Unintentionally affecting someone else's shot

[ShankyBoy]

Chap was half way through his back swing yesterday and I felt a huge sneeze coming on...managed to cover my face, grab my nose so nothing happened, but do the rules say if you interfere with someone's shot unintentionally, whether that's sneezing or talking next to a tee-box you didn't realise someone was teeing off and it causes them to shank their shot?

Anything in the rules to allow the player to retake their shot?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Rub of the green I'm afraid

 

[MashieNiblick]

Nope, I'm afraid it's all part of the game.

Decision 1-4/1 Player Distracted by Ball Dropped by Another Player Mis-Hits Ball

Q. As A was making his backswing, B accidentally dropped a ball, which rolled within six inches of A's ball. The appearance of the dropped ball startled A, causing him to top his shot. In equity, should A be permitted to replay his stroke?

A. No. Distractions are a common occurrence which players must accept.

Just on that specific issue, I did once drop a ball on a green when waiting for another player to putt. He hadn't started his swing and it didn't put him off, but now when I wait on the tee or green I try to remember to keep my ball in pocket.

 

[Ethan]

Rub of the green I'm afraid

Please don't rub a nose on the green.

 

[ShankyBoy]

It's a shame there's no discretion permitted by the other pp's. If I caused someone to have a bad shot, I think that would affect my round also. Good to know though, cheers.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

It's a shame there's no discretion permitted by the other pp's. If I caused someone to have a bad shot, I think that would affect my round also. Good to know though, cheers.

But then you would have people looking for reasons to replay their shot

 

[duncan mackie]

It's a shame there's no discretion permitted by the other pp's. If I caused someone to have a bad shot, I think that would affect my round also. Good to know though, cheers.

If you are only playing amongst yourselves there is always such discretion - as soon as anyone else is involved (competition field etc) you follow the rules which are there to ensure that everyone is treated equally (even if this isn't necessarily fairly).

 

[ManinBlack]

There was hell on the last time I used a gotcha but there was nothing he could do about it.

 

[hovis]

But then you would have people looking for reasons to replay their shot

Bubba Watson would have a field day

 

[Colin L]

But then you would have people looking for reasons to replay their shot

It would be a godsend for those of us with a disposition as sensitive as that of Mitchell Holmes, a P G Wodehouse character who "missed short putts because of the uproar of the butterflies in the adjoining meadows."

 

[rulefan]

I have a problem with those opponents who keep dropping pins. Why can't they just leave them in the cushion?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Monty would have taken two days to complete a round