Dear Linda,
I have an unusual circumstance for you; we have asked a number of local pros here regarding this occurrence and have been getting conflicting answers. I thought it best to approach my rules “guru” for an answer!
I live in Ireland, and we play golf all year round here. A golfer at a local club was playing during this winter, in the midst of a hailstorm. His ball was on the green, some yards from the pin. He putted, and the ball ended up a few inches from the cup. He went to tap the ball into the cup, and did so, but when looking in the cup to retrieve the ball, found that it was not in the cup at all. The ball had actually frozen on to the face of his putter, and was attached to the putter. In this circumstance, what happens? Does he replace and re-put for penalty, or without penalty? Can he hold his putter over the cup and wait for the ice to melt and ball fall into the cup? We have never had this occurrence before, and didn't know what rule would govern such a circumstance.
Thanks for your input!!
Best regards,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
When a situation is not specifically covered by the Rules, a decision must be made “in accordance with equity,” which means that it should be fair and reasonable [Rule 1-4]. There is no Decision addressing your specific situation. However, there is a similar Decision regarding a ball sticking to a club, and I believe that the ruling would apply in your case.
In Decision 1-4/2, a ball adheres to the club when a player makes a stroke from wet sand or soil. The ruling is that the ball should be dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to where the club was when the ball stuck to it.
From my perspective, sticking is sticking. It makes no difference whether the gluing agent is wet sand, mud, or hail stones. Since this occurred on a putting green, the player should replace the ball on the green and try again. Do not count the stroke made when the ball adhered to the face of the putter.
I would advise the player to dry both the putter and the ball before re-putting. A sensible Committee should pull players off the course during a hailstorm.
Linda
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