Linda,
We were playing stroke play for a high school. A player hit his
first ball towards OB and then hit a provisional. He went looking for his first
ball and found it. The player then decided to deem his first shot unplayable
because it was under some trees. So the player proceeded to play his
provisional. He played out his provisional and did not fix his mistake. He left
the green and played the next hole. Some of the coaches who were around were
uncertain of the rule and assessed a 2-stroke penalty. I explained that he
should have been disqualified under Rule 15-3b. Who was right?
Lou from Oak Hills, California
Dear Lou,
When the player found his original ball, he was required to
continue play with the original and abandon the provisional [Rule 27-2c]. If
the original is unplayable, he must choose one of the relief options in Rule 28
for an unplayable ball. If he decides his best option under Rule 28 is to play
a ball from where he hit his previous shot, he must return to the tee. The fact
that he hit a provisional from the tee that is playable is irrelevant – that
ball is out of play because he found his original ball in bounds.
When the player hit the provisional ball, he made a stroke
at a "wrong ball." The penalty is two strokes under Rule 15-3b, and
he must correct the mistake by completing the hole with the original ball. If
he does not, he is disqualified as soon as he tees off on the next hole [Rule
15-3b]. Your understanding was correct.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
