Hi Linda,
Following problem occurs:
3 players just on green in stroke play
Player 1 (furthest away) starts playing his putt.
Player 2 finds his shadow in the putting line and steps
back, thereby stepping on his own ball.
Discussion: Is there a stroke penalty?
Player 2 suggested he is removing a movable obstruction.
Lou
Dear Lou,
I am going to assume that the ball was moved, since it is
highly unlikely that a player could step on his ball and not move it.
When a player causes his ball to move, there is a one-stroke
penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule 18-2a]. Failure to replace the ball
before hitting it would result in a two-stroke penalty.
A shadow is not a movable obstruction. It is a distraction,
and players should take care that their shadows not fall on the hole when
attending a flagstick, or on another player’s line of putt while he is putting.
If a player finds another player’s shadow distracting, there is nothing
stopping him from asking the other player to move. The moving player is not
exempt from penalty if he happens to step on his ball.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
