Linda,
This situation was encountered in the first match of a consolation
round of a club individual match play event. Lots of strokes being given and
both players playing well.
Higher handicap player (player B) 3 up after 14.
On 15, player B has a short putt to win the hole and
the match. Player A putts first and had a short putt remaining.
Before putting out player B advises player A that her putt
is good and taps player A's ball back to her. Player B holes the putt.
Player A calls a penalty for "testing the surface of
the green" when player B tapped the ball back to A; loss of hole to B.
I now understand that technically this was a rule violation
but curious if there is any intent required for a penalty like this to be
applied.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Thank you,
Lulu from Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Dear Lulu,
This was not a Rule violation (technically or otherwise), and
there is no penalty. A player may roll or tap a ball back to her opponent after
she concedes the next putt, assuming her reason for doing so is to return the
ball. I gather from your narrative that this was a casual act with no intent to
test the surface of the putting green [Decision 16-1d/1]. Player B won the
match on the 15th hole.
Linda
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