(231) 675-8863 [email protected]

Refusal To Look For Original Ball

by | Playing By The Rules

Frank Guastella PGA Rules Coach

While working a stroke play tournament this summer I was called over by a  player to make a ruling.  At a par – 4 hole, Player A hit his second shot into a dense thicket behind the green.  Since the ball may be lost, Player A announced that he was going to hit a provisional ball.  The provisional ball came to rest near the hole.  One of his fellow competitiors went forward to search for Player A’s original ball.  Player A decided that he was not going forth to search for his original ball and approched his provisional ball.

As he is nearing his provisional ball, his fellow competitor tells him he believes that he has found his original ball and that he needed to come over and identify the ball as his original ball. Player A refused and said he was going to play his provisional ball.

The fellow competitor spotted me and called me over.  He explained what had happened.  I went over to Player A and explained to him that one of his fellow competitors may have found the original ball and that he needed to identify the ball.  The player steadfastly refused to do so saying ” I have no intention of searching for or identifying such a lousy shot” and that he was going to play his provisional ball.

I then explained to Player A that under Rule 27 Ball Lost or Out of Bounds: Provisional Ball, that he must inspect the ball that had been found and, if it was his original ball, he must continue play with it or proceed under Rule 28 Ball Unplayable.  I also explained that if he refused to comply with my ruling I would be justified in imposing a penalty of disqualification for his refusal to comply with a Rule.

Needless to say, he did not want to be disqualified and so he identified the ball as his and proceeded under Rule 28 Ball Unplayable.

If you have any questions, comments or you seek information on any of the Rules of Golf please contact me at Mike Fay Golf.

Frank Guastella, PGA Rules Official Michigan Section PGA

Staff Writer, Mike Fay Golf
If you have a question for Frank here’s where you can contact him.
Email:  [email protected]
To “follow” Frank on Twitter click here
To “like” Frank on Facebook click here

 

The Use Of The Provisional Ball Rule

by | Playing By The Rules, Uncategorized

 

Frank-Guastella-Playing-By-The-Rules-Banner-with-Website-Background_edited-1

The Use Of A Provisional Ball

This is the next in the Playing By The Rules Video Series.  Mike and Frank discuss the proper way of using a provisional ball.   We discuss what the rule states and how to go about it properly, because it matters to your score!

Announcing your intentions to hit a provisional ball is so important because if you don’t that next ball you do hit becomes the ball in play.  This leaves you no chance to find the original ball.
If you have questions on the Rules of Golf or comments on this video please leave them below.  As always, here is hope that you are Playing By The Rules!
Frank Guastella, PGA Rules Official Michigan Section PGA
Staff Writer, Mike Fay Golf
If you have a question for Frank here’s where you can contact him.
Email:  [email protected]
To “follow” Frank on Twitter click here
To “like” Frank on Facebook click here

Pin It on Pinterest