Rog’s Blog: Dodgy Decisions #12

 

In a Stableford competition, players Alf and Bert are sharing a caddie (let’s call him Monty) who (believe it or not) is pulling their buggies/carts for them. As the players take their drivers and move to the tee, the caddie labours his way down the fairway to the expected finishing position for the tee shots.

Bert’s ball reaches Monty but Alf’s ball finishes some 30 metres shorter. 

Monty leaves Bert’s buggy/cart near his ball and trudges back to Alf’s ball with Alf’s buggy. Bert leans on his buggy/cart while he waits for Alf to play.

Alf plays his shot which spears at a great rate towards Bert and strikes his bag.

What happens now?

 

Well Alf, Bert and Monty immediately consult the Decisions Book which each player is carrying in his bag and they find Decision 19-2/8. But they need someone with a perverse mind to interpret it for them.

This Decision states:

19-2/8

Player’s Ball Strikes Opponent’s or Fellow-Competitor’s Bag Left Ahead By Shared Caddie

Q. A and B are either opponents in match play or fellow-competitors in stroke play and they are sharing a caddie. They are on the teeing ground and the caddie is positioned where their tee shots would be expected to come to rest. A’s tee shot comes to rest well short of the caddie and B’s tee shot comes to rest near the caddie. Without specific directions from either A or B, the caddie leaves B’s bag near B’s ball and returns with A’s bag to A’s ball. A’s next stroke strikes B’s bag. What is the ruling?

A. The Definition of “Caddie” states in part: “When one caddie is employed by more than one player, he is always deemed to be the caddie of the player sharing the caddie whose ball (or whose partner’s ball) is involved, and equipment carried by him is deemed to be that player’s equipment, except when the caddie acts upon specific directions of another player...” As no specific directions were given to the caddie by B, B’s bag is deemed to be A’s equipment in this case. It is irrelevant that the caddie was not carrying B’s bag at the time A’s ball struck it.

A incurs a penalty of one stroke and must play his ball as it lies unless the ball has come to rest in or on B’s bag – Rule 19-2.

Related Decision:

• 6-4/1 Meaning of “Specific Directions” in Definition of “Caddie”. [The final paragraph of this Decision makes interesting reading in itself, but to introduce this to the discussion would only cloud the issue!!]
 

We can take from this Decision that:

1.   A cannot assume that the bag lying beside B’s ball is not B’s bag even though he has been using it for goodness knows how many holes, and

2.   A must be aware that he might have a problem if his ball strikes B’s bag and should clarify whether B has given Monty ‘specific instructions’ to leave B’s bag in the place that he has.

Let’s compare and contrast this Decision with a couple of others:

Decision 19-2/6 states:

Ball Deflected or Stopped by Player’s Golf Cart Being Pulled by Opponent or Fellow-Competitor

Q. A player’s ball strikes his own golf cart while it is being pulled by an opponent or a fellow-competitor. What is the ruling?

A. Since the player is not sharing the cart with any other player, it remains his equipment even when it is being pulled by an opponent or a fellow-competitor (see Note 2 to the Definition of “Equipment”).

If the player was aware that his cart was being pulled by an opponent or a fellow-competitor, he incurs a penalty of one stroke and must play the ball as it lies – Rule 19-2. But if he was not aware, in equity (Rule 1-4), no penalty is incurred, and the ball must be played as it lies.

Therefore, if, in the case described, Alf was not aware that Bert had not given Monty ‘specific instructions’ to leave his (Bert’s) bag by his ball, why would Alf not be given the benefit of ‘equity’ (Rule 1-4).

 

And further, Decision 19-2/10 states:

Ball Stopped or Deflected by Rake Held by Player’s Caddie

Q. A player’s ball lies in a bunker. He plays, and his ball is accidentally stopped or deflected by a rake that is being held by his caddie. What is the ruling?

A. When a ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by a rake held by or in contact with a player’s caddie, the caddie has accidentally deflected or stopped the player’s ball in motion in breach of Rule 19-2. The player is responsible for this breach of the Rules by his caddie (see Rule 6-1). The player incurs a penalty of one stroke and must play the ball as it lies. (Revised)

 

In the previous Book this Decision was New and stated:

19-2/10 Ball Stopped or Deflected by Rake Held by Player’s Caddie

Q. A player’s ball lies in a bunker. He plays, and his ball is accidentally stopped or deflected by a rake that is being held by his caddie. What is the ruling?

