Monday, September 10, 2018

Ask Linda #1799-Putt hits another ball on green moved by wind

Hi Linda,
Would like your help with a ruling for a situation that occurred, as no one I have discussed it with can work out/agree what it should be!

Competitors’ balls are on the green. Player A is first to play. Player B has neither marked nor been requested by A to mark his ball as it is in such a position that it would be impossible for Player A’s ball to come anywhere near striking it. Player A, who is a considerable distance from the hole, putts his ball. While the ball is in motion a freak gust of wind blows Player B’s ball down the green into the path of Player A’s ball and they collide.

It was decided that as Player A had made the stroke he should be penalised for striking another ball on the green and his ball then played from where it lies. As Player B’s ball had been blown by the wind before being struck by A’s ball, it was decided that that too should also be played from where it lies. Is this the correct ruling?

I wondered if because Player B’s ball had been moved by the wind if the ball was now considered an outside agency and in equity Player A should be allowed to retake his putt without penalty and Player B should accept rub of green and play his ball from where it now lay.

Or is this evidence that you should have every ball marked on a putting green even when there is no chance you are going to putt yours anywhere near them in case a freak gust of wind ends up costing you!

Lulu from Sheffield, England

Dear Lulu,

I’m very impressed with your “wondering.” I wasn’t sure of the answer myself, so I consulted a senior official. His ruling is the same as your opinion.

Player B’s ball was moved by the wind, which is not an outside agency. Player B must play her ball from where it came to rest [Rule 18-1].

Player B’s ball, having been moved by the wind, was a moving outside agency when it was struck by Player A’s ball. Since Player A’s ball was deflected by a moving outside agency after a stroke on the putting green, she incurs no penalty. Her stroke is cancelled and must be replaced and replayed [Rule 19-1b].

It is not necessary to mark every ball on the green – it slows down play.

Linda
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