Proper ruling needed

[ElWagonne]

I just need a proper rule for my clarification here:

I hit my tee ball on a par 3 into a bunker but upon arriving at the bunker, a geese was there, my plug mark was there but alas, not my ball. Would this fall under a lost ball or could I take an unplayable and drop in the bunker.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Its a lost ball.

Did the goose take the ball? If he did, you would have to follow it around until it dropped it and play from there if the ball was still inbounds, lol.

[David in FL]

Sorry, the "bike" is right........it's a lost ball.

[lumpuckeroo]

If you know for certain the goose "took" the ball, you drop as near as possible to the spot the ball had come to rest. If you do not know for certain the goose "took" the ball, it is lost.

[iacas]

Did the goose take the ball? If he did, you would have to follow it around until it dropped it and play from there if the ball was still inbounds, lol.

I don't think so, no.

Source: Rule 18-1; Ball at Rest Moved 18-1. By Outside Agency If a ball at rest is moved by an outside agency, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. Note: It is a question of fact whether a ball has been moved by an outside agency. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that an outside agency has moved the ball. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must play the ball as it lies or, if the ball is not found, proceed under Rule 27-1.

The note is important here. It doesn't sound as though you "knew" or were "virtually certain" (footprints aren't enough evidence) that the goose took your ball.

[Titleist Man]

I just need a proper rule for my clarification here:

Something like that happened to me. I hit a shot around a dogleg and i thought it was perfect. Then we see a fox run away wit what looks like a ball in his mouth!!!!! We couldnt find my ball and i dropped and hit 3 instead of going back to the tee bacause we though the fox took my ball. Got a bogey. If i had found it and made par i would've shot 35 that day!!!!!!!

[CarlSpackler]

I don't think so, no.

I incorrectly took relief under this rule a few years back. I hit a (beautiful) shot when a bird swooped down and deflected my ball (stupid bird). I dropped and replayed, but since my ball was in motion, I should have played it from where it fell since the ball was in motion

[zeg]

I'd think if you actually saw the ball in the bunker -- not saw it go in, but actually saw it at rest in the bunker -- you would be virtually certain that the goose or some other outside agency moved it and would be entitled to the replacement. Otherwise, it's quite possible that your ball landed somewhere else, is buried and hidden, etc, and you can't be virtually certain.

[Mr Eagle]

Let the goose have both barrels and retire to the bar

[Eeryck]

I just need a proper rule for my clarification here:

You should have run up to the goose in the bunker screaming at the top of your lungs "Don't you dare take my ball or I will turn you into a down pillow!" I don't think that anyone would have doubted that you were

virtually certain of what happened to your ball after those theatrics. [/SARCASM]

[lumpuckeroo]

You should have run up to the goose in the bunker screaming at the top of your lungs "Don't you dare take my ball or I will turn you into a down pillow!" I don't think that anyone would have doubted that you were

....and use your buddies towel to clean the ball.

[jorruss]

The rule (18-1) states basically that you have to be certain the ball was moved by an outside agency, so you would have had to see the bird take off with the ball. Remember that famous video shot on 17 @ Sawgrass of the seagull flying off the green with a player's ball and dropping it in the water? The player got a free drop in that case.

In your case, you didn't see it, so for all you know the bird my have passed it to the squirrel, who handed it off to the gopher...

[Jay-Bird]

Let the goose have both barrels and retire to the bar

Or NOT.

Canada Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918 . This Act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose and damage or move its eggs and nest, without a Federal permit. Not complying with the Federal Act can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

[Lefty22]

You should have run up to the goose in the bunker screaming at the top of your lungs "Don't you dare take my ball or I will turn you into a down pillow!" I don't think that anyone would have doubted that you were

[zeg]

Canada Geese are protected under the Federal Migratory Bird Act of 1918 . This Act makes it illegal to harm or injure a goose and damage or move its eggs and nest, without a Federal permit. Not complying with the Federal Act can result in fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000.

... and a 2-stroke penalty or loss of hole.