Ask Linda #906a-Use provisional for stroke and distance

Hi Linda,

I think I'm having a senior moment.  In Ask Linda #906 (copied below), you advise this:

“Regarding your hypothetical question about short rough on the far side of the pond:

If the ground is such that a ball not found would be certain to be in the hazard (short grass, no place for a ball to hide), the player may choose any of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard. He may not play the provisional ball. It would be a wrong ball.”

I don't understand why he could not have played the provisional ball (which would be his 3rd shot under the stroke and distance option for a ball in a water hazard, no?)  If one of his options normally would have been to go back to where he originally hit the ball into the hazard, why isn't the provisional ball just that??

Thanks again for your great column.  All these golf rules give me a headache!!

All the best

Lulu from Ireland

Dear Lulu,

This is one of those Rules that will not ease your headache.

Rule 27-2b states: “If the original ball is lost outside a water hazard…the provisional ball becomes the ball in play.” Once it is determined that a ball not found outside a water hazard is most definitely in the hazard (short grass, no rough, no trees or underbrush, etc.), the player must proceed under one of the relief options under Rule 26-1 for a ball in a water hazard.

The provisional ball was not played under Rule 26-1. It was played as a provisional ball for a ball that might be lost outside a hazard. The provisional cannot count as a ball played under stroke and distance for a ball in a water hazard, because it was played under the provisional rule, not the water hazard rule. When it is determined that the original is in the hazard, the provisional must be abandoned. The player has a new situation (ball definitely in hazard, not lost outside of hazard), and must proceed under the applicable Rule, which is 26-1.

Linda

Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #906-Provisional hit for ball that skipped in hazard

Hi Linda – I love the explanations!

I was playing in (the last flight) of our club championships. One of my fellow competitors hit a worm burner over a pond that fronts a par 3. There is some medium rough on the far end of the pond. His ball skipped a couple of times near the far end of the pond. He declared a provisional just in case his ball was not lost in the hazard and proceeded to hit his second ball over the green and down the hill (to grandmother’s house we go). When we went up to the green, he looked for his ball in case it had skipped out of the hazard. He found the original ball (lodged against a PVC pipe) in the hazard. As his provisional was no can of corn, he decided to play the original as it lay in the hazard. He splashed it out, chipped on, and one putted for a bogey.

Anything wrong with what he did?

Had the rough been very short on the other side of the pond, would this have made a difference?

What if he says “I’m playing this provisional in case the ball is lost in the rough just over the pond?”

Always a Lou (from Pennsylvania)

Dear Lou,

Since this player’s ball skipped a couple of times near the end of the pond, there was reason to doubt that the ball was in the hazard. He may not proceed under Rule 26-1 (Relief for Ball in Water Hazard) without knowledge or virtual certainty that the ball is in the hazard. To save time, he may hit a provisional ball for a ball that may be lost outside a water hazard [Rule 27-2a].

If he did not find his ball, he would continue play with the provisional. However, the player did find his ball. He is obligated to continue play with the original and abandon the provisional [Rule 27-2c]. His decision to play the original ball was not an option – it was a requirement. If he had played the provisional after finding the original, he would be playing a wrong ball [see Rule 15-3].

Regarding your hypothetical question about short rough on the far side of the pond:

If the ground is such that a ball not found would be certain to be in the hazard (short grass, no place for a ball to hide), the player may choose any of the relief options for a ball in a water hazard. He may not play the provisional ball. It would be a wrong ball.

The hypothetical statement (“I’m playing this provisional in case the ball is lost in the rough just over the pond”) is the correct statement for this situation. His actual statement, which I gather was something like: “I’m hitting a provisional in case the ball is not lost in the hazard,” is not quite accurate (it should have been: “…in case the ball is lost outside the hazard”). Nevertheless, his procedure was correct, and his decision to play the original out of the hazard was fortunate. It was not really his decision to make, as he was required to play the original ball.

Linda

Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #905-Player’s cart rolls over his ball

Linda…is free relief entitled if a cart inadvertently runs over a golf ball with the result being an embedded lie?  Also, does it make a difference if it is your cart versus your fellow competitor’s cart? Finally, if it does make a difference whose cart it is, does it make a difference who is driving?

