Hello Linda -
Thank you so much for your blog. I've learned a lot from
reading your clear explanations of rules situations. I am hoping that you can
help answer a question about a rules interpretation that has caused a lot of
discussion around our club.
Many times, I see players mark their ball on the green,
lift, clean and replace it, without lifting their marker. They then step back
and look at the putt from behind the ball, come back to their ball and adjust
the alignment. At that point, they will lift their marker and putt. However, if
I read Rule 20-4, it says, "A ball that has been replaced is in
play whether or not the ball-marker has been removed." It
would seem that in the scenario I describe above, the adjustment to the ball
after it has been replaced is actually moving a ball in play. Yet, this seems
to be a common sequence - I believe I have even seen the pros on TV adjust
their balls after they have been replaced.
I have searched the rules and decisions, but have not found
anything that addresses this situation directly. Our pro was telling us that as
long as the marker is still in place, it is fine to move and adjust (even
re-lift and re-clean). But that seems contrary to 20-4.
Can you please help clear this up for us? It would be most
appreciated.
Thank you very much -
Lulu from Colorado
Dear Lulu,
Your pro is correct. As long as the position of the ball on
the green is marked, you may lift it, clean it, or rotate it as often as you
wish, provided you do not unduly delay play. The fact that the ball is in play
once it is replaced in front of your marker does not deny your right under Rule
16-1 to realign or re-lift your still-marked ball.
The reason the Rules state that the ball is in play once it
has been replaced (even though the marker has not been lifted) is so that
players will understand that if the ball should subsequently move (e.g., blown
by the wind), it must be played from its new location [Decision 20-4/1]. The
player who mistakenly replaces and hits such a ball will incur a two-stroke
penalty [Decision 18-2/7].
What you may not
do is rotate your ball after you have lifted your marker. This violation
will give you a one-stroke penalty under Rule 18-2 for purposely touching your
ball [Decision 18-2/33].
Linda
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