Golfer Loses Ball, Didn't Know Was Holed

[Buckeyebowman]

On 8/2/2018 at 6:03 PM, DeadMan said:

He made a 2:

Decision 1-1/2

Player Unaware He has Holed Out Puts Another Ball into Play

Q.A player, unable to find his ball, puts another ball into play. He then discovers that his original ball is in the hole. What is the ruling?

A.The score with the original ball counts. The play of the hole was completed when the player holed that ball.

Well, whattaya know? Here's one time my intuition lined up with the actual rule!

We had a situation somewhat like this, but it never made it that far. We held a golf outing & stag for a buddy of ours that was getting married. The second hole was a short par 4 of 245 yards over a rise. You couldn't see the green at all, just the top half of the flagstick. The prospective groom hit a fine shot, a baby draw with a 4 wood, that was just homing in on the pin!

Arriving at the green we can't find the ball anywhere. He's convinced it's over the green in the woods, and is looking there. I ask if he looked in the cup. "Oh, no! You're not making a fool out of me!" After more looking I asked again. He refuses to look, so I tell him that I'll do it.

I walk up to the cup and, son of a gun, there's his ball! I say, "Tim! Your ball is in the hole!" Still convinced I'm trying to skull job him he again refuses to come look. So, I show him my empty hands, reach into the hole, and pull out his ball. I ask him what he is playing. "Titleist 2."

"Well, here's your ball, and congratulations on a hole in one!" We all back slapped him and then, after the round, got him so hammered that my buddy had to drive him home, and then back out to the course the next day to retrieve his car!

Edited August 7, 2018 by Buckeyebowman