Hi Linda,
Can you help re the following?
I played with 3 others in a yellow
ball competition. On the 8th hole at our course all four players in
our team clearly witnessed the yellow ball land in casual water to the left of
the green. Search as we may, we could not find it. Therefore, we decided that
given the ball was clearly in casual water, another yellow ball could be played
without penalty. Do you agree? If not, what should the correct
procedure have been?
Thanks,
Lou
P.S. If the yellow ball was lost, the team was excluded from
that part of the competition. The team had to finish with the same yellow ball
they started with, except of course in this case it was lost in casual water.
Dear Lou,
When it is known or virtually certain that a ball is lost in
casual water, the player is entitled to free relief. He must establish as best
he can where the ball entered the casual water. He will find the nearest point
of relief from that spot, and drop within one club-length no closer to the hole
[Rule 25-1c].
Since the Rules of Golf provide free relief for a ball lost
in casual water, I would suggest that players competing in a Yellow (Pink) Ball
competition be entitled to free relief. Accordingly, your team should be
permitted to drop another yellow ball and continue without penalty. Your
procedure was correct, and should be accepted by the Committee.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
