Rule of the Week

Recently the Rules Committee had to make a ruling on a questionable play. We hate to pass judgment, but rules are rules.  They are there to keep everything fair, and equitable.

Ball Lost in Hazard?

In order to take a drop alongside a hazard (in order to save stroke AND distance), you must be certain, or virtually certain, that the ball landed in the hazard and is lost there.  

One of our members hit a ball in the direction of a hazard, and after spending the allowed 5 minutes looking around for the ball, declared that since he didn't find it, it 'must have landed' in the hazard.  Does this sound 'virtually certain' to you??  Unfortunately not.

On the other hand, if you KNOW that your ball headed into the hazard, then hit something pretty hard, the ball realistically could have bounced anywhere.  It is within the rules to look for your ball outside the hazard, then if you don't find it, take a drop from where you know the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, take your penalty stroke, and play on.  

However, in the case where the player looked for the ball, then decided that the ball 'must have' landed in the hazard because he didn't find it outside the hazard, he would have to go back to where the ball was originally struck before it was lost, take stroke and distance as his penalty, then play on.  Otherwise, disqualification may result.  In this case, as it was a team event, the player was DQ'd from the hole, not from the match, as they could use the other person's score.  However, if his score showed up on the scorecard, signed by all parties, and THEN the infraction was announced, he would have been disqualified from the tournament.

Remember:  if you are uncertain of a rule, you can opt to play two separate balls from the point of the uncertainty, announce which one you will count in the case either ball may be used to post your score, then speak to someone about the ruling BEFORE you sign your scorecard.  Rules Committee, together with Match Committee, will take it from there.

However, given the recent events with the Parks Board, we strongly suggest that you simply consult with your fellow players, decide what's best (and within the rules), take your penalty, and play on.  Pace of play is extremely important for the interest of all club members!