2020 MGA Rules Quiz - Q10

[rogolf]

10. A player’s tee shot heads toward an area of dense woods and high fescue grass. The player,

unaware that part of the area is marked as a penalty area, plays a provisional ball into the fairway.

When the player begins to the search for his original ball, he is informed by a spectator that his

original ball came to rest within the penalty area but was moved by an outside influence. The player

does not want to drop under the penalty area relief procedure, so he decides to play his provisional

ball. He plays onto the green with his next stroke and two putts. His score for the hole is:

A. 6

B. 7

C. 8

D. The player has committed a serious breach and must correct before teeing off from the next

tee.

 

[antip]

This is a clever question. The scenario appears to fit two different sections of Rule 18.3, which point to quite different treatment.

On the one hand, it fits the Exception to 18.3c(2), which would permit the player to complete the hole with the provisional ball for a score of 6.

On the other hand, it fits the wording of 18.3c(3) that says the provisional must be abandoned if there is KVC that the ball was in a PA.

I lean to the first answer above. I'm not actually interested in what the MGA think is the answer, I think it needs an official ruling. Which makes it a great question.

[Mr. Bean]

IMO 18.3c(2) Exception says it all. Answer is 6 strokes, A.

FWIW, I have no clue why that Exception has been written, it makes no sense to me.

[Mr. Bean]

This platform/software simply sucks!!

[Newby]

#10 A Rule 18.3c(2) Exception