Rules Question!!!

GolferGal2009 · September 7, 2007

whadda ya do

This situation came up yesterday.... again I come to golfwrxers for the answer.

What do you do if one golf ball is right behind another (within a few centimeters) in the fairway. Yes we thought to mark it but the mark would have been hit by the other person's swing so we did one club length.

SO....

Which ball do you mark first (closer or further one)

and

How do you do it?!?!?

THANKS a ton!!!!

RichB · September 7, 2007

Yes, you do mark and lift (rule 22-2).

If the problem is the mark is now *at risk*...

just move the mark as you would on the green....

instead of a putterhead width, how 'bout several...

as long as the ball is replaced...you're within the rules....

and no cleaning of lifted ball.

Oh, and the decision of which to mark....although the nearer to the pin

would seem to be the correct choice, as farther from the whole normally goes first,

in stroke play, to be equitable to both players, I would suggest marking the furthest ball

and letting the nearer player play first...solely for the purpose of not having the nearer player

have divot issues.

Experts please correct me, if my interpretation is wrong.

lrgdawg · September 7, 2007

Yes, you do mark and lift (rule 22-2).
If the problem is the mark is now *at risk*...
just move the mark as you would on the green....
instead of a putterhead width, how 'bout several...
as long as the ball is replaced...you're within the rules....

and no cleaning of lifted ball.

Oh, and the decision of which to mark....although the nearer to the pin
would seem to be the correct choice, as farther from the whole normally goes first,
in stroke play, to be equitable to both players, I would suggest marking the furthest ball
and letting the nearer player play first...solely for the purpose of not having the nearer player
have divot issues.

Experts please correct me, if my interpretation is wrong.

RichB is correct. One of the keys is to NOT clean the lifted ball! I always carry a rule book in my bag for situations like this.

GolferGal2009 · September 8, 2007

excellent!! thanks for the help

larrybud · September 12, 2007

Yes, you do mark and lift (rule 22-2).
If the problem is the mark is now *at risk*...
just move the mark as you would on the green....
instead of a putterhead width, how 'bout several...
as long as the ball is replaced...you're within the rules....

and no cleaning of lifted ball.

Oh, and the decision of which to mark....although the nearer to the pin
would seem to be the correct choice, as farther from the whole normally goes first,
in stroke play, to be equitable to both players, I would suggest marking the furthest ball
and letting the nearer player play first...solely for the purpose of not having the nearer player
have divot issues.

Experts please correct me, if my interpretation is wrong.

So if you're playing match play, obviously the farther ball must go first. Would it still be in the spirit of the game to really hit down on your ball to take a big divot?

I'd like to see a ruling on that... Player A hits his farther ball, takes a divot where player B's ball must go. Player A doesn't replace his divot. What can player B do?

pbaldy · September 12, 2007

I think Decision 13-2/8.7 would allow the second player to move his ball so it wasn't in the divot left by the first:

Q. The balls of A and B lie near each other through the green. A plays and in doing so affects B’s area of intended stance (e.g., by creating a divot hole). What is the ruling?

A. B may play the ball as it lies. In addition, if the original area of intended stance could be easily restored, in equity (Rule 1-4), the area of intended stance may be restored as nearly as possible, without penalty.

If the original area of intended stance could not be easily restored, in equity (Rule 1-4), the player may place his ball, without penalty, on the nearest spot within one club-length of the original lie that provides the most similar lie and area of intended stance to the original lie and area of intended stance. This spot must not be nearer the hole and must not be in a hazard. (New)