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So you guys got me thinking. In my original question which happened during my recent tournament there is no penalty and it makes sense. Now a hypothetical: let's say that the golfer's ball is in the thick rough. At address, he is grounding the club and the ball doesn't move laterally (i.e.closer to, further away from and parallel to the hole), but it does sink down lower in the rough say a quarter of an inch, enough that it is visibly obvious that due to the grounding of the club--with or without touching the ball--the ball sinks down further but maintains its same position relative to the hole. Would this new situation be a penalty? If so, does he have to lift the ball and then place it higher in the grass before completing the stroke? |
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| # 1 5/21/2013 2:21:51 PM |
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I would say the same rule applies as before. The ball has moved vertically if not horizontally.
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| # 2 5/21/2013 3:08:25 PM |
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Rule 18/2b comes into play here:
5. In the rough, a player grounds their club a short distance behind their ball, so as not to disturb the long grass growing around it. After a second or so the ball sinks further into the grass. Everyone present agrees that the player could not have caused their ball to move. Ruling: no penalty and the ball must be played from where it came to rest, Decision 18-2b/4. Note: The player had not grounded their club in front of or immediately behind the ball within the Definition of Address. But: 6. A player’s ball is at rest. They rest their club on the grass immediately behind their ball and it moves. Ruling: penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced, Decision 18-2b/5. Note: If the club has been rested on the grass to the point where it would support the weight of the club, the club is considered to be grounded, so the ball has been addressed and Rule 18-2b applies. |
