Ruling advice please.......

[heronsghyll]

On Saturday a friend I was playing with hit a ball into the tree line along a fairway. To cut a long story short, we found his ball 10ft up the tree lodged in a branch.

He threw up a stick and the ball dislodged and came down.

Question:

1. Can he play it from where it now lies without penalty
2. Can he play it from where it now lies with a penalty
3. Should he have dropped it and played on without penalty
4. Should he have dropped it and played on with a penalty

We had no idea and it was just a 4 x ball better ball friendly game (not a comp) so we allowed him option 1. to play it from where it then lay without penalty.

It would be good to know the correct ruling for the future - can anyone advise me please?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[Smiffy]

Not sure but my guess would be 4.


(Good question though)

 

[heronsghyll]

Smiffy, if he had touched the ball I would agree. This issue was he threw a branch up into the tree - it did not hit or touch the ball - but it did dislodge it.

I believe as he did not actually touch the ball at any time - why should he take a drop? I feel the anser is probably 1 or 2.

Just a thought..........

 

[DCB]

Yes, option 4. Rule 28 for an unplayable ball would be the reference point.

Or he could have stood on your shoulders and used his tree iron

 

[Smiffy]

Smiffy, if he had touched the ball I would agree. This issue was he threw a branch up into the tree - it did not hit or touch the ball - but it did dislodge it.

I believe as he did not actually touch the ball at any time - why should he take a drop? I feel the anser is probably 1 or 2.

Just a thought..........

My reasoning was that you can try to move a lose impediment (sp?) behind the ball like a dead leaf or piece of grass and if it moves the ball whilst you are doing it, it would be a penalty.
I could be wrong though...I did say it was a guess!!

 

[Twire]

I'd go for option 4....but was it within 2 club lenghts up the tree? If not he might have to drop back keeping the tree and flag in line.

 

[heronsghyll]

Smiffy, I agree. That is why I think he should play from where it now lies and take the penalty, but have to drop it again.

Anyway - we obviously were wrong to let hom play with no penalty..............but we still have a friend!!

 

[DCB]

He can't throw a stick at the tree and then play the ball, see rule 13.

 

[Putting_Green_Pro]

idiot, what was he doing hitting it into the trees?? haha

 

[Ethan]

Yes, option 4. Rule 28 for an unplayable ball would be the reference point.

I think this was the only option (apart from a Bernhard Langer). If he can ID the ball, he can declare it unplayable. The 2 club length drop is based on the horizontal plane, so measure that from the point on the ground directly below where the ball lay and play on with the penalty.

 

[Region3]

Would it make any difference to the ruling if someone else had thrown the stick?

 

[DCB]

If the player was aware of it, it would make no difference, he would still be penalised and have to drop accordingly .

If the wind blew the tree and it fell, then he plays it as it lies.

But throwing a stick, tut tut