2020 MGA Rules Quiz - Q2

[rogolf]

2. A player’s tee shot comes to rest atop some fescue grass along a painted white boundary line. Half

of the ball hovers over the white line on the course side and half hovers over the out of bounds side.

As the player takes his backswing, a pinecone falls from a tree and causes the ball to move, and the

whole ball comes to rest on the out of bounds side of the white line. The player completes his

stroke and misses the ball. What is the result?

A. The stroke counts and he must replace the ball with no penalty.

B. The stroke counts and he must replace the ball and add a one penalty stroke.

C. The stroke counts and he must drop a ball in a relief area measured from where the ball was

initially at rest on the boundary line, adding one penalty stroke.

D. The stroke counts and he must return to and play from the teeing area, adding one penalty

stroke.

[Mr. Bean]

This is a question with no accurate reference to the Rules afa the answers are concerned. I am very interested to hear what kind of interpretation MGA eventually gives and which part of the Rules they will refer to.

(not to mention this hovering thing which is ridiculous...)

[antip]

I agree that the second sentence is ridiculous, it is pure obfuscation that a forked-tongued politician could be proud of. And this Committee decides to paint a white OOB line on fescue grass that can hold up a ball yet allow it to 'hover'? And there is also a pine tree in there tossing pine cones around? Puhlease............

However, belief suspended, all answers (this is multiple choice after all) say the stroke counts, so the ball cannot have been out of bounds before the stroke. I suggest that is the better starting point for thinking about the rest of the question. But that is only the first hurdle crossed .......

[Socrates]

C. The stroke counts and he must drop a ball in a relief area measured from where the ball was

initially at rest on the boundary line, adding one penalty stroke.

[LeoLeo99]

1 on the line but in bounds

2 caused the ball to go OB

3 back in play

B is my answer.

[antip]

I agree, but please identify your reasoning.

[Socrates]

9-1b. What to Do When Ball Moves During Backswing or StrokeIf a player’s ball at rest begins moving after the player has begun the stroke  or the backswing for a stroke and the player goes on to make the stroke

The ball must not be replaced , no matter what caused it to move Instead, the player must play the ball from where it comes to rest after the stroke.

 

Therefore the ball is now OB and has to take stroke and distance from where the ball was last played. About 2" from where it is now.

[antip]

Excellent, my thoughts exactly. Normally 9.6 (replace), but this special case of 9.1b overrides.

[Mr. Bean]

But isn't that answer D then and not C?

In fact, Rule 9.1b already renders options A to C void so D is the only one possible.

[LeoLeo99]

Why does 9.1b override? I would just treat it as the second shot went OB. Guess that means don't replace but play it near the line. So. C.

Don't understand any scenario where you'd lose the tee shot's distance based on something that occurred during the second stroke.

[antip]

The stroke counts and the ball must be played as lies. But the ball is OOB so the player must follow 14.6 procedure and play again from where the last stroke was made so the reference point for the relief area is where the ball lay on the edge of the OOB line. Which is C

[antip]

Outside influence (pine cone) moves the ball is normally rule 9.6 and replace ball. In this special case where the backswing/stroke was underway and the stroke is made 9.1b applies, the ball must be played as lies. Ball is OOB means play again from the same spot as where the previous stroke (airswing) was made. Answer C.

[LeoLeo99]

Thanks. I was thinking to myself why 9.1b overrides but I've been thinking correctly all along. Just had the wrong relief for OB when I said the answer was B.

[Mr. Bean]

Even though it was not the player who moved the ball? Well, the player DID make a stroke at that ball, he just missed.

[antip]

In this specific scenario, it isn't relevant whether the player's stroke makes contact with the ball, the outcome is the same per 9.1b - stroke counts and ball is played as it lies.

[Newby]

#2 C Rule 18.2a(2); Rule 9.6; Rule 9.1b; Rule 14.6