Rules question, what would you do....

[alexgolf]

Ok Guys, I saw this happen this weekend and we had to have a good think before we checked it out. Had never seen this in 25 years odd in playing golf.

So.......We were playing in a friendly so not a serious comp but a £10'er was at stake!!

I was on the green with a smelly 12 inch down hill left to righter (putt we are talking about BTW)

My friend was short chipping up. He chipped and the his ball finished EXACTLY on my ball position.

Who goes next and what is the procedure for marking????

And is it different for Matchplay over Strokeplay??

 

[chrisd]

I will take a punt on this.

If his ball is exactly on your ball position it is presumably sitting where yours was and you have put down a marker behind that position. He could then mark his to one side of his ball or even in front of his ball and then re-mark it even further away from your line in the normal way. You then putt and then he replaces his marker and then his ball to the correct position and then putts.



Chris

 

[jammydodger]

Not sure how you work out who goes first but I guess a coin toss would do it. If its matchplay then just take a half and move on.

Marking the ball is quite simple really as you can mark to the side and move a putters head away or whatever. Just make sure you reverse the procedure for your shot

 

[fundy]

from 12 inches does it really matter? good good and move one surely. in strokeplay it doesnt actually matter who goes first

 

[alexgolf]

Some good thoughts here....

The putt was very very slidey. Not given in a tight matchplay situation. Deff not one you would want them to see the line of if you HAD to go first!

And we were playing Strokeplay anyway

 

[Matty]

I think the marking issue is sorted, one of you needs to mark to one side.

As for how goes first and shows the line - either agree to flip a coin or maybe first to putt does so while second to putt has his back turned, that may only work if there are more than 2 of you though.

 

[chrisd]

As for how goes first and shows the line - either agree to flip a coin or maybe first to putt does so while second to putt has his back turned, that may only work if there are more than 2 of you though.

Rule 10-2b covers who plays first. In this case you decide who plays first by lots - so you are correct. There is no provision in the rules to request that the second to putt turns away



Chris

 

[stevelev]

If your friends ball stopped on top of your marker, would you not therefore be closer to the hole.

If you were to replace your ball in front of the marker as normal your ball would be ever so slightly closer to the hole than his.

In this instance your friend should mark his ball to the side. Or you mark yours to the side. He can then play his putt and you play your ball which is ever so slightly closer 2nd

 

[RGDave]

On Monday, on the last hole, my ball and my opponents ball were nestled up together on the fairway (think touching ball in snooker). We marked his (as he was effectively first away) and mine rolled back into the divot his was in.
Thankfully, the game was over.
Bl**** divots. I found my drive on the 13th 3/4 submerged under ground.

 

[chrisd]

If your friends ball stopped on top of your marker, would you not therefore be closer to the hole.

The OP said the other players ball came to rest on the same place as his ball , not ball marker



Chris

 

[alexgolf]

Hi all

Thanks for some great interesting posts here.

Yes the answer is as i think it was Matty above posted, you have to draw lots (spin a coin etc)

And the way to make sure you mark properly is to move markers etc etc.

What is amazing is how golf turns up these incidents. To finish in exactly the same position.

Now where is last nights Euro millions ticket.

 

[MashieNiblick]

On Monday, on the last hole, my ball and my opponents ball were nestled up together on the fairway (think touching ball in snooker). We marked his (as he was effectively first away) and mine rolled back into the divot his was in.
Thankfully, the game was over.

Hmmm that's an interesting one Dave. So your ball was resting against your opponent's ball and rolled into the divot when your opponent lifted and marked his ball, as it was (obviously) interfering with play.

Having to play your ball as it lies from the divot seems harsh on you.

However, I can't see anything specific covering this under the following Rules
18-3 - Ball at Rest Moved By Opponent, Caddie or Equipment
in Match Play
20-1 - Lifting and Marking
22-2 - Ball Interfering with Play
or related decisions. That surprises me so I can't help feeling I've missed something.

The closest I can see is that if your ball moved as a direct result of your opponent lifting his ball rule 18-3 might apply. - That stipulates a 1 stroke penalty to your opponent and your ball is replaced, if he "caused" your ball to move. But that seems harsh on him especially if he couldn't foresee that your ball would move and had no choice but to lift and mark his ball (if it had been stroke play Rule 18-4 applies, - ball is replaced but no penalty).

Maybe it is just tough on you. Maybe under rule 1-4, in equity, you can replace your ball with no penalty to your opponent.

Anyone got any thoughts? If not, might be a good one for the Rules section in the Magazine.

 

[chrisd]

I am sure that there is no penalty and that this covers the matter

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball-marker. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a or 20-1.


Chris

 

[MashieNiblick]

Chris

I think that sounds sensible and fair. My initial thought was that Rule 20-1 would only apply to the ball being lifted, rather than any other ball that might might be accidently moved, but reading it again it could be interpreted to apply to another ball.