Rules Explained #6

Ball at rest moved.

This can be a complicated area of the rules as it depends on where the ball was when it moves and as to the reason it moved.

Probably the most common reason for a ball to move is as a result of a practice swing. Whether a penalty occurs depends on WHERE the practice swing is taken.

1. If it is on the tee, then there is NO penalty (as the ball was not yet in play.
2. If it is in the general area, then you are penalised ONE stroke and the ball must be replaced on its original lie.
3. If it is in a bunker, you are penalised one stroke and the ball must be replaced on its original lie… which may have to be recreated.
4. If it is in a Penalty Area, you are penalised one stroke and the ball must be replaced
5. If it is on the Putting Green, there is NO penalty no matter the reason the ball moved.

 There is no penalty if you accidently move your ball when searching for it in the general area, or in a bunker, but you must try to recreate the lie as near as possible to the original.

If on the PUTTING GREEN your ball moves as result of natural forces (such as wind or water) then if it has previously NOT been marked, it is played from the new resting spot. Once the ball has been marked then you “own” that spot and no matter why the ball moves, it is replaced on the marked spot. This is true even if you have replaced the ball and lifted the marker to play the shot.  If the ball moves accidentally on the putting green (i.e. club drops on ball etc) then the ball is replaced, even if it has not been marked.

So the wise move on a putting green is to mark your ball as soon as possible, especially in windy weather.

Sometimes a ball will begin to fall off the tee after you have begun your stroke. If you can halt your downswing in time (a la Tiger Woods) or deliberately miss the ball, then there is no penalty and you re tee the ball.

However, if you are a mere mortal and can’t stop the swing and you hit the ball, then that is counted as a stroke and your second shot is played from where it lies. (if the ball remains in the teeing area after the “whiff” then you may re tee it for the second shot).

As I said at the start, “ball at rest moves” is a complicated area and more detail can be found in rule 9 and rule 13.

Regards

Golf Ops.

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