Monday, June 25, 2012

Ask Linda #479-Another practice swing mishap


Linda–
Player A tees off. On finding his ball, he makes a practice swing and accidentally strikes the ball which then hits his golf trolley. He then plays his next shot from where it lies. What is the ruling?
Lou

Dear Lou,

When the player accidentally moved his ball during the practice swing, he was required to replace it and add a one-stroke penalty to his score. Since he did not replace the ball, he incurs a penalty of two strokes [Rule 18-2a and Penalty for Breach of Rule].

The penalty for hitting your own equipment is one stroke [Rule 19-2]. However, when a player breaks two rules with one stroke, he is generally not penalized for both violations [Decision 1-4/12].

In your scenario, if the player had properly retrieved his ball and replaced it where it lay before moving it with the practice swing, his only penalty would be one stroke for moving his ball in play. Since he did not, his penalty is two strokes for moving and not replacing the ball. There would be no additional penalty for hitting the cart with the ball he accidentally moved.

Of greater concern is the possibility of disqualification. A Committee might rule that the player gained a significant advantage by playing his next shot 15 yards closer to the hole. This is known as a “serious breach.” If the Committee decides that the player committed a serious breach, he would be disqualified [Rule 20-7c]. If the player becomes aware that he might have played from the wrong place, he may play a second ball from the correct place and finish out the hole with both balls. The Committee will decide which ball will count. He must play this second ball before he makes a stroke on the next teeing ground.

Linda
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