Rules question: Ruined Ball?

[ApocG10]

I hit a drive on a par five today, and my second shot was a 5 iron in. I didnt see anything wrong with the ball, but of course never actually checked.

Hit a nice shot, ball lands about 10yards from the green, and the cover seperates from the core. Having no idea where the core landed, I took a drop from the cover, and I havent scored the hole yet, because I didnt know if I should have added a penalty stroke?

Whats the ruling?

Thanks in advance.

[iacas]

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/rules.html

Specifically, rule 5-3.

[David in FL]

5-3......and you're not gonna like what you read.

What kind of ball? I can't remember the last time I saw one come apart.

[ApocG10]

Ahh, so I should have gone back to where I shot with the 5 iron....

On well, ill take a stroke I guess, dont know what else to do now. Thanks for the help guys.

Oh, it was a callaway warbird. Used most of a round, this happened on #14

[David in FL]

Ahh, so I should have gone back to where I shot with the 5 iron....

2 strokes for violation of 5-3...... No big deal in a casual round......but it illustrates a great point. In a tournament, at best you would have cost yourself 2 strokes, at worst you could have ended up signing an incorrect scorecard and have been DQ'd. It's an unusual situation and truth be told, I had to look myself. I'd recommend that you do yourself a favor and get a pocket copy of the rules for the bag. Best couple of bucks you'll spend!

[ApocG10]

Ahh! 2 strokes, ok, I get it!

Thanks for the help man. Im more mad at myself for not knowing than I am for the strokes. I really do need a rulebook. Ill have to ask the pro shop if they have them.

[StrmStlkr]

Someone please clarify this rule for me. Specifically this part:

"If it is determined that the ball has become unfit for play during play of the hole being played, the player may substitute another ball, placing it on the spot where the original ball lay. Otherwise, the original ball must be replaced. If a player substitutes a ball when not permitted and makes a stroke at the wrongly substituted ball, he incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 5-3, but there is no additional penalty under this Rule or 15-2. "

To me that sounds as if the ball is unfit to play, he may substitute the ball at the posistion where he found the ball without a stroke penelty due to the wording of where the original ball (ball he found that was destroyed) lay. Later in the rule it states that he can also go back to the original position and hit without a stroke penelty.

I would appreciate it if you could clear this up for me. Sometime I feel like I need to be a lawyer to understand exactly what they are getting at or maybe I just always look to deep into it.

[ApocG10]

I do believe I was supposed to go back to where I shot from and drop. Which would have been optimal, because a little more stick would have put me on the green, I hit a clean shot.

the cover split down the center, must have been from impact. First time ive had that happen.

[Chilli Dipper]

Someone please clarify this rule for me. Specifically this part:

From Rule 5-3:

If a ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke, the stroke is canceled and the player must play a ball, without penalty, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was played (see Rule 20-5).

Since the ball literally came apart because of the stroke (and not merely was cut), the player has to replay the stroke, and not simply replace the ball on its mark, under threat of a two-stroke penalty. The rule probably came into place because of scenarios like this: what part of the ball do you use to mark from?

[AlCzervik]

You must have hit that ball hard.

[RemyM]

Since the OP is in Canada he should be refering to this rule book:
http://www.rcga.org/innerpage.aspx?x...iQHGpBdUceHiJg

[iacas]

Since the OP is in Canada he should be refering to this rule book:

Good catch.

Fortunately, Rule 5-3 is, I believe, the same in both. Plus that site's just a PDF, which makes it tougher to use.

[Fourputt]

Since the OP is in Canada he should be refering to this rule book:

The basic rules of golf are the same everywhere. There are some decisions which apply only to specific jurisdictions, but the USGA and the R&A; settled on a unified rule book years ago.

[RemyM]

The basic rules of golf are the same everywhere.

Yes the basic rules are the same, but there are some differences. The USGA rules say

honor the RCGA rules say honour .