Player A identifies his ball in light rough, hits it
and two balls scuttle forward. A divot was taken so player A assumed the
second ball was buried. Player B picked up Player A's ball and told him he was
out of the hole. This was an individual Stableford competition. What should
have been the correct course of action, and should Player B be penalised
in any way?
Yours Sincerely,
Lou from Northampton, England
Dear Lou,
Let’s begin with Player A. His stroke at his own ball
incidentally dislodged a second, hidden ball. There is no penalty to A. He has
not hit a wrong ball under the Rules, because he hit his own ball [Decision
15/2].
Player B, mistakenly thinking that A had hit a wrong ball
(two-stroke penalty), lifted Player A’s ball in play. Since this was a stroke
play competition (Stableford is a form of stroke play), Player B incurs no
penalty and the ball must be replaced [Rule 18-4]. If this had been a match
play competition, Player B would incur a one-stroke penalty and, again, the
ball would be replaced [Rule 18-3b].
Here’s hoping that Player A knew that he was entitled to
replace the ball and continue play of the hole. If he simply accepted Player
B’s misunderstanding and pocketed his ball, he would be disqualified from the
hole in a Stableford format. Keep in mind, too, that if he were unsure how to
proceed, he could replace the ball, play it, and let the Committee sort it out.
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
