The BallThere are several important rules regarding the ball which players will come across during the play of a round. Some will allow the player to gain free relief, others will incur a penalty stroke. If a golf ball is lost outside a water hazard or obstruction or falls out of bounds, the player must play another ball from the spot where the original stroke was played and incur a one stroke penalty. If the player believes that his ball may be lost or out of bounds he may elect to play a provisional ball by announcing the fact and playing the provisional ball before going forward to search for the original ball. The provisional ball may be played until the place where the original ball was deemed lost or out of bounds has been reached. If the original ball is found the player must discontinue play with the provisional ball and continue play with his original ball. A player may deem his golf ball unplayable anywhere on the course, except in a water hazard. No one has the right to challenge the players declaration that his ball is unplayable. If deemed unplayable the player, with the addition of a penalty stroke, may play his next stroke from the spot where the ball was last played, drop a ball at any distance behind where the ball lay, keeping the point where the ball lay on a line between the hole and the point where the ball is dropped or drop a ball, not nearer the hole, within two clubs length of the spot where the ball lay.
Ball at Rest If a ball at rest is moved or touched purposely by a player, his partner or their respective caddies, or any of their equipment causes the ball to move, the player incurs a one stroke penalty. There are some instances where the ball is moved accidentally by a player where no penalty is awarded. These include searching when for a ball in a hazard, when removing obstructions, when removing loose impediments on the putting green, when lifting or replacing a ball under a rule and when repairing a pitch mark. If a player moves his ball after he has addressed it, a one stroke penalty is incurred and the ball must be replaced, unless the player has started to play his stroke. If, when searching for a ball, an opponent, the opponents caddie or equipment moves the ball, there is no penalty but the ball must be returned to its original position. However, other than during a search, if the opponent, the opponents caddie or equipment moves the ball, the opponent is awarded a one stroke penalty. No penalty is incurred if a players ball is moved by a fellow competitor, the fellow competitors caddie or equipment. When a ball, initially at rest, is moved by another ball or an outside agency, no penalty is incurred but the ball must be replaced. An outside agency is anything, or anyone, not part of a match or a competitors side. Wind and water are not deemed to be outside agencies, so if a ball is moved by either of these elements the ball must be played as it lies with no penalties incurred. Note that in all of the above occurrences the ball must be replaced in its original position, unless otherwise specified. Ball in Motion When a ball in motion is struck by any outside agency, no penalty is incurred and the ball must be played as it lies. On some occasions a ball in flight may be directed off line, by a bird for example, and come to rest in a hazard. This, unfortunately, is a rub of the green and the player must proceed from within the hazard. If, in a match play competition, the ball of a player is deflected by the player, his partner, caddies or their equipment then the player loses the hole. If the ball of the player is deflected by his opponent, opponents caddie or equipment, no penalty is incurred. In this case the player may play the ball as it lies or opt to replay the stroke as long as the replayed stroke is taken before any other stroke by either side. If, in a stroke play competition, the ball is deflected by the player, his partner, caddies or their equipment, the player incurs a two stroke penalty, with the ball then being played as it lies. If the ball of the player is deflected by a fellow competitor, fellow competitors caddie or equipment, no penalty is incurred and the ball is played as it lies. A players’ ball in motion can sometimes be deflected by another ball. In match play, if it is deflected by a ball at rest, there is no penalty and the ball is played as it lies. In stroke play, if it is deflected by a ball at rest, there is no penalty unless both the ball in motion and the ball at rest lay on the putting green prior to the stroke. In this occurrence the player incurs a two stroke penalty. The ball originally in motion is played as it lies, the ball originally at rest must be replaced.
If a ball in motion is deflected by another ball in motion, no penalty is incurred and the ball is played as it lies.
Lifting, Dropping and Replacing the Golf Ball If a ball is required to be lifted under an applicable rule it may lifted by the player, his partner or any person authorised by the player. Before lifting any ball that requires to be replaced, the position of the golf ball must be marked using a ball marker, coin or other small object. Balls that require to be replaced include those lifted on a putting green, those lifted which originally interfered or gave assistance to other players and balls lifted for identification or inspection. The marker must be positioned immediately behind the ball. The marker may, afterwards, be moved a club head length to one side if it interferes with the play of another player. If the ball is not marked before it is lifted, a penalty stroke is incurred and the ball must be replaced. Replacement of the ball can be carried out by the player, his partner or the person who lifted the ball. Any ball that needs to be dropped must be dropped by the player. Dropping usually occurs when a player is taking relief, whether it be under penalty or taking free relief. The correct dropping procedure is to stand straight, hold the ball at arm’s length and shoulder height, and release the ball. If the correct procedure is not followed and the error is not corrected, a penalty stroke is incurred. Once the place where the ball needs to be dropped has been established, ball must be dropped not nearer the hole than this established spot. Sometimes it may be necessary to re-drop a ball.
This occurs when the ball is dropped and it comes to rest in a hazard, on a putting green, out of bounds, in a position where interference remains from the original condition, it comes to rest more than two clubs length from where it first struck the course. If the re-dropped ball comes to rest in any of the above positions it must be placed as near as possible to the spot where it first struck the ground
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