Linda,
Playing last week in high winds (30 - 40 mph) when the
following happened and our group cannot agree on the rule.
Player A and B hit their approach shots to the front fringe
of the green about 3 feet apart and 10 feet from the pin. The green had a
slight slope to the front and the wind was also blowing toward the front.
Player A chips up the slope, into the wind, and his ball rolled back toward his
original spot but further from the hole. Player A chips again with the same
results. Then Player A chips just onto the green and the fringe collar stops
the ball.
Player B watches Player A and notes that the wind is what
pushed player A's ball off the green. So Player B putts his ball just onto the
green. Then from 8 feet he putts just short of the hole and quickly moves ahead
of the ball and when the ball stopped he placed his foot/leg as to block the
wind and prevent the ball from rolling back. He then set up for the tap in and
moved his foot at the last minute, tapping the ball in. Player B never touched
the ball, did not strike the ball while moving, and his foot did not seem to be
on the line of play. Did he violate any rule by blocking the wind?
Thanks,
Lou
Dear Lou,
He sure did, Lou. Players are not permitted to take any
action that might influence the movement of the ball or alter physical
conditions. The penalty is two strokes in stroke play or loss of hole in match
play [Rule 1-2; Decision 1-2/2].
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
