Player plays different ball from which he quoted on tee at start of round!

[doublebogey7]

Why did you have to accept his version of events if you knew he was wrong. Even if it was the case that he had changed to a ball that had identicle markings to yours then when he played the ball from the fairway he could not possibly have been sure it was his and therefore he had played a wrong ball. Or have I misunderstood?

 

[gazzadi]

you are correct, he was wrong but was unwilling to admit it but how do you prove the scenario when out on the course. what i am pointing out is that some golfers are not reasonable and will use the rules to their advantage unless the rules specify otherwise

 

[chrisd]

you are correct, he was wrong but was unwilling to admit it but how do you prove the scenario when out on the course. what i am pointing out is that some golfers are not reasonable and will use the rules to their advantage unless the rules specify otherwise

For that reason I don't put dots etc on my ball as the only mark, my mark is my initials CAD, I've never clashed with anyone with the same marking. Just occasionally when I have two balls with the same number I put a dot under the number on one to differentiate it from the other and would generally use it as a provisional

 

[user2010]

Beware of the golfer who has 2 golf balls of the same make, model, number and i.d. markings in his pocket.

 

[doublebogey7]

you are correct, he was wrong but was unwilling to admit it but how do you prove the scenario when out on the course. what i am pointing out is that some golfers are not reasonable and will use the rules to their advantage unless the rules specify otherwise

I was trying to make the point that you had every right to counter that he had never the less played a wrong ball.
As for your final point it would not matter how the rules are written a cheat will always cheat unless you want a referee with every match.

 

[HughJars]

Player declares he is playing a Titeleist 1 with 3 black dots when on 1st tee. His other ball in his pocket was a srixon 2 with 3 black dots. His ball has been on the fairway and in view all the time until the green when a member of the group notices the ball is a Srixon 2 with 3 black dots rather than a Titleist which he originally said on the tee..

Are there any problems with this and would it have made any difference if the ball had been in the rough. Example -questioning his integrity!

You're *supposed* to play the same type of ball throughout the hole (as opposed to pros who must play the same type of ball from first tee to last green). if he's switched on the green to a Srixon, I believe that's a breach of the rules.

https://www.thoughtco.com/one-ball-rule-1561348


Of course there's always one who takes this to extremes. Played the Hopeman open a couple weeks back, starter does the "please idntify your balls to you partners". I pull out my yellow peril. "Did you know if you start with a yellow ball you have to play with one all the way round"? Says the poor old duffer. "what a heap of pish" I politely explain. TBF he'd been told this by the club know it all, I suggested he ask the know it all to show him the rule.

Worst round of the year followed

 

[drdel]

I play golf for the enjoyment of time and exercise in the fresh air with like minded people. I really couldn't give stuff in you change balls - unless its to 'unofficially' clean it. Such transgressions are not really going to give any advantage that the average player can capitalised upon. I assume my PPs are basically honest and, if they're not that's for them and their own moral compass.

 

[Colin L]

You're *supposed* to play the same type of ball throughout the hole (as opposed to pros who must play the same type of ball from first tee to last green). if he's switched on the green to a Srixon, I believe that's a breach of the rules.

https://www.thoughtco.com/one-ball-rule-1561348

The article you referenced has misled you to an extent. If you are permitted under the rules to substitute a ball during the play of a hole - eg original lost, taking some kinds of relief, ball unplayable, ball cracked or split - you are not required to substitute the same type of ball. But on the green, replacing the ball you lifted with a different one is not permitted, as I expect you are saying.

The 2019 Rules make it simple: you can substitute another ball any time you take penalty or free relief. Currently, for example, you have to drop the same ball when taking relief from a wrong putting green.

 

[HughJars]

I play golf for the enjoyment of time and exercise in the fresh air with like minded people. I really couldn't give stuff in you change balls - unless its to 'unofficially' clean it. Such transgressions are not really going to give any advantage that the average player can capitalised upon. I assume my PPs are basically honest and, if they're not that's for them and their own moral compass.

Got to say, although I'm a bit of a stickler, this one doesnt bother me. How often do you see folk pull out a totally different ball for a provisional? I actually welcome it as there's no "yes that's my first ball" moments. Most broken rule in golf though I'd say?

 

[jim8flog]

IF.. a player really wanted to keep his 'options' open he/she only has to ensure all the balls in his pocket are identically models and marked in exactly the same way !!

Personally I can't give two hoots and assume my PPs are basically honest and if they find ball they will know it is their ball and if not they will say so.

There was incident at our club a few years ago when a player refused to be the marker for another player unless the second payer took all the balls out his bag and put a different indentifying marker on each ball.

On a personal note I will always identify my ball with some sort of remark when I think we may have to search for it or I wish to play a provisional as I always use the same make and model of ball but usually have different coloured dots and number for any provisional ball or second ball I am carrying (I switch balls between the play of holes).

