searching for ball in the rough

[alexgolf]

Hi All.
Quick one for you rules boffins

My friend Viv was playing today and trod on his ball in the rough. The ball did not move off its spot.

BUT

Some of his group said there should be a penalty. But is that only the case is the ball moves off its spot

What do we all think WITHOUT looking at the rule book

A

 

[Ethan]

Moving requires the ball to take a new position. If it rocks one direction then rocks back into its original position, it has not taken a new position and therefore not moved. No penalty.

 

[rickg]

If it doesn't move off it's spot, no penalty, BUT, if it was trodden on, it is extremely unlikely that it didn't move at all and if it did, extremely unlikely that it returned to exactly it's original spot. I would say in this instance a one shot penalty would be hard to avoid.

 

[alexgolf]

The above two posts are a microsm of what happened.

Viv said the ball didnt move off its spot so in that instance you should in my opinion give the benifit of doubt to the player.

If the ball had moved though.....diferent story

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'd say that if the player is adamant that there had been no infringment then that would be good enough for me. We've spoken before about those players that have deliberately cheated or claimed ignorance to benefit and I've no time for those and it is pretty obvious to most of us when something is not right. However if it was a genuine case of stepping on the ball and it not moving then carry on. I think most of us would call a penalty on ourselves if we'd moved it anyway.

 

[Screwback]

Another question to add to this:

If he has touched the ball surely he has made contact with the ball regardless if has moved or not. if the ball was in the fairway and you stood on it and it didnt moved you would be deemed as improving your lie.

Whats the difference?

 

[alexgolf]

I will allow you all to look at the rules now!

Its all to do with ball at rest moved

Cheers for the responses
Alex

 

[Smiffy]

As far as I was aware, the rules state that a ball moved "accidently" whilst searching for it incurred no penalty.

 

[backwoodsman]

Sorry chaps - but the ball moved. Whether up, down or sideways doesn't matter.

And the "accidentally moved during search" exemption only applies when ball is in a hazard. It doesn't apply when ball is in the rough. (If moved by the player that is. The accidental during search <u>does</u> apply if it was the opponent who moved the ball)

 

[Smiffy]

And the "accidentally moved during search" exemption only applies when ball is in a hazard. It doesn't apply when ball is in the rough. (If moved by the player that is. The accidental during search <u>does</u> apply if it was the opponent who moved the ball)

Thanks for clearing that up BWM. I knew I had read something along those lines but didn't realise it didn't include the "player"...

 

[backwoodsman]

And the "accidentally moved during search" exemption only applies when ball is in a hazard. It doesn't apply when ball is in the rough. (If moved by the player that is. The accidental during search <u>does</u> apply if it was the opponent who moved the ball)

Thanks for clearing that up BWM. I knew I had read something along those lines but didn't realise it didn't include the "player"...

It's one of those rules that's a bit of a pain. With all the will in the world, and no matter how careful, you're bound to tread on your own ball in the rough from time to time.

And because of the exemption, there's no point in quietly stamping on your oppo's ball when they're not looking

 

[Smiffy]

And because of the exemption, there's no point in quietly stamping on your oppo's ball when they're not looking

Well if they didn't see you, doesn't "play it as it lies" come into the equation????

 

[backwoodsman]

And because of the exemption, there's no point in quietly stamping on your oppo's ball when they're not looking

Well if they didn't see you, doesn't "play it as it lies" come into the equation????

 

[Smiffy]

And because of the exemption, there's no point in quietly stamping on your oppo's ball when they're not looking

Well if they didn't see you, doesn't "play it as it lies" come into the equation????

I take it that's a "yes" then?
Right. Where's Homer????
He can't see further than 50 yards so I reckon a rematch is on the cards.....

 

[backwoodsman]

It <u>was</u> a yes.

And if he can't see 50 yards he'll not notice you have on your extra large shoes.

(Right, rain stopped again so off to see if anyone else is bothering to turn out this morning... Back soon ??)

 

[Ethan]

Sorry chaps - but the ball moved. Whether up, down or sideways doesn't matter.

And the "accidentally moved during search" exemption only applies when ball is in a hazard. It doesn't apply when ball is in the rough. (If moved by the player that is. The accidental during search <u>does</u> apply if it was the opponent who moved the ball)

I read the OPs post as contact was made but the ball did not take up a new position in any axis of movement. If so, no penalty. If the ball moved vertically, that is a penalty as you say, of course.

 

[Sam]

If you tread on a ball accidentally, you did not see the ball in its original position. How can either 'side' claim it had or hadn't moved

 

[Imurg]

What I want to know is :-

Why can I find someone else's ball in about 5 seconds flat but not find mine at all in the same patch of rough?

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Why cant they put a tracker chip in Golf balls.

Solve all these problems

Although at a quid or 2 per lost ball campared to £150 for a gps tracker, may not be worth it

 

[muttleee]

Why can I find someone else's ball in about 5 seconds flat but not find mine at all in the same patch of rough?

What you want to do is get someone else to look for yours...