What happens when you hit a shot toward a water hazard and you do not see your ball actually enter the hazard, but when you arrive at the hazard you cannot find your ball? Do you just assume that it entered the hazard and proceed under Rule 26 -1 Relief for Ball in Water Hazard? Rule 26 -1 states: “It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward a water hazard is in the hazard. In the absence of knowledge or virtual certainty that a ball struck toward a water hazard, but not found, is in the hazard, the player must proceed under Rule 27 -1.” Rule 27 -1 deals with a ball lost or out of bounds where a player proceeds under the stroke and distance penalty.
When a ball has been struck towards a water hazard and cannot be found, a player may not just assume that his ball is in the water hazard simply because there is a chance that the ball may be in the water hazard. To proceed under Rule 26 – 1, it must be ‘known or virtually certain” that the ball is in the water hazard. In the absence of “knowledge or virtual certainty” that it lies in a water hazard, a ball that cannot be found must be considered lost or somewhere other than in a water hazard and the player must proceed under Rule 27 – 1.
When a player’s ball cannot be found, ‘knowledge” may be ascertained that his ball is in the water hazard in numerous ways. The player or his caddie or other members of the match or group may actually have observed the ball entering the water hazard. Evidence supplied by other reliable witnesses may also establish that the ball is in the water hazard. This evidence could come from a referee, an observer, spectators or other outside agencies. It is very important that all readily available information be considered because, for example, the mere fact that a ball has splashed in a water hazard would not always provide “knowledge” that the ball is in the water hazard, due to the fact that there are instances when the ball may have skipped across the water and come to rest outside the hazard.
Without the “knowledge” that the ball is in the water hazard, Rule 26 -1 requires there to be “virtual certainty” that the players ball is in the water hazard in order to proceed under this Rule. “Virtual certainty” implies some minute degree of doubt about the actual location of a ball that has not been found. However, “virtual certainty” also means that, although the ball has not been found, when all readily available information has been considered, the conclusion that there is nowhere that the ball could be except in the water hazard would be justified. To determine whether “virtual certainty” exists, factors in the area of the water hazard to be considered include topography, turf conditions, turf heights, visibility, weather conditions and the proximity of trees, bushes and abnormal ground conditions.
The Rules of Golf state that the position of a ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule that requires it to be replaced (Rule 20 – 1 Lifting and Marking). The Note to Rule 20 – 1 states that “the position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker, a small coin or other similar object immediately behind the ball.” A question that I get on occasion is what happens if a player uses an object or something that is not similar to a ball-marker or small coin to mark his ball? Is the player then penalized?
The answer lies in the Decisions of Golf under Decision 20 – 1/16. The player is not penalized if he uses an object not similar to a ball-marker or small coin. The provision in the Note to Rule 20 – 1 is a recommendation of best practice, but there is no penalty for failing to act in accordance with the Note. The Decision goes on to state, “examples of methods of marking the position of a ball that are not recommended, but are permissible, are as follows:
· Placing the toe of a club at the side of, or behind, the ball;
· Using a tee;
· Using a loose impediment;
· Scratching a line, provided the putting green is not tested (Rule 16 – 1d) and a line for putting is not indicated (Rule 8 – 2b). As this practice may cause damage to the putting green, it is discouraged.
However, under Rule 20 – 1 it is necessary to physically mark the position of the ball. Reference to an existing mark on the ground does not constitute marking the position of a ball. For example, it is not permissible to mark the position with reference to a blemish on the putting green.
When moving a ball or ball-marker to the side to prevent it from interfering with another player’s stance or stroke, the player may measure from the side of the ball or ball marker. In order to accurately replace the ball on the spot from which it was lifted, the steps used to move the ball or ball-marker to the side should be reversed.”
If you have a question regarding the Rules of Golf please submit it to Mike Fay Golf or and we will answer it in this forum or via the #askthepro Twitter Show. Here’s hoping that you are “playing by the rules.”
I received an interesting question about whether or not a player may lift his ball to determine whether he is entitled to relief under a rule. The player had hit a chip shot across a green and it came to rest in a golf ball sized depression in the fringe, so only about half of the ball was visible. The ball was either sitting in someone else’s plug mark, was in a drain hole or on a small sprinkler head. The player had no way of telling what the situation was unless he lifted the ball. He decided to play it as it lies and he ended up hitting a bad shot. It turned out that ball was on a small sprinkler head and he would have been entitled to relief.
According to Decision 20 – 1/0.7: “In equity (Rule 1-4), if a player has reason to believe he is entitled to relief from a condition, the player may lift his ball, without penalty, provided he announces his intention in advance to his opponent in match play or his marker or fellow competitor in stroke play, marks the position of the ball before lifting it, does not clean the ball and gives his opponent or fellow competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting.
