Dear Linda,
I would appreciate your advice on the correct understanding on decision 27-1/3.
Let's assume it is a stroke play event and the player had played a shot from the tee-box to a distance of about 200 yards.
When the player could not find his original ball in the area where it is likely to be, he drops a ball there and plays that ball. As per decision 27-1/3, the player incurs a stroke-and-distance penalty and an additional penalty of two strokes for a breach of Rule 27-1. Does it mean that the total penalty incurred by the player is 3 strokes?
In other words, he would have played 4 strokes (i.e. 1st stroke from tee-off PLUS 3 penalty strokes).
Since this would be a serious breach, to avoid disqualification, the player must tee-off again. If so, his next tee-off shot would be his 6th stroke.
Please advise what is your understanding of the ruling.
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Thank you and best regards,
Lou Lou
Dear Lou Lou,
When a player cannot find his original ball, he is required to play another ball under stroke and distance. This means he must return to where he hit his previous shot, drop another ball, and add a penalty stroke to his score. By dropping and playing a ball in the area where his ball was lost, your player has played from a wrong place, for which the penalty is two strokes. His total number of penalty strokes is three.
However, none of this matters in the case of a player whose 200-yard tee shot is lost. When he drops and plays another ball in the area where the original ball was lost, he gains a significant advantage, as he is 200 yards closer to the hole than where he is supposed to be to hit that next shot. If this player does not correct his error and return to the tee to hit another ball, he will be disqualified [Rule 20-7c, Note 1].
If the player understands that he may have done something wrong, and he has not yet teed off on the next hole, he may return to the tee and play a second ball. His score with the second ball is the score that will count for that hole after he reports the mishap to the Committee. So let’s count up his strokes:
1 stroke for the original tee shot
2 penalty strokes for playing from the wrong place [Rule 20-7c]
1 stroke penalty under stroke and distance [Rule 27-1] when he returns to the tee to hit a second ball
Total: 4 strokes.
The player’s second tee shot will be his fifth stroke.
Linda
Copyright © 2011 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
