Linda,
Playing in a foursome today I was instructed by one of the
players that I could not mark my ball until all four players were on the green
or I was asked by another player to mark it.
Rule 22-2 clearly indicates the penalties for using a ball
to benefit another golfer's shot. However, I cannot find a specific rule
stating that I may mark my ball at any time once it is on the putting surface.
Is there such a rule either way?
Thank you.
Lou from Medina, Ohio
Dear Lou,
When another player hits you with a supposed Rule that you
have never heard of, pull out the rulebook that you should be carrying in your
bag and ask him to show you the Rule. If the player is correct (which he is
not, in this case), you will learn a new Rule; if he is not, you will be able
to proceed as planned.
I can assure you that the player in your narrative will not
find a requirement that all players must be on the green before any player may
mark and lift his ball – no such Rule exists. What you will find in the book is Rule 16-1b, which states quite simply that
“a ball on the putting green may be lifted…” This means exactly what it says –
when your ball is on the putting green, you may lift it. It goes on to say the
ball must be marked before it is lifted, but I think we all know that.
If the Rules wanted you to wait for the balls from all the
players in your group to be on the green before any player marked and lifted
his own ball, they would say so. The Rules are never shy about telling you what
you may or may not do. If you cannot find a Rule that prohibits a certain
action, you may do it.
Linda
Copyright © 2017 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
