Two strokes seems excessive for playing a wrong ball

[Baculus]

Does anyone else find it slightly excessive that the penalty under rule 15:3 for playing a wrong ball is two strokes? (now also in a hazard circa 2008) I mean I don't think I've ever done it, and there's absolutely no excuse as rule 12.2 provides you can lift your ball for the purposes of identifying it.

I understand the advantage gained should not be greater than the penalty - perhaps you could theorise a possibility where one has gained a two stroke advantage by the testing bite of the greens out of the rough with someone else's ball. 

Thoughts? 

http://www.randa.org/Rules-of-Golf/MainRules/15-Substituted-Ball-Wrong-Ball/SubRules/3-Wrong-Ball 

[FrankfurtDave]

As it is a straight two shot penalty without the errant stroke counting, it is basically the same as having hit the ball out of bounds which I think is fair. Especially when you consider that the action has also directly affected another competitors round and position on the course.

As someone who did this for the first time ever in his club championship last year you can guarantee that it is lesson learnt  - mark you ball and check it carefully. Do not simply rely on the fact that it is a Titleist and in your fairway

[Asheville]

I see it as consistent with R7-2, which says, in part, "A player must not make a practice stroke during play of a hole." The penalty is two strokes in stroke play.

There are those who have played a wrong ball and those who will play a wrong ball.  Your time will come.

[Baculus]

Both good points, and now I mention it I have a very vague feeling of doing it when I was a junior. Though very embarrassing for you and annoying for the person who's ball you've played - if anything it probably advantages them, as naturally you're more inclined to place it favourably. 

 

Consistency with other rules like the practice rule is important, though that rule is targeted toward more overt behaviour, but I can see the need for parity.  

Edited February 13, 2017 by Baculus

[CarlSpackler]

It is the easiest rule to not break. ID your ball before every stroke. 

[iacas]

47 minutes ago, Baculus said:

Consistency with other rules like the practice rule is important, though that rule is targeted toward more overt behaviour, but I can see the need for parity.

Hitting another ball is fairly overt too. You did something or failed to do things you should do.

[Asheville]

47 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

It is the easiest rule to not break. ID your ball before every stroke. 

Said from the comfort of your easy chair at home! ;)

[Baculus]

1 hour ago, iacas said:

Hitting another ball is fairly overt too. You did something or failed to do things you should do.

You're right, but more of an omission rather than an intentional act like practicing I hope

 

(to think I play golf to get away from my law job, sigh) 

[Asheville]

One of the ways to better understand the principles behind the Rules is to read (and reread) this:

https://www.usgapublications.com/collections/rules-of-golf/products/principles-behind-the-rules-of-golf-paperback-2016-edition?variant=25702107654

[David in FL]

3 hours ago, Asheville said:

Said from the comfort of your easy chair at home! ;)

Yep.  I've done it a couple of times, and had someone accidentally play my ball twice in the last year alone.

Stupid to be sure, but it happens, especially out of the rough...

[dave s]

This is a rule that I absolutely agree with.  Playing a wrong ball is simply a bone-headed, self-inflicted error that should cost you strokes or loss of hole in match play.  Here's the craziest example of this during a weekend match with my usual group.  Our game is match play and I ended up losing a hole due playing a wrong ball.

Hole 3: Long par 4, 90 degree dogleg right.  I was first to hit and my drove ball through the fairway.  Everyone else hits.  My partner drives me to exactly where my drive came to rest in fairly deep rough.  No shot to green, so I hit a 7-iron pitch out to within wedge range.  Get to my 3rd shot and uh-oh, not my ball.  What an idiot.  Immediately out of the hole due to penalty.  Went back to original spot of drive, no ball to be found anywhere.

Somewhere between my drive and the others teeing off, another player likely teed off on #9, hooked a ball into the same rough area, found what he thought was his ball, (my ball) and played it.  My ball was a logo overun ProV1 ball with a guy's name of Phil Townstein on it.  So #9 hole payer got my new ProV1.

The craziest thing was on hole #16. I pushed my drive right of fairway toward a stand of trees and a water hazard.  Again, my partner drives right to my ball and says, 'lucky you, it stopped just short of the water.'  I look down at ball and identify it as the #9 hole golfer who hit MY ball on #3 hole.  I mean really, how many ProV1 balls say 'Phil Townstein' on them?  So I'm in the hazard and out another hole.

What a round.  It was like that pretty much all day.  Actually, I was glad to find the Phil Townstein ball.  I played it the next weekend and won some $$ off the guys with it!

dave

[sjduffers]

The worst part is that it can cost your fellow competitor his/her own two strokes as they may not be able to find their ball in 5 minutes and may have to take a stroke and distance penalty as a result of a lost ball, because of what you did, if you don't realize your mistake promptly. I was once the "victim" on such an error in a tournament, and I can tell you I was none too pleased. That, to me, is the dumbest rule in golf, by the way.

Edited February 14, 2017 by sjduffers

[Golfingdad]

15 hours ago, Baculus said:

(to think I play golf to get away from my law job, sigh) 

Ok, then the problem here is posting in this rules thread in the first place. :P

[Baculus]

Just can't help myself :P 

[Martyn W]

On 2/13/2017 at 3:52 AM, Baculus said:

I understand the advantage gained should not be greater than the penalty - perhaps you could theorise a possibility where one has gained a two stroke advantage by the testing bite of the greens out of the rough with someone else's ball. 

Thoughts? 

Several posters brought up the consistency with 7-2, remember that the breach must be corrected and ALL strokes made with the wrong ball don't count - you could make 5 or 6 'practice strokes' with the wrong ball! Almost seems like the 2 stroke penalty is not enough to me  !

[Groucho Valentine]

I dont think it is. You get a penalty for hitting the wrong ball, and then the other stroke is for the replay or drop. 

Edited February 16, 2017 by Groucho Valentine

[Martyn W]

6 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

I dont think it is. You get a penalty for hitting the wrong ball, and then the other stroke is for the replay or drop. 

What 'other stroke?  The penalty for playing a wrong ball is the general penalty (2 strokes in strokeplay).

[iacas]

25 minutes ago, Groucho Valentine said:

I dont think it is. You get a penalty for hitting the wrong ball, and then the other stroke is for the replay or drop. 

18 minutes ago, Martyn W said:

What 'other stroke?  The penalty for playing a wrong ball is the general penalty (2 strokes in strokeplay).

Yeah, there's also no "drop" or whatever - you find your actual ball and play it.