A. There is no penalty. Items such as rakes that are placed on the course for general use are not part of the player’s equipment and remain outside agencies at all times.

So, why the change? Perhaps the Castle Dwellers decided that the 2010 Decision was just too rational and reasonable and that someone had to be punished, somehow.

But this Decision raises an interesting question for the situation in which Alf and Bert (and, of course, the hapless Monty) find themselves, and for Decision 19-2/8.

In Decision 19-2/10 of 2010-2011 it was stated that the rakes remain (are) outside agencies at all times, and nothing in the revised Decision of 2012-2013 changes this.  But is this so?  Surely a rake lying in the bunker minding its own business is an obstruction.  However, let’s allow that the caddie’s act of picking up the rake transmogrifies it from an obstruction into an outside agency.

In the revised Decision, while the ball is stopped or deflected by a rake, the rake has now become part of the caddie and it is now the caddie, not the rake, which has deflected or stopped the ball. As Rule 19-2 has been invoked and it is pure sophistry to imply that the rake is part of the caddie, it may be that by taking hold of the rake the caddie has further transmogrified it into equipment of the player.

If, by virtue of A’s caddie’s action (in D19-2/10), the bunker rake is transformed from an ‘outside agency’ into an integral component of the situation, then why should Bert’s act of leaning on (or, dare I say, holding) his buggy/cart not be construed as tacit endorsement by Bert of Monty’s actions and thereby transform the buggy and clubs into the equipment of Bert, without the need for overt specific instructions from Bert or acknowledgement by Monty.

I am not sure what the real answer to this question is.

I am reasonably certain, however, that Alf, Bert and Monty, being, no doubt, people of good sense, would simply proceed on the basis the Bert’s bag is Bert’s bag and would not give the nonsense in Decision 19‑2/8 a first, let alone a second, thought.

I am also certain that, as the player in charge of the situation, if Alf thought that Bert’s bag was interfering with his play, and imagined for one moment that it presented a danger of penalisation, he would have asked that it be moved.  And where is Bert’s responsibility (in etiquette) to ensure that his equipment is situated in a position that it may not interfere with another person’s play?

If there are persons (with or without the benefit of a perverse mind) who can assist in deciphering this matter, it would do us a great service?

 

 

Rog’s Blog: Rule 24 Revision

In Rog’s Blog: Obstructions, Rog argued that, for a range of sound and rational reasons, the Rules covering Obstructions should apply to the whole course. That is, there should not be discrimination between or within course components.

The following is a proposed re-write of Rule 24 which:

·    incorporates this principle,

·    more clearly describes the situation pertaining to a movable obstruction being moved while a ball is in motion, and

·    re-states the Exception in a more direct and meaningful form.

 

Rule 24 Obstructions

24-1. Movable Obstruction

A player may take relief, without penalty, from a movable obstruction as follows:

(i)  If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction, the obstruction may be removed. If the ball moves, it must be replaced, and there is no penalty, provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal of the obstruction. Otherwise, Rule 18-2a applies.

(ii)  If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction, but not nearer the hole.

The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.

When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence the movement of the ball must not be moved. However, equipment of any player or the flagstick when it is attended or held up, or when it has been removed from the hole, may be moved.

(Exerting influence on ball – see Rule 1-2)

 Note: If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.

 

24-2. Immovable Obstruction

a. Interference

Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing. Intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.

If the player’s ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt.

b. Relief

A player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction as follows:

(i)    Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

(ii)   In a Hazard: If the ball is in a hazard, the player must lift the ball and drop it either:

(a)  Without penalty, in accordance with Clause (i) above, except that the nearest point of relief must be in the hazard and the ball must be dropped in the hazard; or

(b)  Under penalty of one stroke, outside the hazard keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind the hazard the ball may be dropped.

(iii)  On the Putting Green: If the ball lies on the putting green, the player must lift the ball and place it, without penalty, at the nearest point of relief that is not in a hazard. The nearest point of relief may be off the putting green.

(iv)  On the Teeing Ground: If the ball lies on the teeing ground, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, in accordance with Clause (i) above.

 

The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.

(Ball rolling to a position where there is interference by the condition from which relief was taken – see Rule 20-2c(v))

Exception: A player may not take relief under this Rule if anything other than an immovable obstruction prevents him from taking a normal stance and making a normal stroke directed at the normal line of play.

Note 1: If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.

