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
Copyright © 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
