A Strange Golf Rules Question

May 29th, 2008 • Related • Filed Under

Golf Nut, I have a really strange golf rules question. This really just happened to me and I want to check what the correct thing to do would have been.
I was teeing off on a par three when I hit a real low golf shot. I hit it thin and it was a real “worm burner” as I like to call it. The strange part of this was that another golf ball, coming from the hole next to us, hit my golf ball in mid air. I swear that this really happened and I believe that a hole in one would be easier to do, but on to the rest of my question.
My ball ended up knocked down into the side of a bank next to water in front of the hole and rolled into the water. I took the penalty for a hazard and ended up with a double bogey. Is this the correct ruling?





Well I must admit that this is the first time that I have received this question on the rules of golf. And I agree that a hole in one might have been an easier golf shot to accomplish.
It looks like you made the correct ruling as I understand the applicable section of the rules of golf. Rule 19 is the rule that involves a golf ball in motion deflected or stopped. The general ruling on Rule 19 says that any golf ball in motion that is accidentally deflected or stopped by an outside agency is played as it ends up or “as it lies”
Now what is an outside agency. Well in stroke play (assuming you weren’t in a match play golf competition at the time) it is any agency except your competitors, their caddies, or any golf ball played by them on that particular golf hole.
Now Rule 19-5b. specifically addresses a ball in motion deflected by another golf ball and says that your ball should be played as it lies. So, unfortunately, your golf ball ended up in the water and that is how you must play it. Very strange and very unfortunate, but you played it correctly by the Rules of Golf.
Now I hope that you get that hole in one or at least bought a lottery ticket that very same day. Good golfing!




There Are 3 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Jacob on 25 August 2009:

    If I am on the putting green and my competitor is marking his ball, though he throws the mark down quickly and does not directly mark it behind the ball or picks up the ball before he places his mark is there a penalty?
    Also if a competitor is holding the flag while he putts one handed is there a penalty?
    Additionally, if a competitor moves a loose impediment from his line of putt using the putter or another club is there a penalty?

    Thanks,
    Jacob Neal
    Jacobneal3@yahoo.com

  2. Comment by Greg on 18 March 2010:

    In match play, my adversary was in a bunker. He hit his shot only to land 10ft away in the same bunker. He raked his first marks and proceeded to the ball and hit his next shot. My caddie remarked that he did not have the right to do this and the penalty was loss of hole. I disagreed referring to rule 13-4 (R&A)that the sand can be touched after the first shot even if the ball is still in the bunker, but the leveling of the sand can not conflict with rule 13-2 (improving/modifying the lie of the ball…). For me the sand was not tested as he had already hit a shot from the bunker. THe rule is not very clear so do you know of any precedent setting cases on the tour? Aside from Cink of scourse, which was a bit different. Thanks in advance for your response.

  3. Comment by Barry on 24 June 2010:

    In match play, My ball was in a small pine tree and I attempted to hit it under me standing backwards toward my target and the ball hit my leg after I struck it!
    What is the proper penalty or thing to do?

    Thanks Barry

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