 

[jim8flog]

I once played in a pairs match play.Mine was the only ball down the fairway rest were in the rough,i go for a call of nature then approach were my ball was but it was not on the fairway .One of my opponents had played my ball instead of his own.We get to the green and i check his ball which has changed from a titliest 2 with red dots to a tliest 4 with a black dot[mine]. When questioned about this he said he had changed his ball on the last tee but not declared it to his opponents.I had to begrudgedly accept that his version of the events was true even though i knew what had transgressed and myself and my partner lost the hole.i feel that examples like this require a rule of declaration, of ones ball and ball identification is essential to avoid confusion and possible deception.

Sad to say (after the event I know) but it sounds to me like the wrong course of action. If you were 100% sure that ball on the fairway was yours and it 'disappeared' when you took the comfort break and the opponents said it was not them you could have claimed 'ball moved by outside agency" and played from where you knew your ball to be without penalty.

 

[gazzadi]

Sad to say (after the event I know) but it sounds to me like the wrong course of action. If you were 100% sure that ball on the fairway was yours and it 'disappeared' when you took the comfort break and the opponents said it was not them you could have claimed 'ball moved by outside agency" and played from where you knew your ball to be without penalty.

if he was desperate enough to employ such tactics it i unlikley that he would agree to be penalised by such a rule and we were in the middle of a match play.Our only option was to explain the incident to the committee.My point is that if he were wrong not to declare his change of ball we could have claimed the hole at that point and the situation would have been resolved there and then because of the ruling.

 

[jim8flog]

i.My point is that if he were wrong not to declare his change of ball we could have claimed the hole at that point and the situation would have been resolved there and then because of the ruling.

Why would you have been able to claim the hole?

 

[doublebogey7]

if he was desperate enough to employ such tactics it i unlikley that he would agree to be penalised by .

if he was desperate enough to employ such tactics it i unlikley that he would agree to be penalised by such a rule and we were in the middle of a match play.Our only option was to explain the incident to the committee.My point is that if he were wrong not to declare his change of ball we could have claimed the hole at that point and the situation would have been resolved there and then because of the ruling.

"If he was desperate enough" he would have just claimed that he had declared the change and that you mustn't have heard it. It seems to me that this cheat will continue to prosper whilst opponents don't properly challenge his behaviour.

 

[gazzadi]

his behavior WAS challenged in no uncertain manner whatsoever.

 

[doublebogey7]

But you OP says you "had to begrudgingly accept his version of events". You didnt have to, you chose to you could have made a claim to the relevant committee.

 

[Orikoru]

For that reason I don't put dots etc on my ball as the only mark, my mark is my initials CAD, I've never clashed with anyone with the same marking. Just occasionally when I have two balls with the same number I put a dot under the number on one to differentiate it from the other and would generally use it as a provisional

Agree with this. The amount of people using 2 black dots or 3 black dots is enough to render it completely useless as a marker, particular on a Titleist ball. I have a purple sharpie, and I mark with my two initials (OC, which are both round so fit nicely in two of the dimples). Not much chance of confusing that with anyone else's.

 

[duncan mackie]

Agree with this. The amount of people using 2 black dots or 3 black dots is enough to render it completely useless as a marker, particular on a Titleist ball. I have a purple sharpie, and I mark with my two initials (OC, which are both round so fit nicely in two of the dimples). Not much chance of confusing that with anyone else's.

This is of course fine, until you lose a ball....at which point either someone else may find it and subsequently play it such that it would be indistinguishable from the next one you play with the same number, or you lose another in the same area.
The key point is that unless you date and time stamp everyball you put into play there will always be a possibility that it can be confused.
I accept that every step taken reduces the chances; and that there are a lot of basic practices that people can undertake to minimise the risks - but it is always there.

 

[Orikoru]

This is of course fine, until you lose a ball....at which point either someone else may find it and subsequently play it such that it would be indistinguishable from the next one you play with the same number, or you lose another in the same area.
The key point is that unless you date and time stamp everyball you put into play there will always be a possibility that it can be confused.
I accept that every step taken reduces the chances; and that there are a lot of basic practices that people can undertake to minimise the risks - but it is always there.

That seems quite far fetched - that I would lose a ball in one spot, then lose a different ball in that exact spot later on, from a different hole presumably, and find the original one instead of my one??

Wouldn't happen with a provisional either, I always use a different brand of ball out of the bag for my provisional since you obviously need to tell the two apart easily.

 

[duncan mackie]

That seems quite far fetched - that I would lose a ball in one spot, then lose a different ball in that exact spot later on, from a different hole presumably, and find the original one instead of my one??

Wouldn't happen with a provisional either, I always use a different brand of ball out of the bag for my provisional since you obviously need to tell the two apart easily.

There have been posts to this forum where people have found themselves playing with someone who is using an identical ball, complete with markings, which they subsequently established had been lost and picked up.

As to your own, why a different hole? I can't be alone in (1) playing the same ball and number from time to time and losing balls in the same general area on the same holes ie making the same mistake more than once! I've certainly found balls I've previously lost when looking for another I've hit in the area - so far never the same make and markings though (mainly because I play pre marked pickups!).

So not that far fetched really.