This was a senior league that is stroke play. The two guys in question were not partners. The passenger in the cart had his ball run over and asked me if he were entitled to a free drop. It is a friendly league so I said OK, but I know that the cart you are riding in is considered "your equipment" so I kind of suspected that the passenger might still be responsible if the cart he is in runs over his ball.

Thanks,

Lou from Texas 

Dear Lou,

When a cart is being moved, the cart is the equipment of the driver [Definition of “Equipment,” Note 2]. The passenger is not responsible if the cart runs over his ball. He is entitled to free relief. He must place the ball in the nearest lie that is most similar to his original lie. That spot must be within one club-length and no closer to the hole [Rule 20-3b].

If the player whose ball was run over is the driver, he incurs a one-stroke penalty for moving his ball in play and must replace it as described above.

Your “friendly” answer turned out to be the correct answer!

Linda

Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #904-Touch long grass in hazard

Linda,

Every time I have the chance to play my ball from the border of a water hazard I have the same doubt.

I know I can't ground my club but sometimes there is some long grass not at the level of the ground. May I touch it with my club when I take the stance?

Thanks for your help.

Lou from Argentina

Dear Lou,

Yes. You may touch long grass in a hazard provided you do not touch the ground and you do not improve the line of play or the area of your intended swing [Decision 13-4/4]. You may even take a practice swing that touches the long grass. However, if the practice swing flattens or cuts the grass, you will incur a penalty (two strokes/loss of hole) for improving the area of your intended swing.

Linda

Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.

Ask Linda #903-Ball found outside GUR after drop

Hi Linda, 

Please can I have clarity on an incident that occurred last weekend at our golf course. 

I drove my ball into a tree plantation that is marked by blue stakes [ground under repair]. My playing partners and I searched for my ball but could not find it. Both playing partners agreed that the ball did enter the area. They also agreed where I should take my free drop outside the plantation. This is where the confusion starts.

After dropping the ball, one of my playing partners finds my original ball 20 yards further back from the dropped ball, outside the blue-staked area.

I decided to play both balls and finished the hole as I was unsure of the rule and to keep up with play. I then reported the incident to a match committee member further on during the same round. He informed me it was a one-stroke penalty as I had dropped the ball nearer to the hole.

I signed the card with the one-stroke penalty at the end of the round. This was a stroke play competition.

What is the correct procedure:

1. If the 5-min time had elapsed. 

2. If it was within the 5-min time that the ball was found.

3. If the ball was found beyond where I had dropped the ball and played both balls to complete the hole.

4. If I had not signed my card as I was not happy with the ruling given on the course by the match official.

Hopefully you can decipher this and make some sense of it to reply. Enjoying all the rules and regulations Q & A's. 

It creates great debate at our club.

Thanks Linda.

Kind regards,

Lou from Scotland

Dear Lou,

Let’s take a look at your original scenario from a rules’ perspective. You are virtually certain that you hit your ball into an abnormal ground condition (the tree plantation is marked as ground under repair). Your fellow competitors agree, and everyone agrees where the ball entered the area. Your ball is not found, and you drop a ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief that is no closer to the hole.

Since there was virtual certainty that your ball was lost in the GUR, and agreement regarding the point of entry, the substituted ball became the ball in play when you dropped it. You must continue play with that ball. While it is unusual to find the original ball outside the GUR when everyone present is certain it entered the GUR, it is not an unheard-of occurrence. The Rules respect everyone’s honest judgment regarding the location of the ball, and require that you continue play with the ball you dropped correctly under the Rules [Decision 25-1c/2.5]. There is no penalty when you take relief from GUR.

Here are the answers to your extra-curricular questions, plus an additional answer to a question you didn’t think to ask:

#1 and #2: The five-minute limit on searching for a lost ball is irrelevant. The ball you dropped was dropped under the Rules, and was in play as soon as it was dropped. The original ball may not be played.

#3: There is no penalty for playing both the ball you dropped and an original ball found closer to the hole. The dropped ball will be ruled to be the ball that counts.

#4: If you disagree with the ruling of the on-course official (as well you should, since his ruling that you incurred a one-stroke penalty was incorrect), you may ask his permission to discuss the matter with the Committee before signing your card. The player has the right to appeal a decision if the referee consents.

#5: The question I would like to add is this: What happens if you drop the ball and the original is found in the GUR at a different location?

Answer: You must lift the substituted ball and drop it with respect to the new reference point. There is no penalty for this correction.

Linda

Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.