Another Rules tester for you

A player correctly replaces his ball on the putting green 30cm from the hole. Before he addresses the ball, the ball rolls into the hole. What is the ruling?

A. The ball must be replaced.

B. The player is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke.

C. The player is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke but must add one penalty stroke to his score.

B

B is assuming that he/she has lifted the marker

Bah!

You're not supposed to get it so early.

It does seem a little contrary to the 10 seconds wait rule, doesn't it?

Merc, I only got it because the scenario was discussed a few times during the Tassie last week, especially in the clubhouse after the Tuesday rounds.

It can work the other way too, golfer puts the ball back down and lifts his marker....but he's on the leeward side of the hole....que a big gust of wind and a 2 foot tap in is suddenly a 10 footer (which I think actually happened to somebody last week)

...and then que the 10 second rule debate as well...ball left hanging over the hole on the windward side, count to 9, mark it, lift it, replace it. Do you now have another 10 secs hoping that the wind will blow it in??

Is there a decision that covers this?

I thought it would be in the decisions for Rule 16-2 but they all seem to contradict this.

Mercurio wrote:Is there a decision that covers this?

I thought it would be in the decisions for Rule 16-2 but they all seem to contradict this.

The point must be that if it overhangs the hole, the ten second rule applies and it's deemed to be at rest if it hasn't dropped in.

Does that mean it's not deemed to be at rest if it's stopped 30cm away from the hole?

I think 18-2b/1 may cover it.

18-2b/1  Ball Moves After Stance Taken But Before Address 

Q. Outside a hazard, the player took his stance but did not ground his club. The ball moved. What is the ruling? 

A. As the player had not addressed the ball, he did not incur a penalty under Rule 18-2b (see Definition of "Addressing the Ball"). 

It still doesn't seem conclusive, though.

Merc is correct, the below decision covers it.

20-3d/1 Placed Ball Rolls into Hole

from the hole. As he is about to address the ball, it rolls into the hole. Should the ball be replaced or is A deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke?

The answer depends on whether the ball, when replaced, came to rest on the spot on which it was placed before it started rolling. If it did, A is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke. If not, A is required to replace the ball (Rule 20-3d). However, if the ball had been overhanging the hole when it was lifted, the provisions of Rule 16-2 would override those of Rule 20-3d.

Where does the whole grounding your putter come into this?
Presumably if you marked it, grounded your putter and then it rolled in before you hit, that would be the current stroke rather than the previous stroke?

I'm so glad i don't bother with the rules when i play

If you grounded your club behind the ball and the ball then moved towards the hole and dropped in, it would be a 1 shot penalty and you would have to replace the ball on its original spot.

bluefoxgolf wrote:Merc is correct, the below decision covers it.

20-3d/1 Placed Ball Rolls into Hole

from the hole. As he is about to address the ball, it rolls into the hole. Should the ball be replaced or is A deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke?

The answer depends on whether the ball, when replaced, came to rest on the spot on which it was placed before it started rolling. If it did, A is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke. If not, A is required to replace the ball (Rule 20-3d). However, if the ball had been overhanging the hole when it was lifted, the provisions of Rule 16-2 would override those of Rule 20-3d.

Brilliant, bluefoxglove.

It's like trying to find a needle in a haystack sometimes when trying to find the relevant decision! Something closely related to rule 16 is stuck away in the decisions for Rules 18 and 20

Wow. Surprised by this ruling. Seems a bit contradictory to other rulings/penalties to me, especially the 10 second one. Doesn't seem right that if the ball came to rest it should count as part of the previous stroke?

Never likely to be an issue though as I wouldn't normally mark it from 30cm away (or closer), I'd just tap in. Maybe I should start doing this!!

i have a question re 18 hole stableford competition on tommorrow.
im teeing off late in the afternoon and being an early starter as i am was thinking of playing a quick 9 for practise early in the morning.
is this ok i assuming i do it before they change the pins?
if not i assume it is ok to play the other 9 holes (we have 27 holes)
anyone know the specifics?

hend

you can play the 'other 9' but not the 18 that the competition will be played on. That would be deemed as practising on the course.

You cannot practise on any part of the course that you will play a strokeplay competition on later in the day. You could though play on the other 9 holes. And you can also practise on the course before a match play competition.

even if i play at 7 and the pins are changed at 8?!

This issue of the ball rolling away when you re-place it after marking is quite common on some courses. I've never known it roll into the hole, but I have many times seen balls stop on a slope because of a chunk of mud on the ball. The player marks, cleans the ball, replaces it, and then it rolls away down the slope.

If there's a slight pause before it rolls away, then it's OK. If it just rolls away as soon as it's replaced, then it has to be put back. I don't know what happens if it won't stay there.

Last autumn I played in a fourball where my ball rolled about 40 feet down a slope on the green towards the hole after it was re-placed. The other guys didn't question it.

Yep, even in that situation.

Basically, keep off the course full stop prior to competition play.

No, you cannot play any part of the course on the same day as a competition.

You can walk the course, but not play

george - if it rolls away immediately, you have to find the nearest point, no nearer to hole, where ball wont move

hend085 wrote:even if i play at 7 and the pins are changed at 8?!

Yes, pin positions are irrelavant.

had a feeling you might say that! was hoping that given differnt pins it would be defined as a different course but alas. the hollow corred 9 it will have to be!

I find it strange in a matchplay situation you can play the course or part of it before your match, but not in a medal/stableford comp, this rule seems another of the "stupid ones" that need to be re-looked at

In a matchplay game, both you and your opponent may have the chance to play the course before the game. In a stroke play event, not everyone can have the chance to play before, so it would inequitable to allow someone to play who had played the course before.