Simpler Rules: Rule 20

Rule 20: Lifting and Placing; Playing from Wrong Place

 

20-1. Lifting and Marking

A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player, his partner or another person authorised by the player. In any such case, the player is responsible for any breach of the Rules. 

The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule that requires it to be replaced. If it is not marked, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the ball must be replaced.  

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of lifting the ball under a Rule or marking its position, 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 marking the position of or lifting the ball. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under this Rule or Rule 18-2a. 

Exception: If a player incurs a penalty for failing to act in accordance with Rule 5-3 or 12-2, there is no additional penalty under Rule 20-1. 

Note: The position of a ball to be lifted should be marked by placing a ball-marker immediately behind the ball. If the ball-marker interferes with the play, stance or stroke of another player, it should be placed one or more clubhead-lengths to one side. 

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 20-1: Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

 

20-2 Dropping and Re-Dropping

Dropping a ball is not a procedure applicable under these rules.

 

20-3. Placing and Replacing

a. By Whom and Where

A ball to be placed must be placed by the player or his partner.

A ball to be replaced must be placed on the spot from which it was lifted or moved by:

(i)       the person who lifted or moved the ball;

(ii)     the player; or 

(iii)    the player’s partner.

If the ball is placed or replaced by any other person and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke and the player is responsible for any other breach of the Rules that occurs as a result of the placing or replacing of the ball. 

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, 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 placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball-marker. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2a or 20-1. 

If a ball to be replaced is placed other than on the spot from which it was lifted or moved and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs the penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play. 

b. Lie of Ball to be Placed or Replaced Altered

Other than on the tee, if the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered the ball must be placed at the nearest position to which the ball originally lay, not nearer the hole, which avoids damage to the lie created by the playing of the previous stroke by the player or a stroke by any other player. 

If the ball was originally played from the tee, a ball may be played from anywhere on the tee and may be re-teed.  

Exception: If the player is searching for or identifying a ball covered by sand – see Rule 12-1a.

c. Original Position Not Determinable

If it is impossible to determine the spot where the ball is to be placed or replaced: 

(i)    through the green, the ball must be placed at its estimated previous position but not in a hazard or on a putting green;  

(ii)   in a hazard, the ball must be placed in the hazard at its estimated previous position;  

(iii)  on the putting green, the ball must be placed at its estimated previous position but not in a hazard. 

 

d. Ball Fails to Come to Rest on Spot

If a ball when placed fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. If it still fails to come to rest on that spot: 

(i)    except in a hazard, it must be placed at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole and not in a hazard;  

(ii)   in a hazard, it must be placed in the hazard at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole. 

If a ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed, and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply. 

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 20-3: Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.

*If a player makes a stroke at a ball substituted under Rules 20-1 or 20-3 when such substitution is not permitted, he incurs the general penalty for breach of that Rule, but there is no additional penalty under that Rule. If a player’s ball has been put into play by a person not permitted by the Rules and then played from a wrong place, see Note 3 to Rule 20-7c.

 

20-4. When Ball Placed is in Play

If the player’s ball in play has been lifted, it is again in play when it has been replaced and the marker has been removed. 

A substituted ball becomes the ball in play when it has been placed. 

(Ball incorrectly substituted – see Rule 15-2) 

(Lifting ball incorrectly substituted or placed – see Rule 20-6)

 

20-5. Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made

When a player elects or is required to make his next stroke from where a previous stroke was made, he must proceed as follows: 

(a)   On the Tee: The ball to be played must be played from within the tee. It may be played from anywhere within the tee and may be teed.  

(b)   Through the Green: The ball to be played must be placed through the green, at the nearest point to which the ball originally lay, not nearer the hole.  

(c)   In a Hazard: The ball to be played must be placed in the hazard, at the nearest point to which the ball originally lay, not nearer the hole.  

(d)   On the Putting Green: The ball to be played must be placed on the putting green, at the nearest point to which the ball originally lay, not nearer the hole.  

Note: If the previous lie has been altered, Rule 20-3b applies. 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 20-5:

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

 

20-6. Lifting Ball Incorrectly Substituted or Placed

A ball incorrectly substituted or placed in a wrong place or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules but not played may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed correctly.

 

20-7. Playing from Wrong Place

a. General

A player has played from a wrong place if he makes a stroke at his ball in play: 

(i)    on a part of the course where the Rules do not permit a stroke to be made or a ball to be placed; or  

(ii)   when the Rules require a moved ball to be replaced.  

