Linda,
I have a question about a situation that occurred on the
putting green.
As I addressed the ball, started my putting stroke, the ball
moved about an inch. As I was in the downswing of my putt I was unable to hold
up my putting stroke and I hit the ball. A gentleman in our foursome stated
that I have to take a two-stroke penalty for striking the ball, because it was
moving when I struck it. This isn’t like I missed a putt and then putted the
ball into the cup before it came to rest. The ball just started to move while I
was making my putting stroke.
I know Rule 18-2 is one of the rules that was changed in the
2012-2015 USGA Rules, but I’m not sure if it applies here. I’m really not sure
why the ball moved – it didn’t move when I addressed the ball, it was not windy
out, I really don’t know what made the ball initially move. If I am penalized
in this situation, is the penalty two strokes?
Thanks for your help clarifying.
Lulu from California
Dear Lulu,
The penalty is one stroke.
Whenever a ball moves after the player has addressed it, the
player is deemed to have moved the ball. The exception to this Rule (the Rule
change you refer to) is if it is known or virtually certain that something observable caused the ball to move
(e.g., wind, water, outside agency, but not
gravity) [Decision 18-2b/1].
Ordinarily, a moved ball must be replaced. The penalty is
one stroke, unless the player does not replace the ball, in which case the
penalty increases to two strokes. However, if the player has started her stroke
(including the backswing for her stroke), and she hits the moving ball (your
situation), the penalty is one stroke [Rule 18-2b].
The ruling would be the same anywhere on the golf course,
not just the putting green.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
