Linda,
This really happened! Whilst playing in a stroke play competition a lady picked up her ball from the green after marking it. She then picked up a small stone close to her ball marker. When throwing away the stone into a nearby lake the ball left her grip and also ended up in deep water. Can the ball be substituted without penalty?
Does this come under ball accidentally moved on the putting green?
I cannot find an interpretation that covers this scenario.
Thank you,
Lou from Bodicote, U.K.
Dear Lou,
When you mark and lift your ball on the putting green, you are required to replace the original ball. However, there are four exceptions to this Rule. One of them is that you are permitted to substitute another ball if the original ball cannot be recovered easily and quickly, provided you did not deliberately cause your ball to become unrecoverable [Rule 14.2a Exception (first bullet)].
The player in your scenario clearly did not intend to throw her ball into the lake. She should have been permitted to substitute another ball without penalty.
Linda
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