Note: For a ball played from outside the tee or from a wrong tee – see Rule 11-4. 

b. Match Play

If a player makes a stroke from a wrong place, he loses the hole. 

c. Stroke Play

If a competitor makes a stroke from a wrong place, he incurs a penalty of two strokes. He must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place, without correcting his error, provided he has not committed a serious breach. 

If a competitor becomes aware that he has played from a wrong place and believes that he may have committed a serious breach, he must, before making a stroke on the next tee, play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules. If the hole being played is the last hole of the round, he must declare, before leaving the putting green, that he will play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules. 

If the competitor has played a second ball, he must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card. If he fails to do so, he is disqualified from the competition. 

In par and Stableford competition, the player is disqualified from the hole at which the breach occurred. 

Note 1: If a competitor plays a second ball under Rule 20-7c and it is ruled not to count, strokes made with that ball and penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball are disregarded. If the second ball is ruled to count, the stroke made from the wrong place and any strokes subsequently taken with the original ball including penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball are disregarded. 

Note 2: If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for:

(a)   substituting a ball when not permitted; or  

(b)   a ball being put into play by a person not permitted to do so under the Rules.

 

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 19

Rule 19: Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped 

19-1. By Outside Agency or Obstruction

If a player’s ball in motion is deflected or stopped accidentally by any outside agency or by an obstruction, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, except: 

(a)   If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke other than on the putting green comes to rest in or on any moving outside agency, the ball must be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or on the outside agency, but not nearer the hole, and  

(b)   If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green is deflected or stopped by, or comes to rest in or on, any moving outside agency, the stroke is cancelled. The ball must be replaced and replayed.  

If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted. 

Exception: Ball striking person attending or holding up flagstick or anything carried by him – see Rule 17-3b. 

If a player’s ball in motion has been deliberately deflected or stopped by an outside agency:

(a)    after a stroke from anywhere other than on the putting green, the spot where the ball would have come to rest must be estimated. If that spot is: 

(i)    through the green or in a hazard, the ball must be placed as near as possible to that spot;

(ii)   out of bounds, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1; or  

(iii)  on the putting green, the ball must be placed on that spot.  

(b)    after a stroke on the putting green, the stroke is cancelled. The ball must be replaced and replayed. 

If the outside agency is a fellow-competitor or his caddie, Rule 1-2 applies to the fellow-competitor. 

(Player’s ball deflected or stopped by another ball – see Rule 19-5)

 

19-2. By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment

If a player’s ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by him, his partner or either of their caddies or equipment, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. The ball must be played as it lies, except when it comes to rest in or on the clothing or equipment of the player, his partner or either of their caddies, in which case the ball must be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest, but not nearer the hole. 

Exception: Ball striking person attending or holding up flagstick or anything carried by him – see Rule 17-3b. 

(Ball purposely deflected or stopped by player, partner or caddie – see Rule 1-2)

 

19-3. By Opponent, Caddie or Equipment in Match Play

If a player’s ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by an opponent, his caddie or his equipment, there is no penalty. The player may, before another stroke is made by either side, cancel the stroke and play a ball, without penalty, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (Rule 20-5) or he may play the ball as it lies. However, if the ball has come to rest in or on the clothing or equipment of the opponent or his caddie, the ball must be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest, but not nearer the hole. 

Exception: Ball striking person attending or holding up flagstick or anything carried by him – see Rule 17-3b. 

(Ball purposely deflected or stopped by opponent or caddie – see Rule 1-2)

 

19-4. By Fellow-Competitor, Caddie or Equipment in Stroke Play

The provisions of Rule 19-1 apply. 

Exception: Ball striking person attending or holding up flagstick or anything carried by him – see Rule 17-3b. 

 

19-5. By Another Ball

a. At Rest

If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke is deflected or stopped by a ball in play and at rest, the player must play his ball as it lies. In match play, there is no penalty. In stroke play, there is no penalty, unless both balls lay on the putting green prior to the stroke, in which case the player incurs a penalty of two strokes. 

b. In Motion

If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke other than on the putting green is deflected or stopped by another ball in motion after a stroke, the player must play his ball as it lies, without penalty. 

If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green is deflected or stopped by another ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green, 

(a)    the stroke of the player whose turn it was is cancelled and the ball must be replaced and replayed, without penalty; 

(b)    the player who played out of turn incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play and the ball must be played as it lies. 