 

24-3. Ball in Obstruction Not Found

It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward an obstruction is in the obstruction. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the obstruction. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.

a. Ball in Movable Obstruction Not Found

If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in a movable obstruction, the player may substitute another ball and take relief, without penalty, under this Rule. If he elects to do so, he must remove the obstruction and through the green or in a hazard drop a ball, or on the putting green place a ball, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the movable obstruction, but not nearer the hole.

b. Ball in Immovable Obstruction Not Found

If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in an immovable obstruction, the player may take relief under this Rule. If he elects to do so, the spot where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction must be determined and, for the purpose of applying this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player must proceed as follows:

(i)    Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot through the green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(i).

 

(ii)   In a Hazard: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot in a hazard, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(ii).

 

(iii)  On the Putting Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot on the putting green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(iii).

 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

All criticism and/or suggestions for improvement would be gratefully received.

 

 

Rog’s Blog: Rule 18 Revision

Readers will be aware of my view (as documented elsewhere in this blog) that the ill-considered tinkering by The Castle with Rule 18 in the current Rule Book has had the unintended consequence of rendering this Rule unworkable.

There follows a proposed –and necessary – revision of this Rule which:

 

1.  includes an appropriately consistent use of the terms 'moved' and 'caused to ove' (which are not always synonymous);

2.  provides for an appropriately consistent outcome in cases where the ball is moved after the stroke has been commenced and the stroke is completed (the necessity for which is described elsewhere in this blog*); and

3.  includes deletion of the rather inept Exception to Rule 18-2b together with a modification of the Rule which leads to The Castle's desired outcome, but in much clearer terms.

 

Rule 18 Ball at Rest Moved

18-1. By Outside Agency

If a ball at rest is moved or caused to be moved by an outside agency, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

Note: It is a question of fact whether a ball has been moved by an outside agency. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that an outside agency has moved the ball. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must play the ball as it lies or, if the ball is not found, proceed under Rule 27-1.

(Player’s ball at rest moved by another ball– see Rule 18-5)
 

18-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment

a. General

Except as permitted by the Rules, when a player’s ball is in play, if

(i) the player, his partner or either of their caddies:

•  lifts or moves the ball,

•  touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing the ball), or

•  causes the ball to move, or

(ii) the equipment of the player or his partner moves or causes the ball to move,

the player incurs a penalty of one stroke.

If the ball is moved, it must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

Under the Rules there is no penalty if a player accidentally moves or causes his ball to move in the following circumstances:

• In searching for a ball covered by sand, in the replacement of loose impediments moved in a hazard while finding or identifying a ball**, in probing for a ball lying in water in a water hazard or in searching for a ball in an obstruction or an abnormal ground condition – Rule 12-1

•  In repairing a hole plug or ball mark –Rule 16-1c

•  In measuring –Rule 18-6

•  In lifting a ball under a Rule – Rule 20-1

•  In placing or replacing a ball under a Rule–Rule 20-3a

•  In removing a loose impediment on the putting green – Rule 23-1

•  In removing movable obstructions – Rule 24-1

 

b. Ball Moving After Address

If a player’s ball in play moves after he has addressed it (other than as a result of a stroke), unless it is known or virtually certain that the player did not cause his ball to move, the player is deemed to have moved the ball and incurs a penalty of one stroke.

The ball must be replaced, unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

 

18-3. By Opponent, Caddie or Equipment in Match Play

a. During Search

If, during search for a player’s ball, an opponent, his caddie or his equipment moves the ball, touches it or causes it to move, there is no penalty. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced.

b. Other Than During Search

If, other than during search for a player’s ball, an opponent, his caddie or his equipment moves the ball, touches it purposely or causes it to move, except as otherwise provided in the Rules, the opponent incurs a penalty of one stroke. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

(Playing a wrong ball – see Rule 15-3)
(Ball moved in measuring – see Rule 18-6)

 

18-4. By Fellow-Competitor, Caddie or Equipment in Stroke Play

 

If a fellow-competitor, his caddie or his equipment moves the player’s ball, touches it or causes it to move, there is no penalty. If the ball is moved, it must be replaced unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

(Playing a wrong ball – see Rule 15-3)

 

18-5. By Another Ball

If a ball in play and at rest is moved or caused to be moved by another ball in motion after a stroke, the moved ball must be replaced unless the movement of the ball occurs after the player has begun the stroke or the backward movement of the club for the stroke and the stroke is made.

