Rules Question

[mjiafe]

Switching unmarked ball for similarball w/ alignment aid mark on green

Quick question for you rules aficionados out there. My buddy is convinced that you are allowed to use an unmarked ball off the tee and on approach shots, then switch that ball with an identical make/model ball with an alignment line drawn on it once you are on the green. I am pretty sure that this isn't allowed but don't know which specific rule to point to that forbids it. He thinks it is ok since it is the same make and model ball. He likens it to a situation in which you use an unmarked ball until you get on the green, then simply mark that same ball with a line when you pick your ball up on the green before putting. I think that both situations are not allowed. Help?

[marrigo]

[color=#474747][size=2]
[b][color="#000000"][size=2]Two stroke penalty for playing a wrongly substituted ball. [/size][/color][/b]

[b]Rule 15-1. General[/b]
[color=#7F7F7F][size=3]A player must [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Hole"][i]hole[/i][/url] out with the ball played from the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#TeeingGround"][i]teeing ground[/i][/url] unless the ball is [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#LostBall"][i]lost [/i][/url]or[url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#OutofBounds"][i] out of bounds[/i][/url] or the player [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"][i]substitutes[/i][/url] another ball, whether or not substitution is permitted (see [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14282#15-2"]15-2[/url]). If a player plays a[url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#WrongBall"][i]wrong ball,[/i][/url] see Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14282#15-3"]15-3[/url].[/size][/color]

[color=#7F7F7F][size=3]
[b]15-2. Substituted Ball[/b]
[color=#7F7F7F][size=3]A player may [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"][i]substitute[/i][/url] a ball when proceeding under a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Rules"][i]Rule[/i][/url] that permits the player to play, drop or place another ball in completing the play of a hole. The [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"][i]substituted ball[/i][/url] becomes the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#BallinPlay"][i]ball in play[/i][/url].[/size][/color]

[color=#7F7F7F][size=3]If a player [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"][i]substitutes[/i][/url] a ball when not permitted to do so under the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Rules"][i]Rules,[/i][/url]that [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"][i]substituted ball[/i][/url] is not a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#WrongBall"][i]wrong ball;[/i][/url] it becomes the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#BallinPlay"][i]ball in play.[/i][/url] If the mistake is not corrected as provided in Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14292#20-6"]20-6[/url] and the player makes a[url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Stroke"][i]stroke[/i][/url] at a wrongly [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"][i]substituted ball,[/i][/url][color=#CD2129 !important]he loses the hole in match play or incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play under the applicable [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Rules"][i]Rule[/i][/url][/color]and, in stroke play, must play out the hole with the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"][i]substituted ball[/i][/url].[/size][/color]

[color=#7F7F7F][size=3][b]Exception:[/b] If a player incurs a penalty for making a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Stroke"][i]stroke [/i][/url]from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for substituting a ball when not permitted.[/size][/color]

[/size][/color]

[/size][/color]

[Newby]

[color="#ff0000"]You are correct. The first Rule of Golf:[/color]

[color="#0000ff"][i][b]1-1. General[/b]
The Game of Golf consists of playing a ball with a club from the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#TeeingGround"]teeing ground[/url] into the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Hole"]hole[/url] by a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Stroke"]stroke[/url] or successive [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Stroke"]strokes[/url] in accordance with the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Rules"]Rules[/url].

You may not substitute another ball unless a Rule specifically permits it.[/i][/color]

[color="#ff0000"]In addition Rule 15 says:[/color]


[b][size="2"][color="#0000ff"][i]15-1. General[/i][/color][/size][/b]
[color="#0000ff"][i]A player must [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Hole"]hole[/url] out with the ball played from the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#TeeingGround"]teeing ground[/url] unless the ball is [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#LostBall"]lost [/url]or[url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#OutofBounds"] out of bounds[/url] or the player [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"]substitutes[/url][url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14282#15-2"]15-2[/url]). If a player plays a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#WrongBall"]wrong ball,[/url] see Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14282#15-3"]15-3[/url].[/i] another ball, whether or not substitution is permitted (see [/color]

[color="#0000ff"][/color]
[b][size="2"][color="#0000ff"][i]15-2. Substituted Ball[/i][/color][/size][/b]
[color="#0000ff"][i]A player may <a href="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall">substitute a ball when proceeding under a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Rules"]Rule[/url] that permits the player to play, drop or place another ball in completing the play of a hole. The [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"]substituted ball[/url] becomes the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#BallinPlay"]ball in play[/url].[/i][/color]

[color="#0000ff"][i]If a player [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"]substitutes[/url] a ball when not permitted to do so under the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Rules"]Rules,[/url] that [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"]substituted ball[/url] is not a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#WrongBall"]wrong ball;[/url] it becomes the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#BallinPlay"]ball in play.[/url] If the mistake is not corrected as provided in Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14292#20-6"]20-6[/url] and the player makes a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Stroke"]stroke[/url] at a wrongly [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"]substituted ball,[/url]he loses the hole in match play or incurs a penalty of two strokes in stroke play under the applicable [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#Rules"]Rule[/url] and, in stroke play, must play out the hole with the [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#SubstitutedBall"]substituted ball[/url].[/i][/color]

[QuickFeet]

Nope, can't do it. Rule 5 - The Ball. You can remove the ball in play and substitute another if the original ball has become unfit for play at any time (cracked, cut, broken in two, out of round) or you can change your ball (same brand/type) once you have completed play of the hole.

