Hi Linda.
Help!
A player was permitted to play in a competition with his dog on an extendable lead. This proved to be an annoyance to the two other players, as the dog had to be repeatedly pulled back so as not to interfere with play.
On one occasion the dog was tethered to the player’s trolley whilst the player chipped from the other side of the green. The player scuffed the ball, which ran across the green. The dog stopped and picked up the ball, which would have rolled much further. The player removed the ball from the dog’s mouth, dropped the ball on the edge of the green where the dog was standing and played from there.
This was brought to our attention at the score recording by the player’s marker. The player claimed he did not know that this would happen (although apparently it had happened frequently before in friendly games) and thus there should not be a penalty. Eventually we ruled that he should be penalised two shots for positioning his equipment where there was a strong possibility of this happening and thus it could not be deemed accidental. We also applied the general penalty for playing from a wrong place.
I'm not sure we were correct and there is still some lingering discontent.
What is your view?
Regards,
Lou from France
Dear Lou,
Pardon me while I pause to contemplate the lunacy of a Committee permitting a player to bring his dog along in a golf competition…
If the Committee determines that the player deliberately positioned his trolley and dog to stop a poorly-hit shot, the player gets the general penalty (loss of hole/two strokes) under Rule 11.2 and the ball must be played from the estimated spot where it would have come to rest. This involves establishing a reference point and measuring a one-club-length relief area for a drop (see Rule 11.2c for details).
I would think that deliberately positioning the trolley plus dog and the subsequent playing the ball from the wrong place are unrelated acts, meaning the player is penalized for both breaches (total of four penalty strokes).
If the Committee determines that there was no intent to position the trolley plus dog to stop a poorly-hit shot, and the ball accidentally hit this outside influence, the ball must be played as it lies [Rule 11.1b]. Assuming the ball was at rest after the dog's initial interference and before being subsequently moved, the ball must be replaced [Rule 9.6]. This will be a placement, not a drop. The player in this scenario would be penalized for dropping the ball when he should have placed it. However, if the ball were still moving when the dog picked it up, the ball must be dropped in a relief area within one club-length of the estimated point right under where the ball came to rest on the dog [Rule 11.1b, Exception 1].
Everything comes down to the Committee’s decision regarding intent. From my perspective, the Committee’s decision to permit the player to bring his dog needs to be re-examined.
Linda
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