Fun ruling question from the club champ. this past weekend

[Andy_Mac]

On the par 5 10th one of the guys in my group was laying 2 in some trees. He hit his third shot which bounced off a tree 20 yards ahead of him, came straight back, bounced off the backrest of his cart onto the seat and then into the little front storage cubby where it came to rest.


After a couple minutes of rolling on the ground laughing he took an unplayable lie drop, hit up to just off the green, chipped on and 2 putted.

What should his score be? He took a 9 and it made sense to the rest of us. (1)drive (2)into the trees (3)off a tree (4)hit own equipment (5)unplayable lie (6)hit to greenside (7)chip on (8-9)2 putt.

Did we call this right?

[SpringBokVol]

He should have gotten a free drop from the cart. Hit his fourth shot to the side of the green. Fifth chipped on. Two putts for a 7.

[beisenhauer]

He does incur a one-stroke penalty for hitting his own equipment (the cart), but once it comes to rest, he gets a free drop. His score should have been an 8. (Rule 19-2)

This is why I carry a rule book with me on the course.

[RemyM]

Assuming the cart wasn't in motion by someone else, he made an 8. Drop from his equipment (cart) is free.

Equipment
"Equipment" is anything used, worn or carried by the player or anything carried for the player by his partner or either of their caddies, except any ball he has played at the hole being played and any small object, such as a coin or a tee, when used to mark the position of a ball or the extent of an area in which a ball is to be dropped. Equipment includes a golf cart, whether or not motorized.

Note 1: A ball played at the hole being played is equipment when it has been lifted and not put back into play.

Note 2: When a golf cart is shared by two or more players, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of one of the players sharing the cart.

If the cart is being moved by one of the players (or the partner of one of the players) sharing it, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be that player's equipment. Otherwise, the cart and everything in it are deemed to be the equipment of the player sharing the cart whose ball (or whose partner's ball) is involved.


Rule 19. Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped
19-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment
If a player's ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by himself, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment,
the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.
The ball must be played as it lies, except when it comes to rest in or on the player's, his partner's or either of their caddies' clothes or equipment, in which case the ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or on the article, but not nearer the hole.

[Andy_Mac]

Thanks for the input guys.

He and his marker were going to ask the pro about it after the round so hopefully they got it sorted out.