Ask Linda #43-Cut ball; Wrong green

Hi Linda,
I'm really enjoying your Blog.
Here's a couple little questions that actually came up this week. Yes, I play in cold weather.
Question 1: A friend hit his 2nd shot near the green. When he got to the ball he could see that he had ripped the cover off. It actually had a flap, not just a cut. Since we were just playing our little course, he just changed balls. But, What is the proper thing to do?
Question 2: Someone hit their ball astray and it landed on the wrong green. Can you use any club to hit the ball off that green? I'm thinking an iron could make a divot on the green. My guess is he has to move the ball & take a penalty, but I know you know the right answer.
Lulu

Dear Lulu,
I play in the cold weather, too! I enjoy the winter novelties of playing on empty courses and not keeping score – I can get good exercise and not bruise my ego!

Answer 1:
Rule 5-3 will tell you that “a ball is unfit for play if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of shape.” Your friend’s ball with the ripped off cover clearly fits the definition of an unfit ball.

If this were a serious game of golf, the proper procedure would be for him to call you over and have you watch him mark, lift, and inspect the ball. I have no doubt you would agree to allow him to chuck that partially naked ball in the trash and replace it with a shiny new one. He would place that new one in front of his marker and carry on.

If he skips any part of the process (calling you over, marking, lifting, making sure you agree) he incurs a penalty of one stroke. If he substitutes another ball when there was really nothing wrong with the original ball (perhaps he picked up some road rash on it when it caromed off the cart path or had a close encounter with a tree), his penalty would be two strokes.

Answer 2:
Rule 25-3 explains that you are not permitted to hit your ball when it is lying on a wrong putting green. You must take free relief by dropping it within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. That point must not be nearer the hole, and must not be in a hazard. I have to tell you that while there is no penalty for this required drop, there is a two-stroke penalty if you play that ball from the wrong green!

When I am on a green and an errant shot from another player lands on that green, I always make it a point to wait until the player is within earshot and then mention diplomatically that he will have to drop the ball off the green. (This does not count as “advice” as defined and prohibited in the rule book; information about the rules may be offered at any time without penalty.) Many players are unaware that they are not permitted to play that ball on the wrong green, and we should all try to do our part to protect the greens (and teach someone a new rule!).

Linda

Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.