Hi Linda,
How would the other player proceed now that his ball has
been confiscated?
Lulu from Gatineau, Québec
Dear Lulu,
Rule 15-3 explains that if another player hits your ball,
you must place “a” ball on the spot
where it was first played. You will complete play of the hole with that new
(different) ball, and, of course, you incur no penalty.
The difference between the words “a” and “the” in the
rulebook is very significant. When a Rule refers to “a ball,” you may use any
ball; when a Rule refers to “the ball,” you must use the original ball. For
example, when you mark and lift your ball on the putting green, Rule 16-1b requires
that “the ball must be replaced.” The
ball that you marked and lifted is the ball that must be replaced in front of
your marker. On the other hand, the relief options for a ball in a water hazard
(Rule 26) all involve dropping “a
ball.” There is no requirement that you retrieve your original ball from the
hazard to play your next shot.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
