Hi Linda.
Playing in a four-ball stroke play event, Player A informs
me that he was playing with a Callaway 4. He drives off and his ball lands in
the rough. We find two balls that were exactly the same. What is the ruling?
Neither ball has an identification mark on it. There was no way to tell which ball belonged to Player A. Is there a rule that stipulates
that you have to mark your ball? I know it says it's advisable, but is there a
hard and fast rule to say you must mark your ball?
Regards,
Lou from Wales, UK
Dear Lou,
Rule 12-2 states that the player should put an identification mark on his ball. There is no Rule
that requires the player to do so, but your situation is a classic example of
why everyone should put a personal identification mark on every ball in his
bag. Since the player has found two identical balls, and is unable to figure
out which one is his, his ball is lost under the Rules. His carelessness gives
him a penalty stroke and a return to the tee to hit his next shot [Decisions
12-2/1 and 27/10].
Linda
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