Monday, July 28, 2014

Ask Linda #887-Multiple replacements

Hi Linda,
During a placement after two drops from a water hazard, when is the ball in play and not able to be re-touched?

I was asked recently, well actually told, that a player could replace, as many times as he likes, a ball to be placed, and only when he had removed his tee pegs, indicating two club lengths, was the ball in play. I disagreed. 

Regards,
Lou from New Zealand

Dear Lou,

You were right to disagree. I assume you are placing the ball because your drop and re-drop rolled into a position not permitted under Rule 20-2c. When you place a ball, it is in play as soon as it comes to rest on the spot where you place it. In other words, once you remove your hand, and the ball is at rest, it is in play. At that point, if you pick the ball up and reposition it you will be penalized one stroke for lifting your ball in play, and two strokes if you don’t replace it before you hit it [Rule 18-2a].

If the ball moves after it has come to rest, you must play the ball from its new location (no penalty). Pay attention to where you place the ball – if you balance it on a small tuft of grass, and the ball subsequently rolls off its perch, your lie may be noticeably worse, and you will have to play it as it lies [Rule 20-3d].

The only time you will get another opportunity to touch the ball is if it fails to come to rest after two tries to place it on the correct spot. At that point you will have to place the ball on the nearest spot that is no closer to the hole and not in a hazard where it will remain at rest.

Assuming the ball stays put, the Rule is one placement per customer. The presence or absence of tees is irrelevant.

Linda
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