Whats the rule?

[CVG]

Out playing with IMurg yesterday and he had hit a drive just off the fairway on to the first cut. The groundsman was out mowing the same area, he didn't go over the ball but we asked ourselves what would be the ruling if the ball had been damaged by the mower?
Anybody know?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Rule 5-3 Ball unfit for play

A ball is unfit for play if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of shape. It is not unfit solely because mud or other materials adhere to it, its surfaced is scratched or scraped or its paint is damaged or discoloured.

I guess then if the mower had gone over it and chewed it up there would have been no problem replacing it from where it lay. If it had just scratched the surface, I would have allowed my opponent to chenge the ball if asked as it was clearly not done by contact with the club or by hitting trees or other in bound obstacles and caused by an outside agency.

 

[Fyldewhite]

The mower would be an "outside agency" so ball would be replaced. If the ball was damaged it can be changed for another.

 

[Imurg]

What if it runs over it and plugs it? How do we know it wasn't already plugged?

 

[USER1999]

I think you would have reason to believe the mower did it, and get a drop.