Linda,
Playing in our weekly competition today, one of my
fellow competitors, while approaching her ball on the green, accidentally hit
the ball with her putter. The ball moved but rolled back to same spot.
She said it was no penalty as the ball oscillated on the
same spot, but we ruled it was a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2: Ball
at rest moved. However, she said that a ball is deemed not to have moved
when it oscillates back to the same position.
I was of the understanding this is true when the ball moves/oscillates
when addressing the ball, i.e., your club does not touch the ball, but once your
club hits the ball no matter where it moves to it is a penalty of one stroke.
Can you please clarify who is correct?
Lulu from Australia
Dear Lulu,
Your fellow competitor is correct. A ball has not moved
under the Rules unless it leaves its position and comes to rest in another
place [Definition of “Moved”]. If a player accidentally causes her ball to
oscillate, but it returns to its original position, the ball has not “moved”
and there is no penalty [Decision 18/2].
I ran your question by a USGA official, who confirmed that
the above answer is correct.
Linda
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