Rules of Golf discussions and meanings • Re: Causing a ball to move after an invalid drop
Exactly !Thom wrote:There appears to be a consensus in the previous replies that a penalty is incurred due to the ball being in play once it has left the player's hand (per R20-4), so subsequently moving the ball accidentally invokes the R18-2 penalty.999Q wrote:Your assistance please. I gave a ruling on the following question, but I have been advised that higher authorities say that it was wrong.
In taking relief from a an IO, a player drops their ball on a slope within the permitted area of drop. It rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first hits the course. As the player moves towards their ball to pick it up for the re-drop they accidentally kick it, causing it to move. Does the player incur a penalty?
I do not support this. On the wording of your question, it seems clear that the accidental movement of the ball was during the process of picking up the ball to re-drop it as required by R20-2c. Consequently, I believe that this situation falls within the exception ("in lifting a ball under a rule - R20-1") contained in R18-2. As the movement was directly attributable to the process of lifting the ball to comply with a rule, then no breach.
The answer would be different if the accidental movement was unrelated to the process of complying with the requirement under R20-2c to redrop the ball - for example, if the player accidentally kicked the ball while simply moving his buggy/cart, then the R18-2 breach is incurred.
When a ball has been dropped incorrectly, would a referee then say: "Ball is in play". ??
I don't think so. I believe the referee would say: "Sorry sir, not a correct drop. Ball must be dropped again."
When subsequently the player moves his ball I don't believe any referee would say 'penalty stroke'.
If there was a (1) penalty stroke under rule 18, then the player should replace the ball to avoid another penalty under same rule 18.
So, only after replacing the moved ball the player is allowed to pick up the ball for a re-drop?
Not each and every occurance in covered in the Rules and in the Decisions.
I believe it would be unfair in this case for the player to incurr a panalty stroke.
Statistics: Posted by OempaS — Today, 20:32