Linda,
I recently played in a member/guest tournament at a very
nice TPC course. During one of my matches (better ball, match play), my ball
was on the green and my opponent’s ball was in the rough just off of the green.
As he was walking to his ball, I started to mark my ball on the green. My
opponent requested that I not mark the ball. At first I thought he was joking,
but my partner told me to leave it, as we were both unsure of the rule. I
gladly left the ball there until he chipped onto the green and it wasn't a
factor. My question is, do I have to comply with his request or can I mark my
ball when I want to?
Thanks,
Lou from Delaware
Dear Lou,
The player is always entitled to mark and lift his ball on
the green, regardless of what his opponent may request [Rule 16-1b].
Additionally, the player is permitted to lift his ball (or have any other ball
lifted) if he feels it is in position to help another player, regardless of
where the ball lies [Rule 22-1]. If the lifted ball is not on the green, it may
not be cleaned.
I suspect that your opponent wanted you to leave the ball on
the green because it was in a position to assist him (perhaps it was behind the
hole and might serve as a backstop). If my suspicion is correct, there is all
the more reason to lift the ball.
I understand that your format was match play. If the
competition had been stroke play, and the Committee learned that two players had
agreed to leave a ball in place that might assist one of them, both players
would be disqualified [Rule 22-1].
Linda
Copyright © 2017 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