18-6. Ball Moved in Measuring

 

If a ball or ball-marker is moved in measuring while proceeding under or in determining the application of a Rule, the ball or ball-marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball-marker is directly attributable to the specific act of measuring. Otherwise, the provisions of Rule 18-2a, 18-3b or 18-4 apply.

 

* see Rog’s Blog: Rule 18-2b, parts 1 and 2

** see proposals to change Rules covering loose impediments, described elsewhere in this blog.
 

All criticism and/or suggestions for improvement would be gratefully received.

 

Rog's Blog: Identification Confusion

 

There are, as we know, several circumstances in which a player may need to take action to identify his/her ball. However, let’s consider a just a couple.

1.

A player’s ball comes to rest covered by loose impediments through-the-green and s/he is unable to identify it. What can the player do?

 

a)   S/he may attempt to move all of the loose impediments (Rule 23-1), or as many as is necessary to identify the ball, at the player’s choice. If the ball does not move it is played as it lies. If the ball moves during this process the player is penalised one stroke and the ball must be replaced (Rule 18-2a) but the lie does not need to be re-created, even to the condition which applied immediately prior to the ball moving.

 

Or/and 

b)   S/he may invoke Rule 12-2 which, it should be noted, is not about identifying the ball, per se, but lifting it for the purpose of identification. In this case, before lifting the ball, the player must announce his/her intention to the opponent in match play or marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and mark the position of the ball. S/he may then lift the ball and identify it, provided that s/he gives the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to observe the lifting and replacement.

If the lie is altered during this identification process (which it undoubtedly must be) the ball must be placed in ‘the nearest lie most similar to the original lie which is not more than one club-length from the original lie’ (Rule 20-3b). This seems like a long-shot. What if such a lie cannot be found?

2.

A player’s ball comes to rest covered by loose impediments in a hazard and s/he is unable to identify it. What can the player do?

 

a)   In accordance with Rule 12-1b, s/he may touch or move loose impediments in order to find or identify the ball. If the ball moves as a result the player is penalised one stroke and the ball must be replaced (Rule 18-2a). If the ball is found or identified as his/hers, the player must replace the loose impediments: If the ball was entirely covered by loose impediments, the player must re-cover the ball but is permitted to leave a small part of the ball visible. If the ball is moved during the replacement of the loose impediments, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.

 

b)   In addition to the process described in 2.a) the player may invoke Rule 12-2. Just what this means is very difficult to ascertain given that the application of Rule 12-2 is in addition to but not in place of Rule 12-1b. As stated above, Rule 12-2 is not about identifying the ball, per se, but lifting it for the purpose of identification. What this does clearly signify, however, is that if Rule 12-1b is invoked there is no requirement on the player to advise the marker, a fellow-competitor or an opponent or for such a person to observe the process of identification. 

If the ball is in a water hazard, and Rule 12-2 is invoked, and the lie is altered during the lifting process (as it surely must be) then the ball must be replaced in the water hazard in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie and not nearer to the hole. If you can find one! 

Yet if the ball is in a bunker, and the lie is similarly altered during lifting then the lie must be re-created and the ball placed in that lie.

 

If the Castle Dwellers believe that the average punter would: 

a)     contemplate for one moment that the matter of identification could be so complex;

b)     have any interest in investigating the vicissitudes of these various situations; or

c)     be able to navigate his/her way through this maze of regulations. 

then they have a very tenuous grasp on reality.

 

It’s time for The Castle to clean-up this mess and put in place a simple, rational and consistent set of provisions to cover all identification situations.  

And the principles upon which identifying a ball covered in loose impediments should be premised, should be as follows:

 

1.   The game is based on playing the ‘right’ ball, and having the ‘right’ to reasonably identify the ball prior to playing it. Thus, the player must have every opportunity to ensure that the ball about to be played is his/hers and not be constricted by arcane provisions which maximise the chance that this will not be able to be done with ease and/or confidence.

2.   Anywhere on the course, a player should be entitled, with the agreement and under observation of marker, fellow-competitor or opponent, to remove such loose impediments as is necessary to identify his/her ball.

3.   If the ball is moved during this process there should be no penalty, and it must be replaced, also without penalty.

4.   The lie should be restored to a state similar to that which pertained immediately to the ball moving.

5.   Once identified, if the removal of further loose impediments causes the ball to move then Rule 18-2a would apply.