Hi Linda,
Playing Stableford yesterday on a windy day, a player’s
ball, on the putting green, started moving AFTER he had started his downswing. (Ball
movement definitely not caused by the player.) The player, unable to stop his
putting stroke, proceeded to putt the ball. In this case he holed the putt.
What is the ruling here? No penalty and the stroke counted, or does a penalty
apply and the putt have to be retaken from its original (i.e. pre-movement)
position?
Regards,
Lou from Australia
Dear Lou,
The putt is holed, there is no penalty, and the stroke
counts.
Since it was clear to everyone that the wind was responsible
for moving the ball, there is no penalty for the ball moving after address
[Rule 18-2b, Exception] or for hitting it while it was in motion [Rule 18-2b]. Once
a player has begun his stroke, he is entitled to complete it, even if the ball
is moving, provided he does not stop his swing.
If the player had been able to stop his stroke, he would
putt the ball from its new (windblown) location. In this case, if he were to
put it back and putt it from the original (pre-wind) location, the penalty
would be two strokes [Decision 18-2a/7].
If the players are not certain that the wind moved the ball,
the player will be held responsible. In this case, he must replace the ball,
unless he completes the stroke while the ball is moving. The penalty, whether
he replaces the ball or completes the stroke on the moving ball, is one stroke.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
