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Notes
about the game from Patty Ellis, Past Rules Chair
BACK
TO RULES & HANDICAP INDEX
Rule
#18 - Ball at Rest Moved
While
taking a practice swing, I accidentally hit my ball.
Which of the following possibilities is appropriate
under the circumstances?
1)
I didn't intend to hit the ball, therefore the shot
doesn't count and there is no penalty. I'll pick the
ball up, put it back and re-hit from the original
place;
2) I have an option: if the unintentional shot happens
to be a good one, I can choose to use it and count
the stroke. If not, I don't have to count it but I'll
replace the ball and hit it again;
3) Because I have accidentally moved the ball, a breach
of the rules has occurred and I must assess myself
a one-stroke penalty. I also must replace the ball;
4) I broke the rules, but it doesn't count because
no one saw me do it.
Answer:
The rule that governs this situation is Rule #18:
Ball At Rest Moved. If you picked #3 you were right.
I must assess myself a one-stroke penalty and replace
the ball. Donna Andrews, a very accomplished LPGA
player, learned this rule the hard way. During the
1992 U.S Women's Open, she accidentally moved the
ball while taking a practice swing. She correctly
charged herself a penalty stroke, but failed to replace
the ball which resulted in her incurring the general
penalty of two strokes for breach of Rule 18. Fortunately
(if there's anything fortunate about this horrible
situation), she realized her error before signing
what would have been a wrong scorecard. Had she signed
the inaccurate card, she would have been disqualified
from the tournament.
 If
you picked #1, you were only partially right. I didn't
intend to make a stroke and, therefore, a stroke did
not occur. You were also right that I must replace
the ball. But you weren't entirely right because I
must assess myself a penalty stroke for having moved
the ball.
If
you picked #2, while I would love this to be the right
answer, it's not. Just think, there would be players
who would hit the ball over and over (claiming they
didn't intend to do so) until they were happy with
their shot. We'd never get off the first hole!!
I'm
really hoping no one picked #4.
If
you have any questions about rules, etiquette or handicap,
please feel free to "ASK PATTY."
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