Linda, I've seen where, after teeing up the ball, the player
will place the face of his club too close and hit the ball, knocking it off the
tee. Would this be counted as a stroke and would he next be forced to hit the
ball from where it lies? Am I wrong?
Lou from Clackamas, Oregon
Dear Lou,
Your understanding is incorrect.
When the player addresses his ball on the tee and
accidentally knocks the ball off the tee peg, there is no penalty and he may
replace the ball on the tee. This is because the ball is not in play until the
player makes a stroke at it from the teeing ground [Definitions of “Ball in
Play” and "Stroke"].
However, once the ball is in play, the player incurs a
one-stroke penalty if he accidentally moves his ball, and he must replace it
[Rule 18-2]. If he fails to replace the ball, the penalty increases to two
strokes. (For accidental movement of a ball on the putting green, please read
Ask Linda #1601.)
Linda
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