Picking up the ball on the fairway ?

[Oops!]

Today, we ran into a situation on the course that no one knew how to handle:
My partner’s and my tee shots landed on the fairway, but right next to each other, less than 10 cm apart.
Yes, with extreme caution and/or for a pro, it would have been possible to play one ball and then the other as they lay, but only with a significant risk that the other ball would have been moved in the process (we’re both high handicappers).
What is the correct procedure in such a case?
We decided to use “common sense,” marking and picking up the ball that was (slightly) closer to the flag, then playing the other one, and finally playing the ball we had picked up and replaced, but we were both unsure whether that was correct and which rules apply here.
Can anyone help, please ?

 

[backwoodsman]

If one ball is interfering with the play of another ball, it is ok to mark one of the balls. And then replace the marked ball.
(Rule 15.3 b)

 

[Lord Tyrion]

One thing to remember, don't clean the marked ball. It isn't pick and place.

 

[Pants]

As above but I think that you are not allowed to clean it.

Beaten to it by LT

 

[Imurg]

It doesn't happen much in the Pro game but when it does the player normally holds the ball between thumb and forefinger, making it obvious that no cleaning is happening

 

[IanM]

...I also leave the ball on the ground so that I'm visibly not cleaning it!

 

[Oops!]

And now that I’ve looked up the rule, it also seems worth noting that you must be *asked* to pick up the ball by the other player.
If you do so without being asked—perhaps out of kindness or politeness—you incur a 1-stroke penalty !

 

[Steven Rules]

Correct.

If a player reasonably believes that another player’s ball anywhere on the course might interfere with the player’s own play the player may require the other player to mark the spot and lift the ball.

A player is not allowed to lift their ball based only on the player’s own belief that the ball might interfere with another player’s play. If the player lifts their ball when not required to do so by the other player the player gets one penalty stroke.

 

[chellie]

It doesn't happen much in the Pro game but when it does the player normally holds the ball between thumb and forefinger, making it obvious that no cleaning is happening

How I was taught to do it.

 

[Orikoru]

It doesn't happen much in the Pro game but when it does the player normally holds the ball between thumb and forefinger, making it obvious that no cleaning is happening

Imagine if there's a wad of mud on one side of the ball, the temptation to quickly wipe it off must be unreal.

 

[DickInShorts]

And now that I’ve looked up the rule, it also seems worth noting that you must be *asked* to pick up the ball by the other player.
If you do so without being asked—perhaps out of kindness or politeness—you incur a 1-stroke penalty !

This also applies to marking another players ball on the green in individual play (not pairs)

 

[jim8flog]

One bit of advice I would give is to play the ball nearest to the hole first when they are that close.
If you play the ball furthest away first then there is the possibility of severely damaging the lie area of the ball nearest to the hole.

 

[salfordlad]

And now that I’ve looked up the rule, it also seems worth noting that you must be *asked* to pick up the ball by the other player.
If you do so without being asked—perhaps out of kindness or politeness—you incur a 1-stroke penalty !

This could be misunderstood, so I spell it out more. There is a penalty for lifting your own ball without being asked. There is no penalty in stroke play for marking and lifting the other player's ball even if they haven't asked (but this gets a penalty in match play), but note it is more appropriate for you to ask them to mark/lift if it is interfering.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

...I also leave the ball on the ground so that I'm visibly not cleaning it!

I too would do that - put my interfering ball on the ground completely out of the way. I wouldn't hold onto it.

 

[rulefan]

Remember, this is not about marking and lifting to identify your ball.

 

[woofers]

One bit of advice I would give is to play the ball nearest to the hole first when they are that close.
If you play the ball furthest away first then there is the possibility of severely damaging the lie area of the ball nearest to the hole.

Rule 14.2(d) would apply ?

 

[Steven Rules]

Yes. Possibly/probably. 14.2d applies (narrowly) for a lie that has been altered for a ball that has been lifted or moved and must be replaced.

The other one that may be relevant to a broader range of circumstances is 8.1d - restoring conditions affecting the stroke that have been worsened after the player’s ball came to rest.

 

[Steven Rules]

This also applies to marking another players ball on the green in individual play (not pairs)

Although a key difference is that there is no penalty in stroke play for marking and lifting another player’s ball on the putting green without the other player’s authorisation. (14.1b) (Sigh.)

 

[The Squirrel]

Imagine if there's a wad of mud on one side of the ball, the temptation to quickly wipe it off must be unreal.

I wouldn't clean it but I assume there's no reason not to hold it so that the glob is facing downwards; and then with a little luck (or some wind drying it out) gravity might just assist

 

[Oops!]

I wouldn't clean it but I assume there's no reason not to hold it so that the glob is facing downwards; and then with a little luck (or some wind drying it out) gravity might just assist

Honest question : if that happens, do you have to try to put it back on?