Rule Of The Month, September 2009

Larry makes a spectacle out of everything on the golf course. Taking his glove off to putt or putting a head cover on after teeing off is a theatrical production. Last week he was on the green (a par 3) in one. He addressed his ball on the putting green then stepped back and decided he wanted another look at the hole from the side opposite of the ball; after all he was putting for birdie. He walked about 50 feet then kneeled down for a good look. He then proceeded to walk back to his ball. This mini-production took about 40 seconds. As he was walking back to his ball a gust of wind came up and his ball started rolling. Larry replaced his ball and proceeded to put as he said, "this one's for birdie." Scott a member of our foursome said "afraid not, it's for par." Lawrence the 4th member of the group chimed in saying, "Nope, it's for bogey." What is the real status, what is Larry really putting?

A. The ball was moved by natural elements (the wind). Larry replaced his ball in its original position from where the wind had moved it. No penalty, putting for birdie.

B. The ball was moved by natural elements (the wind). Larry should have played the ball from where it came to rest. When he moved the ball he was in error. Two stoke penalty, putting for bogey.

C. Even though the ball was moved by natural elements (the wind), Larry had adressed the ball. Since the ball moves after he had addressed the ball, the ball is presumed to have moved because of his action. Larry was correct to replace the ball in its original spot. But, he still incurs a one stroke moved ball penalty. One stoke penalty, putting for par.

D. Even though the ball was moved by natural elements (the wind), Larry had addressed the ball. Since the ball moves after he had addressed the ball, the ball is presumed to have moved because of his action. Larry was correct to replace the ball in its original spot. But, he still incurs a two stroke moved ball penalty. Two stoke penalty, putting for bogey.

And the answer is...

The answer is C. Even though the ball was moved by natural elements (the wind), Larry had addressed the ball. Since the ball moves after he had addressed the ball, the ball is presumed to have moved because of his action. Larry was correct to replace the ball in its original spot. But, he still incurs a one stroke moved ball penalty. One stoke penalty, putting for par.

This is almost the exact scenario played out at last week's Masters. Padraig Harrington was addressing the ball on the 15th putting green, he stepped away and gust of wind came up and pushed the ball down the hill. He was penalized a one penalty stroke and he replaced the ball.

Rule 18-2b (Ball at Rest Moved; By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment; Ball Moving after Address) states: "If a player's ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke." Once Larry addressed the ball i.e. took his stance and grounded his club, he is under risk even though he had stepped away from the ball. The term "deemed" does not contemplate whether the movement of the ball was actually caused by the golfer. It is presumed he did.

Larry had addressed the ball, even though he stepped away, when the ball moved, he was "deemed" to have been responsible and would incur a 1 stroke penalty.

If Larry had marked, lifted and replaced the ball after addressing the ball, that would have qualified as an "un-addressing" of the ball. In this case Decision 18-2b/8 (Player Addresses Ball, Steps Away, Lifts Ball and Replaces It; Ball Then Moves) basically says; "the presumption of the Rule that the act of addressing the ball caused the ball to move is no longer valid."

Jim Rosa, Handicap Chairman