Rules Quiz - Equipment

[woody69]

Can anyone explain to me what this means, as it makes no sense to me. It was a question in the R&A Rules Quiz (medium difficulty)

A ball played at the hole being played is equipment when it has been lifted and not put back into play.

True or False - Answer True and the comment:

See Definition of Equipment in the Rules Explorer.

Why would a ball only become equipment after it has been lifted and not put back into play. If it is in play does it not fall under the definition of equipment? Is that all this is saying?

 

[pbrown7582]

There are differences a some points between the ball in play and equipment?

 

[rulefan]

"Equipment" is anything used, worn or carried by the player or anything carried for the player by his partneror either of their caddies,except any ball he has played at the hole being played and any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when used to mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in which a ball is to be dropped. Equipment includes a golf cart, whether or not motorized.

Note 1: A ball played at the hole being played is equipment when it has been lifted and not put back into play.

 

[Hendo007]

Can anyone explain to me what this means, as it makes no sense to me. It was a question in the R&A Rules Quiz (medium difficulty)

A ball played at the hole being played is equipment when it has been lifted and not put back into play.

True or False - Answer True and the comment:

See Definition of Equipment in the Rules Explorer.

Why would a ball only become equipment after it has been lifted and not put back into play. If it is in play does it not fall under the definition of equipment? Is that all this is saying?

I would suggest that while the ball is in play it is "the ball in play" whilst everything else is equipment, as is the spare balls in your bag, equipment. As soon as the ball in play is lifted for whatever reason and removed from play then it naturally joins the class of the rest of your spare balls as equipment.

 

[Foxholer]

Indeed, as Rulefan's highlighting points out, the ball (or any other ball you might use) changes state between 'the ball in play' and 'equipment' depending on whether it is actually in play or not.