Hi Linda
This is my first time to email you after many months reading
your wonderful posts where I often find myself also searching your historical
posts for further enlightenment. All are most readable, informative and
helpful. Thank you.
I cannot find an answer to this one, so seek your help…
In a Stableford game a player has had too many shots and is
out of points-scoring chances. However the player wishes to putt out in any
event, either to gain extra practice or help a fellow partner see the line of
the putt. It does not unduly delay play. The opposition complains and says the
player is out of chances and must pick up without putting. Who is
correct?
If I can be so greedy as to raise another query…
While looking for a ball in an area covered by leaves or the
like there is always a danger that a player could accidentally step on his/her
ball, or some nearby debris, causing the ball to move, possibly as little as
slightly downwards under the pressure of standing on it. In such a case, my
understanding is that the player incurs a penalty for accidentally moving the
ball at rest, Rule 18-2. On the other hand, if a fellow competitor accidentally
steps on or moves a player’s ball there is no penalty to the player whose ball
it is. Query - If this is correct, is it wise and ethically acceptable for a
player to steer clear of the danger by leaving it to his/her fellow competitor/s
to search the more leafy dangerous areas where the ball may lie, while he/she
searches more open less dangerous areas?
Neither are earth shattering situations as there is a
commendable amount of “playing by the spirit of the game” in our friendly
rounds, but these points seem to keep playing on my mind.
Lou, from Perth Down Under
Dear Lou,
Question #1:
A player is
permitted to continue playing the hole, even though he is effectively out of
the hole [Rule 7-2, the last sentence before the Exception].
Question #2:
It is permissible for a player to ask others to help him search for his ball. There is no penalty if the player searches the less dangerous areas while the others search in the area where there is a greater possibility of moving the ball. The player may even sit back and watch while others search, although such behavior is not encouraged. The other players are under no obligation to help in the search.
Question #2:
It is permissible for a player to ask others to help him search for his ball. There is no penalty if the player searches the less dangerous areas while the others search in the area where there is a greater possibility of moving the ball. The player may even sit back and watch while others search, although such behavior is not encouraged. The other players are under no obligation to help in the search.
Linda
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