Note: Nothing in this Rule overrides the provisions of Rule 10-1 (Order of Play in Match Play) or Rule 16-1f (Making Stroke While Another Ball in Motion).

 

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 18

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, there must be conclusive evidence 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 there is conclusive evidence 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 15-2)

(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 15-2)

 

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. 

*PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:

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

*If a player who is required to replace a ball fails to do so, or if he makes a stroke at a ball substituted under Rule 18 when such substitution is not permitted, he incurs the general penalty for breach of Rule 18, but there is no additional penalty under this Rule. 

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

Note 2: If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered, see Rule 20-3b.

Note 3: If it is impossible to determine the spot on which a ball is to be placed or replaced, see Rule 20-3c.

 

 

Simpler Rules: Rule 16 (revised)

Definitions

Agency (revised)

An ‘agency’ is any body capable of exerting an influence on the ball or damage to the course by virtue of its own activity or movement imparted by an external force. 

Testing (new)

To ‘test’ means to take any action in addition to the normal playing of the game which could be construed as seeking to gain information.

 

ooOoo

 

Rule 16: The Putting Green 

16-1. General

a. Touching Line of Putt

The proposed line of putt may be touched by the player: 

(i)    in removing sand, soil or other loose impediments;  

(ii)   in addressing the ball;  

(iii)  in measuring – Rule 18-6;  

(iv) in lifting or replacing the ball – Rule 16-1b; 

(v)  in placing, lifting or pressing down a ball marker; 

(vi) in repairing old hole plugs, ball marks or other damage to the putting green – Rule 16-1c; and  

(vii) in removing movable obstructions – Rule 24-1.  

(Indicating line for putting on putting green – see Rule 8-2b) 

b. Lifting and Cleaning Ball

A ball on the putting green may be lifted and, if desired, cleaned. The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted and the ball must be replaced (see Rule 20-1). 

When another ball is in motion, a ball that might influence the movement of the ball in motion must not be lifted. 

c. Repair of Hole Plugs, Ball Marks and Other Damage

The player may repair an old hole plug or damage to the putting green caused by the impact of a ball, whether or not the player’s ball lies on the putting green. 

When the player’s ball lies on the putting green he may repair any damage to his proposed putting line caused by an agency other than his side. 

If a ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved in the process of the repair, 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 repairing such damage. Otherwise, Rule 18 applies. 

d. Testing Surface

During the stipulated round, a player must not test the surface of any putting green by rolling a ball or with his club or hand. 

Exception: Between the play of two holes, a player may test the surface of any practice putting green and the putting green of the hole last played, unless the Committee has prohibited such action (see Note 2 to Rule 7-2). 

e. Standing Astride or on Line of Putt

The player must not make a stroke on the putting green from a stance astride, or with either foot touching, the line of putt or an extension of that line behind the ball. 

Exception: There is no penalty if such a stance is inadvertently taken to avoid standing on another player’s line of putt or prospective line of putt. 

f. Making Stroke While Another Ball in Motion

The player must not make a stroke from anywhere on the course while another ball is in motion after a stroke on the putting green. 

Exception: If it was the player’s turn to play, there is no penalty. 

Note: If the balls collide, Rule 19-5b applies. 

(Lifting ball assisting or interfering with play while another ball in motion – see Rule 22) 

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 16-1:

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

(Position of caddie or partner – see Rule 14-2)

(Wrong putting green – see Rule 25-2) 

 

16-2. Ball Overhanging Hole

When any part of the ball overhangs the lip of the hole, the player is allowed enough time to reach the hole without unreasonable delay and an additional ten (10) seconds to determine whether the ball is at rest. If by then the ball has not fallen into the hole, it is deemed to be at rest. 

If the ball subsequently falls into the hole, the player is deemed to have holed out with his last stroke, and must add a penalty stroke to his score for the hole; otherwise, there is no penalty under this Rule. 

(Undue delay – see Rule 6-7)

 

ooOoo

 

Rule 19-5b (proposed) 

b. In Motion

If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke other than on the putting green is deflected or stopped by another ball in motion after a stroke, the player must play his ball as it lies, without penalty. 

If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green is deflected or stopped by another ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green, 

(a) the stroke of the player whose turn it was is cancelled and the ball must be replaced and replayed, without penalty; 

(b) the player who played out of turn incurs a the penalty prescribed by Rule 16-1f and the ball must be played as it lies.

 

Note: Nothing in this Rule overrides the provisions of Rule 10-1 (Order of Play in Match Play) or Rule 16-1f (Making Stroke While Another Ball in Motion).