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.
