Before giving the answers on Rule 9, here are interesting rulings in the past month on the PGA Tour
Bubba Watson and a living loose impediment. https://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=2ahUKEwii_fqwyKXrAhXRJt8KHcThDwYQwqsBMAB6BAgKEAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D908rNgQnW38&usg=AOvVaw0DdNW4MrPeHPuCdYvXYrsO
Bryson DeChambeau and an immovable obstruction https://golf.com/instruction/rules/bryson-dechambeau-drop-rule-social-media-buzzing/
John Rahm and a ball at rest moved https://www.pgatour.com/news/2020/07/19/jon-rahm-two-shot-penalty-final-round-the-memorial-tournament-presented-by-nationwide.html
If you have any questions, please feel free to write to me Edouard.rivard@videotron.ca
9.1 A player sees his ball in a tree. He climbs in the tree in order to play his ball, but the ball falls down on the ground. Instead of replacing the ball he goes back to the previous stroke and make his stroke. The ball is on the green and he makes a putt that goes in the hole. What is the player’s score?
Answer: The score for the hole is 5. The player made 3 strokes. A one stroke penalty for having caused the ball to move and another penalty stroke for the unplayable.
9.2 The ball is on a plastic bag. When arriving near the ball, the wind moves the bag and the ball a few yards away. What is the ruling?
Answer: The ball is considered having been moved by an outside influence. He must replace the ball where it was. It this case he must drop the ball.
9.3 The player’s ball is 6 feet from the hole. He marks the ball and replaces it. A few seconds later the wind moves the ball to another position. The player plays his next stroke from the new position. Did the player proceed correctly?
Answer: When the ball is marked and lifted and replaced again, it will always be played from that spot even if the wind or gravity moves the ball after being replaced.
9.4 When a player arrives near the green, he sees his ball, on the green, moved by the wind and ends up in a bunker. It was not sure on the Rule, and he played the next stroke from the bunker. Before making his stroke from the next tee, he calls a referee. What is his decision?
Answer: Because the ball had never been marked, he must accept the result of that ball being moved by a natural force.
9.5 After completing his tee shot, player sees a fox running with the ball in his mouth. He never finds the ball. What are the players options?
Answer: If it is known or virtually certain a fox ran away with your ball; you may put another ball in play without penalty. If you don’t find your ball, you can’t always assume a Fox took it.
QUESTIONS ON RULE 10
10.1 The player’s tee shot comes to rest on the fringe of the green. He makes a double touch on his second stroke. The ball stops short of the hole. The player makes the putt. What is the player’s score?
10.2 The player’s ball is touching an out of bound wire fence. The player hits the fence on the Out of Bounds side with the head of the club and the ball moves a few feet. The club was never in contact with the ball. What is the decision?
10.3 A player uses a caddie. Also, his mother carries for him an umbrella, his lunch, his rain gear and a few bottle of water. This situation lasts 4 holes. What is the decision?
10.4 Two players share the same caddie. On a Par 3, Player A asks the caddie what club Player B used and the caddie gives him the answer. Which player will be penalized if any?
Elène
During an OVGA sanctioned tournament.
Starter instructs each and every group on the rules for the day. Due to wet conditions mark/ lift clean / place and Cart rule of the day – cart path only .
Situation observed on # 18
Player in cart leaves cart path, drives across fairway to locate his ball on far side of fairway, player plays his shot , drives cart well inside signs “no carts beyond this point signs” to the fringe of green where he attempts to return cart to cart path and has to negotiate stone wall drives the cart over said wall to reach cart path. He does not display a differently able blue flag.
Is the player in breach of rule ? what is the penalty ?
Édouard Rivard
The breach for a local rule is 2 strokes. Also he should get a warning under the Code of Conduct. A report should be done to the OVGA.