If the ball lies in a position that entitles the player to relief, he may take relief under the applicable Rule. If the player is entitled to relief and fails to comply with this procedure, there is no penalty provided he takes relief under the applicable Rule (see Decision 18-2a/12).
If the ball does not lie in a position from which the player is entitled to relief, or if the player is entitled to relief but decides not to take it, the ball must be replaced, and the opponent, marker or fellow competitor must be give the opportunity to observe the replacement. If a player who is required to replace the ball fails to do so before making a stroke, he incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play under Rule 20-3a, but there is no additional penalty for failure to comply with the procedure for lifting under Rule 20-1 or 21.
If the player lifts a ball without having reason to believe that it lies in a position from which he is entitled to relief without penalty or if the ball does not lie in a position which entitles the player to relief and the player fails to comply with this procedure, he incurs a penalty of one stroke but there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1 0r 21.”
Knowing the Rules of Golf could have afforded the player the opportunity to seek relief from his situation and led to better score on the hole. Take some time to review the rules, you would be surprised how it may help your game somewhere down the line. If you have a question about the Rules of Golf please submit to me for The Ask The Pro Show on Twitter.
According to the definition in the Rules of Golf, a caddie is one who assists the player in accordance with the Rules, which may include carrying or handling the player’s clubs during play. Caddies are covered under Rule 6 The Player, and most specifically under Rule 6 – 4 Caddie.
While the Rules do not expressly so state, the following are examples of duties the caddie may perform for the player without the authority of the player:
1.) Search for the players ball as provided in Rule 12 – 1.
2.) Place the players clubs in a hazard – Exception 1 under Rule 13 – 4.
3.) Repair old hole plugs and ball marks – Rule 16 – 1a(vi) and Rule 16 – 1c.
4.) Remove loose impediments on the line of putt or elsewhere – Rules 16 – 1a and 23 – 1.
5.) Mark the position of a ball without lifting it Rule 20 – 1.
6.) Clean the players ball – Rule 21.
7.) Remove movable obstructions – Rule 24 – 1.
The player may have a caddie carry his clubs and have additional people carry items other than clubs like a rain suit, cap, umbrella or food and beverage. The additional people would be considered outside agencies, and any items carried by them would also be considered outside agencies while in their possession. However, the Committee may prohibit the use of such people in the conditions of a competition.
An interesting caddie/player incident on this year’s PGA Tour took place in the first round of the Hyundai Tournament of Champions. A television viewer called PGA officials after they thought they saw Nick Watney’s caddie, Chad Reynolds, testing the putting surface of the seventh green. Tournament Officials reviewed replays and what they saw was Reynolds hands hovering over the grass, but his hands did not touch the surface. Had Reynolds hand touched the green, it would have violated Rule 16 – 1d Testing Surface and Watney would have received a two stroke penalty. Lucky for Watney and Reynolds, the replays proved what they had said all along, that Reynolds never touched the surface of the green.
For the second time this season, the Rules of Golf have cost Graeme McDowell some strokes. Earlier this year, at the opening round of the European PGA Championship, his round ended on a sour note with a triple bogey 8 and a score of two over par 74. He incurred a two-shot penalty on the 18th hole at Wentworth because of a rules violation. After an errant tee shot into some bushes, he tried to take a look at his ball and as he approached it, he thought the ball moved. Rather than calling a Rules Official over right away, he went ahead and punched out, and then as he was walking down the fairway, he called over a Rules Official and asked him to take a look at the TV footage because he wasn’t sure if the ball had moved. Even though he could not have necessarily prevented the ball from moving and he didn’t gain an advantageous lie, he should not have waited to approach the Official.
High def, slow-mo camera work showed his ball rotating a few dimples. That was a one shot penalty, and since he didn’t replace the ball, he was slapped with another shot.
This past week, at the opening round of the BMW Championship at Crooked Stick, he walked off the course feeling pretty good about his eagle-birdie finish. After leaving the scoring tent moments later, his mood had changed considerably. McDowell incurred a two-stroke on his final hole because he grazed a leaf while addressing his ball in a bunker. He had a small branch with a leaf attached to it and in the process of addressing the ball he grazed the top of the leaf. It was deemed he had touched a loose impediment in a hazard which is a two-stroke penalty. Instead of a 66, McDowell signed for a 68.
In either case, McDowell was not happy and ultimately those penalty shots cost him money. He is a seasoned player and one of the more knowledgeable players on the rules, but in both cases he admitted to some doubt as how to proceed. What really baffles me is that he access to a Rules Official and he did not use this resource to assist him. Rules Officials are not just out on the course to administer penalties, they are also there to guide players through situations. I am not sure if he went brain dead in both instances, but I sure hope he learned from his mistakes and in the future will rely the Rules Officials he has available to him before making any more costly blunders.
