Linda–
The SJGA "rule of the day" deals with one situation of "ball falling off tee". It may occur at any time of the pre-shot routine. Could you please clarify in what situation the player will be penalized? Here are a few examples:
1) Before addressing;
2) After addressing, ball falls off tee by itself;
3) After addressing, ball falls off tee caused by the player when touching the ball, or the tee, or the ground;
4) Ball falls off tee by itself in the middle of the swing but the player stops the swing before hitting it;
5) Same as 4) except that this player never addressed the ball (club head never touched ground);
6) Same as 4) except that this player hits the falling ball in air;
7) Similar to 6) except that the ball has already settled down on ground when being hit.
Thanks
Lou Lou
Dear Lou Lou,
First, allow me to clarify for everyone that it is not the “SJGA Rule of the Day,” but rather the “USGA Rule of the Day” that is being posted on the SJGA website with the permission of the United States Golf Association. It would be well worth your time to peruse the USGA website (usga.org) for rules information; it is chock full of fun stuff (rules, decisions, videos, frequently asked questions, rules quizzes – a veritable smorgasbord of information to improve your knowledge of the rules).
For those readers who may not have read this particular Rule of the Day, I have copied it below this column in a postscript.
Now for the good stuff. Lou, before this question can be answered, you must understand how the rule book defines a stroke:
"A ‘stroke’ is the forward movement of the club made with the intention of striking at and moving the ball, but if a player checks his downswing voluntarily before the clubhead reaches the ball he has not made a stroke.” [The Rules of Golf, 2008-2009 edition, Section II, Definitions, page 16]
You must also understand that a ball is not considered to be “in play” until you have made a stroke from the teeing ground.
Keeping in mind those two definitions (“stroke” and “ball in play”), let’s apply them to the teeing ground. When you tee your ball up, it is not yet in play, since you haven’t tried to hit it yet. If that ball that is not in play falls off the tee, or the wind blows it off the tee, or you accidentally knock it off the tee in addressing it, or you take a practice swing and accidentally hit the ball (whether you move it one foot or 100 feet), you may re-tee that ball without penalty. [I will explain this practice swing business further down; I don’t want to confuse you by wandering off into a different rule right now.] The reason why you are permitted to re-tee your ball under these circumstances is that you have not made a stroke at it –you have not intentionally tried to hit the ball– so it is not officially in play.
The story shifts dramatically if you have made a stroke at the ball (swung at it with the intention of hitting it). In that case, if you top the ball and it falls off the tee, or if you whiff (miss it entirely) and it either falls off the tee or remains teed, that counts as your first stroke, and you will now play your second stroke from wherever the ball lies (either on or off the tee). If you re-tee it, you are playing a ball under stroke and distance. You will incur a one-stroke penalty, and your second drive will count as your third stroke on the hole.
If the ball starts falling off the tee after you have begun your stroke, then:
1. If you voluntarily stop your stroke, there is no penalty and you may re-tee it.
2. If you continue your stroke and hit the ball (whether it is still falling or has hit the ground), there is no penalty and the stroke counts (Rule 11-3).
Please understand that these rules pertain only to the teeing ground. If you accidentally move your ball during a practice swing anywhere else (through the green, on the putting green, in a hazard), you must add a penalty stroke to your score and replace the ball. And if you cause your ball to move anywhere else (e.g., you address your ball and it moves), and then hit that moving ball, you must count your stroke plus one penalty stroke.
Now let’s take a look at your question. Remember that a ball is not in play until a player has made a stroke from the teeing ground, and that a stroke is not a stroke if there is no intention to hit the ball. You asked whether the player would incur a penalty for a ball falling off the tee under the following circumstances:
1) Before addressing;
Answer: No penalty. Reason: Ball not in play.
2) After addressing, ball falls off tee by itself;
Answer: No penalty. Reason: Ball not in play.
3) After addressing, ball falls off tee caused by the player when touching the ball, or the tee, or the ground;
Answer: No penalty. Reason: Ball not in play.
4) Ball falls off tee by itself in the middle of the swing but the player stops the swing before hitting it;
Answer: No penalty. Reason: Ball not in play. Player has not made a stroke because he voluntarily stopped his swing.
5) Same as 4) except that this player never addressed the ball (club head never touched ground);
Answer: No penalty. Reason: Ball not in play. Player has not made a stroke because he voluntarily stopped his swing.
6) Same as 4) except that this player hits the falling ball in air;
Answer: No penalty. Reason: Player permitted to hit ball falling off tee (Rule 11-3).
7) Similar to 6) except that the ball has already settled down on ground when being hit;
Answer: No penalty. Reason: Player permitted to hit ball that has fallen off the tee (Rule 11-3).
Seven different situations and no penalties – amazing!
Linda
Reply from Lou Lou:
Thank you, Linda. I love your answer, particularly the "ball in play" and "stroke" definitions. These fundamentals will help me understand the rules in many confusing situations. Great work.
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
P.S. Here is the USGA Rule of the Day referenced by Lou Lou:
18-2a/2 Ball Falling Off Tee When Stroke Just Touches It Is Picked Up and Re-Teed
Q: A player making his first stroke on a hole just touched the ball and it fell off the tee. He picked up the ball, re-teed it and played out the hole. What is the ruling?
A: When the player made a stroke, the ball was in play (see Definition of "Ball in Play"). When he lifted the ball, he incurred a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a and was required to replace it. However, when the player made a stroke at the re-teed ball, he played a ball under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 27-1a). This procedure overrides Rule 18-2a and, therefore, the penalty under Rule 18-2a does not apply. (Revised)
