New rule for ball that is plugged

[Ian_Bristol]

Looking at this rule you can lift ball from a plugged lie but it doesn't say weather you can clean and replace or just replace. AFAIK If you are on the green or fridge you have the right to clean then place ball as close as possible but on the fairway is not so clear, I know you have to drop from knee hight but can you clean the ball if covered in crap

 

[backwoodsman]

New rule 14.1.c says you can clean a ball at any time it lifted - with certain exceptions. Embedded ball is not one othe exceptions, so i think, yes you can clean it.

 

[Colin L]

That's correct. Lifting an embedded ball is not one of the exceptions and can be cleaned.

There's no change in the rule about cleaning a lifted ball.

 

[jim8flog]

This is the current rule for reference
25-2. Embedded Ball
If a player's ball is embedded in any closely-mown area through the green, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

 

[Old Skier]

This is the current rule for reference
25-2. Embedded Ball
If a player's ball is embedded in any closely-mown area through the green, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

I thought the expression "through the green" was being replace in the 2019 rules?

 

[Colin L]

I thought the expression "through the green" was being replace in the 2019 rules?

Yes, it is. Replaced by "general area". Jim was quoting the current rule which of course uses the current term. The new rule is 16.3 where it uses the new term.

 

[rulefan]

16.3b Relief for Embedded Ball
When a player’s ball is embedded in the general area and relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):
• Reference Point: The spot right behind where the ball is embedded.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area:
 Must be in the general area, and
 Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.
(the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing relief only for a ball embedded in an area cut to fairway height or less).

 

[jim8flog]

The answer to the original question was given Backwoods man in post 2.

I was just adding the current rule for reference (as stated).

 

[rulie]

Looking at this rule you can lift ball from a plugged lie but it doesn't say weather you can clean and replace or just replace. AFAIK If you are on the green or fridge you have the right to clean then place ball as close as possible but on the fairway is not so clear, I know you have to drop from knee hight but can you clean the ball if covered in crap

Just to clarify on the bolded portion - the fringe (fridge?) is not part of the green and is treated the same as any other closely-mown area, but not the same as the green. On the green, you must first mark the ball, lift and clean it, fix the pitch mark, and then replace the ball at the exact spot. For a ball embedded in its own pitch mark on the fringe, you are permitted to lift the ball (no requirement to mark it first), clean the ball, and then DROP it (not place) as near as possible to where it was embedded, but not nearer the hole and not on the putting green.

 

[Ian_Bristol]

Fridge lol auto correct on my phone

 

[Colin L]

Fridge lol auto correct on my phone

Cool.