Linda, I was playing a game recently when I drove a ball to the
right and I assume it stayed in a tree. I would like to know if I can declare
my ball unplayable without climbing the tree. I saw a ball with a black line
similar to my ball, as I draw a black line on the ball to help my aligning it
when putting. I did not climb the tree because I am 69 years old and would
probably injure myself. I saw a professional do that at a PGA tournament WGC in
March 2013 and he was not penalized or disqualified. My playing opponent said I
should go back and play it stroke and distance, I said the pro's do not so why
would I.
What is the official rule?
Lou from Barbados
Dear Lou,
You must identify your ball in order to proceed under one of
the options for an unplayable ball. If you cannot identify it, it is lost
[Definition of Lost Ball], and you must play your next ball under stroke and
distance [Decision 27/15].
No one expects you to climb the tree! You may use binoculars
to help identify your ball, and you may throw things at it to try to dislodge
it.
When you saw the PGA player declare his ball unplayable, he
must have been able to identify the ball as his – he would not have been
permitted to treat the ball as “unplayable” without proper identification.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
