Linda,
Player A marked his ball on the green and after lifting it
realized that the ball was on a small hole-like depression about the diameter of
the ball. When he was to replace the ball, he decided to place the ball at the
edge of the hole-like depression with some part of the ball overhanging the
hole-like depression since he could not claim it to be an old golf ball mark or
plugs. He putted at this position. Has he infringed on any rule?
Thanks.
Lou from Nigeria
Dear Lou
Yes.
If a ball is placed on a spot other than the spot from
which it was lifted, and the error is not corrected before the player hits the
ball, the penalty is loss of hole in match play, two strokes in stroke play
[Rules 20-3a, 20-1].
There is a Local Rule that may be adopted to give players
relief from aeration holes [Appendix I, Part A, #3d]. In the absence of such a
Local Rule, players must replace the ball on the exact spot from which it was
lifted.
Linda
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