Rules question - ball deflected on green

[Fourputt]

Not correct, fourputt. Stymies only occurred in matchplay.

I was mistaken (I hadn't read the 1950 Rule book in it's entirety)You are right, but it was still treated differently than it is today. In 1950, for stroke play, Rule 39.3 stated:

(ii) Ball nearer the hole interfering with play When the nearer ball lies on the putting green, if the competitor whose ball is farther from the hole (whether it lies on the putting green, through the green, or in a hazard) consider that the nearer ball might interfere with his play, or if the owner of the nearer ball consider that his ball might be of assistance in the playing of the farther ball, the nearer ball shall be played first. If the balls lie in such a position that the farther ball interfere in any way with the play of the nearer ball, the owner of the farther ball shall mark its position and remove it if required to do so. He shall replace it after the player has holed out.

Basically, if the ball nearer the hole was in the way, then the players played out of turn. This is still in the rules as an option to marking and lifting.

[martin00015]

Yes, this was in the days before a player could mark and lift on the green at will. Effectively, this old rule lives on as rule 22.