aside - he hit me with a shot on our 11th - in 50+ yrs of playing I'd never been hit by a ball - and it was full on from about 25yds - right onto my forearm - ouch - as I dived (literally) to try and get out of the way! - two 'never befores' for me on the same day.

I've only once been hit by a ball. Ironically I was refereeing and saw it coming. Turned my back and ducked but it caught a tree and hit me on the back of my head. Shattered the clasp on my cap.
I don't know if I incurred any brain damage.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I've only once been hit by a ball. Ironically I was refereeing and saw it coming. Turned my back and ducked but it caught a tree and hit me on the back of my head. Shattered the clasp on my cap.
I don't know if I incurred any brain damage.

My companion was maybe 25yds behind me. He suggested I move back from where I was standing - standing ahead and to the left of him. I moved quite some way back, but I did not take into account his ability to hit a full-blooded low drilled pull...I saw it arcing towards me about 2-3ft off the ground and I had a choice as to whether to stand my ground and hope it missed me (bear in mind the height at which is was coming) - or taking measures. So I threw myself to the side and to the ground - wicketkeeperish (as I was) putting my arms up to protect me so not cushioning my landing at all. The ball hit me on the forearm tucked in front of my chest. I got a nice mark that showed the dimples of the ball. Just a little but red today. Lucky I guess. The others in my four wondered why I hadn't caught it...

 

[Imurg]

Never ever ever stand anywhere in front of Fragger...he has less idea where the ball is going than you do...

 

[RichA]

LOL, many lost balls are lost because the player is looking in the wrong place.

All lost balls are lost because the player is looking in the wrong place, surely.

 

[salfordlad]

All lost balls are lost because the player is looking in the wrong place, surely.

No, a ball can become lost for reasons unrelated to a player continuing to look in the wrong place. Anytime after a search has commenced, the player can cease looking and take a range of other actions (return and play an S&D ball, continue with a provisional and so on). At the point of ceasing looking, the ball is not lost. It subsequently becomes lost when the time clock (which keeps running) ticks over the 3 minute point.

 

[RichA]

No, a ball can become lost for reasons unrelated to a player continuing to look in the wrong place. Anytime after a search has commenced, the player can cease looking and take a range of other actions (return and play an S&D ball, continue with a provisional and so on). At the point of ceasing looking, the ball is not lost. It subsequently becomes lost when the time clock (which keeps running) ticks over the 3 minute point.

Sorry. It was a light-hearted comment through the lens of normal human existence, rather than the Rules of Golf. I'll get back in my lane.

 

[wjemather]

Maybe it's just me I play with a number of seniors who regularly lose balls and play with pichups and cannot always remember which ball they have put into play after their first one. I don't believe they are cheating and extend them the courtesy of trusting them. If I did have reason to believe they were being deceitful it is a different matter but generally I don't.

Since they can't possibly identify their ball, you can only be trusting them to abide by the rules and accept their original ball is lost whenever there is any doubt.
However, it sounds more like you just let them play on regardless with whatever ball they find, assuming it's theirs.

 

[SteveJay]

No, a ball can become lost for reasons unrelated to a player continuing to look in the wrong place. Anytime after a search has commenced, the player can cease looking and take a range of other actions (return and play an S&D ball, continue with a provisional and so on). At the point of ceasing looking, the ball is not lost. It subsequently becomes lost when the time clock (which keeps running) ticks over the 3 minute point.

One of our team mates in the league team often makes the (somewhat) tongue in cheek remark......"if you opponent is looking for his ball in the wrong area, help him search that area thoroughly for 3 minutes"

 

[backwoodsman]

No, a ball can become lost for reasons unrelated to a player continuing to look in the wrong place. Anytime after a search has commenced, the player can cease looking and take a range of other actions (return and play an S&D ball, continue with a provisional and so on). At the point of ceasing looking, the ball is not lost. It subsequently becomes lost when the time clock (which keeps running) ticks over the 3 minute point.

Dont normally rise to the bait, but...

The time clock only runs out because you stopped looking. And you only stopped looking because you were looking in the wrong place. Ergo ...