What would the ruling be?

[Dodger]

Playing this morning and was on the 13th tee which is an elevated par 3 playing 160 yards to the pin.

I am on the downswing about an inch away from striking my 9 iron shot when a kit of pigeons fly directly over me missing my head by about a foot............shat myself bigtime!!

I managed to strike the ball but Screwback who was playing with me says the ball flew through the pigeons and really does not know how the hell I didn't take one of them out.

If I had taken one out and the ball had stalled in flight what would the ruling have been??

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Tough luck

 

[stevie_r]

Rub of the green is where a ball in motion is stopped or defelected by an outside agency (in this case a bird).

Rule 19-1 covers this. You play the ball as it lies.

"19-1. By Outside Agency

If a player’s ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency, it is a rub of the green, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, except:

a. If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke other than on the putting green comes to rest in or on any moving or animate outside agency, the ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or on the outside agency, but not nearer the hole, and

b. If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green is deflected or stopped by, or comes to rest in or on, any moving or animate outside agency, except a worm, insect or the like, the stroke is canceled. The ball must be replaced and replayed.


So play it as it lies. If the bird dies then have it stuffed and mounted on a wooden plaque along with the ball for a dinner party conversation piece

 

[Tommo21]

I'm waiting on someone saying a Birdie, but no.

 

[Iaing]

I guess everyone would've had a bloody good laugh (except the pigeon. And possibly Dodger)

 

[DCB]

At least you'd have got a birdie