Forum > Technique, Tips & Tuition

Ray Lawlor

What is the rules regarding a ball that is hit into thick bushed along the fairway?

Say, for instance, I can go in and retrieve the ball but, as it sits, there is no possibility of playing the shot, can I lift it and drop it. incurring a penalty? Or is the ball deamed lost? How many strokes do I add for dropping? And how many for a lost ball?

Thanks in advance.

Another wee rules question: say I ground the club behind the ball on the fairway and the ground is so soft that my grounding cuases the ball to move slightly but is still on the same piece of ground i.e. it doesn't roll or tounch the clubhead, it just shakes, is that counted as a stroke?

David Marshall

Ray. The ball is either lost or unplayable. If you can't find it after 5 minutes then the ball is declared lost.

What you should do if you have hit a ball into thick bushes, is to immediately hit a provisional ball from the exact same spot as your first shot. This will save time and inconvenience if you can't find your first ball. If however you find your first ball and you can play it then you can disregard the provisional ball. There are various rules as to what you can and can't do regarding finding your first ball. You don't add a shot for losing a ball. But you pay a penalty of one shot for declaring it unplayable when you lift and drop it.

Your second point..If the ball moves it's a penalty stroke, end of. If it moves and stays in the same place it's one stroke. If it moves, say 1 inch you have to replace the ball to where it was, otherwise you incur another penalty. 

I'm fairly sure I am correct in these points..If I'm not I'm in the do do with certain people

David Lythgoe

Ray,

The Rules allow you to take the same proceedure for both a "lost" ball and an unplayable ball. You can go back to where you last played from adding one shot to your score. Also when your ball is "unplayable" you have two other options, one is a two club length drop either side or go back in line (flag - original position & dropping point) as far as you wish, adding the same one shot.

A ball can oscilate (rock) without penalty but if it moves you are penalised.

If you go to to either the R&A or USGA home pages you can download The Rules and The Decisions. These will then become 'good reading' during your spare time.

TheLyth

Wayne Santorini

David Marshall

Lyth..May I ask?

I assumed when Ray asked about the ball moving when he grounded the club behind the ball and it moved, even very slightly, when preparing to hit the ball. Then that would surely be a penalty as he was in the process of making a stroke at the ball.

I can understand your point on oscillation. But surely that only applies if the ball is on the green. Or you have not made an attempt in playing the stroke and made the ball move 

David Lythgoe

David,

The Rules define "moved" as "it leaves its position and comes to rest in any other place", to rock or oscillate is not deemed as movement, even on the fairway.

I have played Golf for over 40yrs  and only now am I learning the in's and outs of the Rules from an administration side and it is mind blowing. You have to get the right terminology. I would accept "that may be in trouble, so I'd better hit another" to mean that they will play a Provisional. No, its three (or more) off the Tee.

TheLyth

David Marshall

Thanks Lyth.

 I've always called a penalty against myself in the past..But not any more