BALL AT REST MOVED Ben asks: Q. In stroke play, a player misses a putt and bats it across the green in frustration. His fellow- competitor retrieves the ball and tosses it back to the player. The ball is replaced and is knocked into the hole by the player. What is the ruling? A. The player is penalized one stroke under Rule 18-2a for moving his ball. It is not a stroke. Since he replaced the ball and holed out, there is no additional penalty. See Decision 18-2a/23 for additional clarifi cation.
WHEN TO RE-DROP Pat asks: Q. A player’s tee shot is lost in a lateral water hazard. When the player takes relief by dropping the ball within two club lengths, she is now standing in a separate lateral water hazard. Must she re-drop? A. No. Rule 20-2c does not require a player to re-drop when a player’s stance is in a lateral water hazard, even if the player’s stance would
have been in the original lateral water hazard after the drop.
WAIVING A RULE OF GOLF Stan asks: Q. May a Committee adopt a Local Rule permitting players to place the ball in the bunker, instead of dropping, when taking relief from casual water? A. No. Per Rule 33-1, the Committee does not have the authority to waive a Rule of Golf. Rule 25-1b requires the ball to be dropped.
PLACING AND REPLACING, BY WHOM AND WHERE Ed asks: Q. Player A plays the ball of Player B. The ball is not immediately recoverable. Player A then places a new ball at the spot from where he just played. Player B witnesses Player A’s actions and plays the new ball from where it was placed. Is this the proper procedure, or must Player B place the ball? A. Yes. Rule 20-3a permits Player A, Player B or his partner to replace a ball under the rules.
Edited by Ryan Gregg, director of education. To submit questions e-mail rgregg@ncga.org.
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