Dave's Journey With the Rules of Golf

[Rulesman]

6 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Thanks.  I think I knew going in that I had lots to learn about being an official, and it made sense all along that those selected for the more important events would be those with more experience.  Now apparently I'm one of those.  Even so, I still enjoy the junior events as much as anything else I do.  

I often saw a difference.

Mature players - "Oh dear, that's a bit of a mess you've got yourself into."

The pros - "Sorry. That's a penalty."

The juniors - "Can I help?"

 

[DaveP043]

I had an interesting one yesterday, a local qualifier for the US Senior Open, at the Cascades Course at the Homestead.  Well, first things first, the VSGA arrnged for the officials to play the Cascades on Monday at the players' practice round rate.  Its lots of fun, rather old-style (built in the 1920s).  anyway, a player missed a short putt, and (apparently embarrassed) took a step to be ready to tap the ball back in.  The ball lipped out, and hit the player's foot.  I was nearby, and they waved me over, and asked "What do we do now?"  I was pretty sure of the ruling, but asked them to wait for a few seconds while i double-checked.  I did have it correct, even though its one of the more confusing rules in the book right now.  I'll leave the correct answer out for now, in case anyone wants to guess, or research it, and post their ruling.

[saevel25]

Taking a crack it, but looks pretty clear.

11.1  Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person or Outside Influence.

a. No Penalty to Any Player
If a player’s ball in motion accidentally hits any person (including the player) or outside influence:

• There is no penalty to any player.
• This is true even if the ball hits the player, the opponent or any other player or any of their caddies or equipment.

Reading further down it looks like they have to play the ball as it lies. No replay from the previous spot. 

[DaveP043]

7 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Taking a crack it, but looks pretty clear.

11.1  Ball in Motion Accidentally Hits Person or Outside Influence.

a. No Penalty to Any Player
If a player’s ball in motion accidentally hits any person (including the player) or outside influence:

• There is no penalty to any player.
• This is true even if the ball hits the player, the opponent or any other player or any of their caddies or equipment.

Reading further down it looks like they have to play the ball as it lies. No replay from the previous spot. 

Exactly correct.   I was absolutely certain about the penalty (none here), but the bit about where they play from can be really confusing the first time you read it.  In my big paper rule book, i used colored highlighters to make it clear.  Good thing I did, at the Cascades there's little to no cell service, so using the rules app on the phone wasnn't possible.

Quote

(2) When Ball Is Played from Putting Green. If a player’s ball in motion played from the putting green accidentally hits the player or an outside influence, the ball must normally be played as it lies. But if it is known or virtually certain that the ball in motion hit any of the following on the putting green, the player must replay the stroke by playing the original ball or another ball from the spot where that stroke was made (see Rule 14.6):

Any person other than:

     the player, or

     a person attending the flagstick (this is covered by Rule 13.2b(2), not by this Rule).

 

[Shindig]

Interesting that it's no penalty, but then again, I can't imagine someone would purposefully put their foot out there in this situation or one like it.  And then there was the time someone purposefully deflected his own ball during a major, but that's very different too.

The only time I can recall a ball I hit hitting another player or their equipment was ages ago -- over a decade and a half ago.  I had a 3' putt for an 89 and someone (a random pairing, not someone I knew) decided it was a good time for goaltending practice.  That wouldn't fall under this rule, though (and it wasn't in a tournament anyway).

Thanks for continuing to share these, Dave!  I always find these interesting. 

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, Shindig said:

I had a 3' putt for an 89 and someone (a random pairing, not someone I knew) decided it was a good time for goaltending practice.  That wouldn't fall under this rule, though

the rules have changed, but this would fall under 11.2 in the current rules.  General Penalty to any player who deliberately deflects a ball in motion, and you must replay the putt.