Rules Question

[Samsquanch]

Did I get penalized right?

I was playing in a tournament today, and on one hole I ended up on the fringe and for some reason out of the blue I marked it on the fringe :)

I lifted the ball and thats when I realized I did it. I didn't clean the ball at all and right away just put it back in its original spot.

After the round I talked to a tournament official and he ended up giving me a one stroke penalty for marking the ball on the fringe for no reason... I got into a playoff and ended up losing...

Did I get penalized right? Any help would be great. Thanks :)

ADDITION: So basically, I marked it in the fringe, picked it up, and put it down. Just to be clear.

[limpwrist]

Yep, sounds right to me. Rule 16-1b allows you to mark, lift, clean and place a ball only on the green. Since you were not on the green and no other circumstance (interference with another player's stroke, plugged, etc.) would allow you mark/lift the ball under the rules, you were in violation of Rule 18-2 and incurred a one stroke penalty.

 

Rule 16-1: http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/ru...ule16.html#16-1

 

Rule 18-2: http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/ru...ule18.html#18-2

[limpwrist]

Just noticed you are in Canada. I'm assuming the R&A rules apply in Canada rather than the USGA rules, but I'm betting the penalty is the same.

[jjj912]

Limpwrist and the tournament official are correct. The rule is the same regardless if it is R&A or USGA.

[xan_user]

I was playing in a tournament today, and on one hole I ended up on the fringe and for some reason out of the blue I marked it on the fringe :)

 

I lifted the ball and thats when I realized I did it. I didn't clean the ball at all and right away just put it back in its original spot.

 

After the round I talked to a tournament official and he ended up giving me a one stroke penalty for marking the ball on the fringe for no reason... I got into a playoff and ended up losing...

 

Did I get penalized right? Any help would be great. Thanks :)

 

ADDITION: So basically, I marked it in the fringe, picked it up, and put it down. Just to be clear.

 

Doesn't this fall under lifting a ball to identify? - Can't find the rule right now, I think its fairly new.

[teeman2116]

That is the correct ruling. Not sure, but I think you could have cleaned it too and still only received a one shot penalty.

[atlanta golfer]

This doesn't apply to this particular situation, but I believe you can pick up and mark your ball ANYWHERE on the course IF you are requested to do so by a fellow competitor. The typical situation where this would apply would be if the two balls were close together so that the ball is in the way, or a distraction, to the competitor. Can someone please confirm that this is correct? This has actually happened to me twice this year, out of about 35 rounds. Both times, our balls were close together, one about 8 inches in front of the other, and about 10 yards off the green. Neither player could comfortably hit first without hitting or being severely distracted, by the other ball.

[BDLz]

This doesn't apply to this particular situation, but I believe you can pick up and mark your ball ANYWHERE on the course IF you are requested to do so by a fellow competitor. The typical situation where this would apply would be if the two balls were close together so that the ball is in the way, or a distraction, to the competitor. Can someone please confirm that this is correct? This has actually happened to me twice this year, out of about 35 rounds. Both times, our balls were close together, one about 8 inches in front of the other, and about 10 yards off the green. Neither player could comfortably hit first without hitting or being severely distracted, by the other ball.

 

 

You can mark the ball at your competitor's request at any point during the round. Just be sure not to clean the ball or put it in your pocket where someone could think you are getting an unfair advantage by wiping any debris off the ball. I'm sure someone will chime in w/ the exact rule, but I'm to lazy to look it up.

 

BDLz

[KevCarter]

Rule 22. Ball Assisting or Interfering with Play

Definitions

 

All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in the Definitions section.

 

22-1. Ball Assisting Play

 

Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that a ball might assist any other player, he may:

 

a. Lift the ball if it is his ball, or

b. Have any other ball lifted.

 

A ball lifted under this Rule must be replaced (see Rule 20-3). The ball must not be cleaned, unless it lies on the putting green (see Rule 21).

 

In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.

 

In stroke play, if the Committee determines that competitors have agreed not to lift a ball that might assist any competitor, they are disqualified.

 

22-2. Ball Interfering with Play

 

Except when a ball is in motion, if a player considers that another ball might interfere with his play, he may have it lifted.

 

A ball lifted under this Rule must be replaced (see Rule 20-3). The ball must not be cleaned, unless it lies on the putting green (see Rule 21).

 

In stroke play, a player required to lift his ball may play first rather than lift the ball.

 

Note: Except on the putting green, a player may not lift his ball solely because he considers that it might interfere with the play of another player. If a player lifts his ball without being asked to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke for a breach of Rule 18-2a, but there is no additional penalty under Rule 22.

 

Penalty for Breach of Rule:

Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.

[KevCarter]

Doesn't this fall under lifting a ball to identify? - Can't find the rule right now, I think its fairly new.

 

Only if that was the original intent. If it was, you have to follow the procedure outlined in the rule.

 

12-2. Identifying Ball

 

The responsibility for playing the proper ball rests with the player. Each player should put an identification mark on his ball.

 

If a player has reason to believe a ball at rest is his and it is necessary to lift the ball in order to identify it, he may lift the ball, without penalty, in order to do so.

 

Before lifting the ball, the player must announce his intention to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. He may then lift the ball and identify it, provided that he gives his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement. The ball must not be cleaned beyond the extent necessary for identification when lifted under Rule 12-2.

 

If the ball is the player's ball and he fails to comply with all or any part of this procedure, or he lifts his ball in order to identify it when not necessary to do so, he incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the lifted ball is the player's ball, he must replace it. If he fails to do so, he incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 12-2, but there is no additional penalty under this Rule.

 

Note: If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered, see Rule 20-3b.

 

*Penalty for Breach of Rule 12-2:

Match play - Loss of hole; Stroke play - Two strokes.

 

*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of Rule 12-2, there is no additional penalty under this Rule.