Preferred lies and alignment mark on ball

[BTatHome]

Here's one that raised my eyebrows today. Playing medal today and one of the guys in my group thought it necessary to inform me of an obscure rule he knew about.

"If you have an alignment line on your ball, and your using preferred lies, then you can't place the ball on the fairway using the line as an aid"

He said it was because you were already getting an advantage by being able to clean and replace and so having another advantage of using the alignment aid was two advantages and that wasn't fair hence it was not allowed.

 

[rosecott]

Here's one that raised my eyebrows today. Playing medal today and one of the guys in my group thought it necessary to inform me of an obscure rule he knew about.

"If you have an alignment line on your ball, and your using preferred lies, then you can't place the ball on the fairway using the line as an aid"

He said it was because you were already getting an advantage by being able to clean and replace and so having another advantage of using the alignment aid was two advantages and that wasn't fair hence it was not allowed.

Did you ask him to specify which rule stated this? Perhaps he has a personalised rule book.

 

[BTatHome]

I had my own rule book and found the specific section that referred to preferred lies but without his glasses he couldn't read it, having read it out to him he still seemed bemused, and whilst I offered a possible explanation to him about how he may be confused with the act of lifting a ball (for instance when identifying it or marking when inferring for an opponent when not on the green) he still seemed pretty adamant. Even going as far as ensuring that during the rest of the round that he didn't use the line on his own ball .... something that I and the other guy in the group both noticed and snickered about

One of the few times that I've seen someone so adamant of a ruling that even in the face of black and white text they still can't be convinced.

 

[brendy]

I dont find any alignment on the ball useful anyway but does that mean you can't even use the manufacturer name to line up?
A load of old tripe.

 

[edgey]

96.4% of all rules quoted to me on the course are made up on the spot

 

[rulefan]

Here's one that raised my eyebrows today. Playing medal today and one of the guys in my group thought it necessary to inform me of an obscure rule he knew about.

"If you have an alignment line on your ball, and your using preferred lies, then you can't place the ball on the fairway using the line as an aid"

He said it was because you were already getting an advantage by being able to clean and replace and so having another advantage of using the alignment aid was two advantages and that wasn't fair hence it was not allowed.

I some time wonder about the origins of such nonsense. I suspect they come from misunderstandings or misinterpretations of a situation.

In this case I wonder if it the prohibition on placing the ball twice is at the heart of it.
Possibly someone, after placing the ball, realised the hadn't lined it up properly and did it again. They were then told they couldn't do that and it was misinterpreted as 'you can't line it up' as opposed to 'you cant place it again'.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I some time wonder about the origins of such nonsense. I suspect they come from misunderstandings or misinterpretations of a situation.

As in the time I was playing with a new lady member - fresh out of our ladies academy. She seemed to spend an inordinate amount of time teeing her ball up, checking it wasn't in front of the tee markers. Eventually - curiosity killing my cat - I asked her what she was doing. She say that she found this rule that you have to tee your ball up between the tee markers a problem as she found it really difficult to get it teed on that line. Hmm - I replied - who told you that? Oh all the ladies do it...(n.b. they don't - thankfully). I clarified to her what 'between the tee markers' means - and what it doesn't...

But an alignment line and placing? Maybe you just ask if the makers name counts as an alignment aid - and how anyone could be sure a ball was placed 'exactly' the same alignment - with the flag? basic maths tells you if you move you ball an inch laterally the line to the flag will be different. Anyway - 'stupid person'

 

[duncan mackie]

I some time wonder about the origins of such nonsense. I suspect they come from misunderstandings or misinterpretations of a situation.

I find most of these come from people considering what they think the rules should be........

 

[Old Skier]

In this case I wonder if it the prohibition on placing the ball twice is at the heart of it.
Possibly someone, after placing the ball, realised the hadn't lined it up properly and did it again. They were then told they couldn't do that and it was misinterpreted as 'you can't line it up' as opposed to 'you cant place it again'.

Providing you had not removed your marker I understood you could place it as many times as you want?

 

[rulefan]

Providing you had not removed your marker I understood you could place it as many times as you want?

Hmmm. There is more to it than that. The words don't actually say that. Where did you get that message?

 

[rosecott]

Providing you had not removed your marker I understood you could place it as many times as you want?

The specimen local rule for preferred lies says:

"A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it has been placed"

 

[Colin L]

Providing you had not removed your marker I understood you could place it as many times as you want?

Have a look at Rule 20-4 which tells you that a ball is in play once it has been placed.
Then take a look at Rule 18-2 which tells you the penalty for moving your ball in play.
Then work out the cost in strokes of placing your ball as many times as you like.

(Your placed ball is in play even if the marker is still there - and bear in mind the marker is marking where the ball was, not where you are placing your ball in the preferred lie.)

 

[CliveW]

Providing you had not removed your marker I understood you could place it as many times as you want?

As stated above except when the ball is on the putting surface, then you can.

 

[Old Skier]

Thanks all for clearing that one up. Will look at 20-4 and pass on the relevant info. Tiz no wonder folks get confused when you can do one thing in one place on the course and not in another (not including hazards obviously).

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Providing you had not removed your marker I understood you could place it as many times as you want?

Another common rule break on the course during winter.

 

[Old Skier]

Another common rule break on the course during winter.

Like many common rule breaks, people seem to be against pointing out to people the error of their ways and showing them the relevant correct information.

 

[ger147]

Is there a definition of "placed" in the rules?

The reason I'm asking is if you "place" your ball on the ground during the normal preferred lies routine but haven't let go of your ball yet, is it "placed" yet as per the rules?

 

[Twire]

Is there a definition of "placed" in the rules?

The reason I'm asking is if you "place" your ball on the ground during the normal preferred lies routine but haven't let go of your ball yet, is it "placed" yet as per the rules?

I've not seen a definition in the rules, but in my mind if your still holding the ball you've positioned it, it's not placed until you've let go.

 

[duncan mackie]

...... it's not placed until you've let go.

indeed - you are holding it until you let go, at which time, if you let go when it's on the ground, you have placed it

 

[ger147]

indeed - you are holding it until you let go, at which time, if you let go when it's on the ground, you have placed it

But just to check, it doesn't actually state this in the rules?