Hi Linda,
We had a debate over ball falling off tee on 8th tee off
area caused by wind and person was in middle of back swing and completed swing
missing the ball completely. His intention was to hit the ball and fully
completed the swing. After laughing our heads off, debate was whether the ball
was in play or not and should there have been a penalty or allowed to re-tee
without penalty?
Lou from Australia
Dear Lou,
A ball is in play as soon as the player makes a stroke on
the teeing ground [Definition of “Ball in Play”]. The player in your scenario
made a stroke, since he swung his club with the intention of hitting the ball
[Definition of “Stroke”]. The fact that the wind blew the ball off the tee is
irrelevant.
There is no penalty. He must count the whiff as his first
stroke. If he plays the ball where it lies on the ground, that stroke will be
his second. If he re-tees, he will be playing under stroke and distance,
rendering his second attempt to hit the ball his third stroke on the hole.
Linda
Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
