Linda,
In a Four-Ball [Better Ball] match last week, one of our opposition was just off the green and the ball of other person in the opposition [his partner] was near the hole.
The first person in the opposition, off the green, quickly played his shot before we could ask the ball near the hole be marked. He knew that the ball near the hole could be to his advantage.
As it turned out it was. His ball hit his partner's ball near the hole and saved his ball going well past the hole.
First question is because the first person was off the green, could we insist his partner's ball near the hole be marked?
And if so, the second question is how far out could we insist that an opposition partner's ball be marked. Could it be 10 metres, 20 metres, 50 metres or maybe 100 metres?
Lou from Wellington, New Zealand
Dear Lou,
If you believe a ball on the green is in a position to help another player’s play, you may lift the ball if it is yours, or require that the ball be lifted if it belongs to someone else [Rule 15.3a]. The helping ball must be on the green; there is no limitation on the location of the other ball.
The answer to your first question is “yes” – you may insist that the helping ball be lifted. The owner of the helping ball must comply with your request. If the player refuses to lift his ball, and his partner putts with the ball in place, both players will get the general penalty (loss of hole) [Interpretation 23.8a(2)/1].
The answer to your second question requires a bit of common sense. A ball on the green is more likely to assist another player when that other player’s ball is on or relatively close to the green. If you use good judgment to conclude that the ball will assist play, you may require that it be lifted. If the ball off the green is so far away that the likelihood of assistance is small, and if lifting it will delay play, you should refrain from making the request. Ten or even 20 yards/meters would be reasonable, 50 or 100 yards/meters would not.
You will need to be a bit quicker on the draw in making your request to lift the helping ball. Your opponent wisely used his knowledge of the Rules to hit his ball before you had a chance to stop him.
Linda
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