Not sure about drawing/marking on the ball. I would think any ball you play would need to have similar marking for ID purposes, except for a provisional ball you might play at some point during the round.

[mjiafe]

Two stroke penalty, ouch! I am currently copying and pasting your replies into an email to set him straight.

But I can already envision his counter argument: "Well of course [i]that[/i] is against the rules. But I am only actually substituting the ball [i]because I don't want to waste time and money by using a new ball off the tee and then marking it each time I reach the green.[/i]"

Is this practice allowed? Is there an actual rule that forbids marking your ball after you have put it in play? If not, he will claim to have won the theoretical argument. Of course, I don't really care at all what he does with his balls both on the course and off. I'm just curious as to who is correct.

[AK.Fan]

If using a marked ball annoys him that much on his full shots, couldn't he just use the actual sidestamp for alignment, Kinda the same as coloured line

[mjiafe]

I think he just likes to have a clean ball just for putting on the green. Of course, this undermines his theoretical argument that it is okay to mark your ball once you reach the green. But I am just speculating...

I know this is becoming a very technical argument that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. But I'm just curious if such a rule exists.

[Johnny]

friendly game..who cares. Probably tees off with a topflite and use his penta on the green

anyways just let him know, in any kind of competitive rounds he is breaking the rules and someone will call him on it.

[bigred90gt]

[quote name='QuickFeet' date='06 June 2010 - 05:00 PM' timestamp='1275861634' post='2489978']
Nope, can't do it. Rule 5 - The Ball. You can remove the ball in play and substitute another if the original ball has become unfit for play at any time (cracked, cut, broken in two, out of round) or [b]you can change your ball (same brand/type)[/b] once you have completed play of the hole.
[/quote]

The 1 ball rule is only in effect if the tournament committee specifically states such. It is not a rule, but it is an allowable condition of competition by the Rules of Golf.

"c. One Ball ConditionIf it is desired to prohibit changing brands and models of golf balls during a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#StipulatedRound"][i]stipulated round[/i][/url], the following condition is recommended:

[b]"Limitation on Balls Used During Round (Note to Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14262#5-1"]5-1[/url]):[/b]

[indent](i) [b]One Ball Condition[/b]
During a [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14253#StipulatedRound"][i]stipulated round,[/i][/url] the balls a player plays must be of the same brand and model as detailed by a single entry on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls.

[/indent][b]Note: [/b]If a ball of a different brand and/or model is dropped or placed, it may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed by dropping or placing a proper ball (Rule [url="http://www.usga.org/workarea/linkit.aspx?linkidentifier=id&itemid=14292#20-6"]20-6[/url])."

[rankoutsider]

[quote name='mjiafe' date='06 June 2010 - 06:55 PM' timestamp='1275864946' post='2490090']
I think he just likes to have a clean ball just for putting on the green. Of course, this undermines his theoretical argument that it is okay to mark your ball once you reach the green. But I am just speculating...

I know this is becoming a very technical argument that doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. But I'm just curious if such a rule exists.
[/quote]

He is breaking a rule. He has to play the same ball from the tee into the hole unless he loses it or it is deemed unfit for play. I don't think there is a rule about drawing the line on the ball only on the green. I have never heard that you cannot sharpie your ball after you mark it on the green, but the procedure does violate an ethic of the game.

So here is what he needs to do: get 18 balls and a sharpie. Tee it up, play it to the green, pick it up, draw stripe on it, putt it, throw it away, go to second tee, rinse, lather, repeat....

Or you could just let him do his crazy mojo and laugh.

[mjiafe]

[quote name='rankoutsider' date='06 June 2010 - 08:54 PM' timestamp='1275882868' post='2490829']
So here is what he needs to do: get 18 balls and a sharpie. Tee it up, play it to the green, pick it up, draw stripe on it, putt it, throw it away, go to second tee, rinse, lather, repeat....
[/quote]

Haha yeah, I will tell him that he needs to do this. That's pretty much the only way to do what he wants within the scope of the rules.

Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts. I'm always appreciative of this great GolfWRX community.

[golfing7861]

Good topic man. I've always been curious about this. Time to talk to some of my friends!!!