Linda,
Here’s another question that reared its head today. We were
playing Winter Rules – lift, clean and place on closely-mown areas within six
inches no nearer hole.
Playing 12th – matchplay – fourball.
Game very close.
My ball in fairway (loads of leaves everywhere!!!) and my
opponent, who is talking to my partner, walks over my ball with his trolley and
moves it about three or four feet with his trolley/foot.
I tell him that I believe it’s a one-stroke penalty. I
replace the ball to where it was originally and played the shot.
He genuinely thinks it is not a penalty. I further explain
that we can defer to the committee on return to the clubhouse at match end, but
if we waive rule we are both disqualified under Rule 1-3, i.e., we simply
cannot ignore the fact it happened – if we do we are playing some other game
which we call…………..NOT golf
Returning to the clubhouse the match captain and another
senior figure on the local circuit disagree. They say as it was an opponent who
moved my ball, and one says as it is match play, there is no penalty.
I disagree. I believe what I did was right.
1) Advise the penalty
2) Offer to let the match
captain review the incident (rather than complete the hole and tee off, thus
closing the door on my claim)
3) Replace and play my ball
4) Confirmed that should we
ignore what had happened or accept there was no rule for this occurrence that
we would be disqualified
Your thoughts would be appreciated.
Regards,
Lou from Wales, UK
Dear Lou,
In match play, when a player moves his opponent’s ball, the
player incurs a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule 18-3b].
There would be no penalty if this occurred while the opponent was helping to
search for the player’s ball, but that does not seem to be the case here.
I don’t understand why the gentlemen who were consulted
disagreed on the answer. When a player is asking for a ruling, the officials
should open the rulebook and find the answer. Rule 18-3b states quite clearly
that this is a one-stroke penalty in match play.
There is no agreement between you and your opponent to waive
a Rule, since there is disagreement as to whether a penalty should be imposed.
Assuming the penalty would affect the outcome of the hole, you need to tell
your opponent, before either of you tees off on the next hole, that you are
filing a claim to add the one-stroke penalty to his score [Rule 2-5]. The
matter will be settled by a Committee member (hopefully one who is not averse
to reading).
Addressing your specific questions:
1. The penalty is one stroke and the ball must be replaced.
2. The door is not closed on your claim, provided you state
that you will file a claim before anyone tees off on the next hole.
3. The correct procedure is to replace and play your ball.
4. There can be no agreement to waive a Rule when the
players do not agree on what the Rule states.
Linda
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