Rules Question… Broken Golf Ball

[Rippy_72]

Some years ago, I had an 8 iron approach shot on the 6th hole and the Nike Platinum ball makes a weird whistle noise like when a range ball breaks.  It goes low right and then dives left into an environmental hazard.  I could see the ball and a crack into it.  We are not allowed to go into the environmental.  It was not in two pieces.  But surely cracked.   Not into two whole chunks, just a huge crack

I had played a second ball from the fairway. I knocked it up and made the putt for bogey.    Did I make a 3 or a 5?  It was the best round of my life.  I asked the pro and he wasn't sure.  I just did a Ty Webb and let it kgo.

[DaveP043]

28 minutes ago, Rippy_72 said:

Some years ago, I had an 8 iron approach shot on the 6th hole and the Nike Platinum ball makes a weird whistle noise like when a range ball breaks.  It goes low right and then dives left into an environmental hazard.  I could see the ball and a crack into it.  We are not allowed to go into the environmental.  It was not in two pieces.  But surely cracked.   Not into two whole chunks, just a huge crack

I had played a second ball from the fairway. I knocked it up and made the putt for bogey.    Did I make a 3 or a 5?  It was the best round of my life.  I asked the pro and he wasn't sure.  I just did a Ty Webb and let it kgo.

Under the current Rules, 4.2b says if a ball breaks into pieces, the stroke doesn't count, and there's no penalty.  If a ball becomes cracked, however, the stroke isn't cancelled, but you can substitute another ball.  So your shot that put the ball into the hazard counts, the relief from the hazard is a stroke penalty, you made 5.

That same basic rule is presented in 5-3 in the 2016 version of the Rules.

[David in FL]

1 hour ago, Rippy_72 said:

Some years ago, I had an 8 iron approach shot on the 6th hole and the Nike Platinum ball makes a weird whistle noise like when a range ball breaks.  It goes low right and then dives left into an environmental hazard.  I could see the ball and a crack into it.  We are not allowed to go into the environmental.  It was not in two pieces.  But surely cracked.   Not into two whole chunks, just a huge crack

I had played a second ball from the fairway. I knocked it up and made the putt for bogey.    Did I make a 3 or a 5?  It was the best round of my life.  I asked the pro and he wasn't sure.  I just did a Ty Webb and let it kgo.

How many years ago...?

32 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

Under the current Rules, 4.2b says if a ball breaks into pieces, the stroke doesn't count, and there's no penalty.  If a ball becomes cracked, however, the stroke isn't cancelled, but you can substitute another ball.  So your shot that put the ball into the hazard counts, the relief from the hazard is a stroke penalty, you made 5.

That same basic rule is presented in 5-3 in the 2016 version of the Rules.

Didn’t the rule, years ago, used to read something along the lines that you located the largest piece, substituted a ball and played from there?

Maybe I’m wrong...

[iacas]

It was still in one piece.

[DaveP043]

15 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Didn’t the rule, years ago, used to read something along the lines that you located the largest piece, substituted a ball and played from there?

Maybe I’m wrong...

That rings a bell, but I'm not really sure.  I looked up the 2016 rules at 

www.ruleshistory.com

Their section on Equipment rules didn't discuss a ball becoming unfit for play, and I was too lazy to look back any further for older rules on the subject.

[Rippy_72]

It was 2013.   I remember trying to figure it out but it really did not matter.  

At that point in the round, it wasn't anything special.  Then, I went birdie, birdie, eagle, eagle, birdie, par, bogie, birdie, par, par.  I three putted from 10 feet on a 238 yard par 3.  I was pissed missing and my angry tap in missed.  

It was 2013.   I remember trying to figure it out but it really did not matter.  I figured a 5 but there was something about unfit for play.  I made a good shot, it just traveled like a wounded sparrow.

At that point in the round, it wasn't anything special.  Then, I went birdie, birdie, eagle, eagle, birdie, par, bogie, birdie, par, par.  I three putted from 10 feet on a 238 yard par 3.  I was pissed missing and my angry tap in missed.  

[Rippy_72]

I do not have a copy of the decisions or interpretations on the rules of golf.

1.  What does "pieces" mean?  What if it tore into two pieces but was still joined by a thread?

2.  Within the context of an environmental hazard, I could only look down off the bridge and see a huge crack.  It is possible that if I picked it up, it would be in pieces.

It always bugged me.  In terms of fairness, it would seem to me that replay of the shot would be fair.  In any case, I suppose there might be a ruling or interpretation out there.  Of course the smarties will say it is clear in the rules.

Edited March 20, 2020 by Rippy_72

[iacas]

2 hours ago, Rippy_72 said:

1.  What does "pieces" mean?  What if it tore into two pieces but was still joined by a thread?

2.  Within the context of an environmental hazard, I could only look down off the bridge and see a huge crack.  It is possible that if I picked it up, it would be in pieces.

The ball would have to be two separate items. Not connected. That would be a "cracked" ball, and you could replace it.

You're over-thinking this. It sounds every bit like a cracked ball.

[fredf]

14 hours ago, David in FL said:

How many years ago...?

Didn’t the rule, years ago, used to read something along the lines that you located the largest piece, substituted a ball and played from there?

Maybe I’m wrong...

The rule hasn't changed from its form pre-2019 but I don't know about 'years ago'. If the ball broke as a result of a stroke, stroke didn't count and replay. But if a stationary ball in play was run over by a greens mower and smashed, it was and is replace at estimated spot.

[DrvFrShow]

Years ago... back in the balata days if you thinned a shot the ball would get a big ol' smile in it and would be unplayable. You had to play a new ball for your next shot. Fun times. 

[iacas]

12 minutes ago, DrvFrShow said:

Years ago... back in the balata days if you thinned a shot the ball would get a big ol' smile in it and would be unplayable. You had to play a new ball for your next shot. Fun times. 

The "balata smiley" absolutely did that, yes.