The competition had been
declared closed by the Head Professional and the Trophy
was awarded.
Then, two days later a competitor asked the Pro a "what if
question" like: Ed's ball was laying on the fringe of #16 when Mike's second shot,
also landing short, hit Ed's ball and moved it forward several feet
closer to the hole and on the green. Mike played to
within a few feet of the hole and made his putt while Ed
then made his long birdie putt. Ed wins the tournament
by three shots.
What do you think Pro, should there have been a penalty?
Sure, there should have been a two stroke penalty
because under Rule 18-5 if "a ball in play and at rest is moved
by another ball in motion after a stroke, the moved
ball must be replaced" and he didn't do that so he
played from a wrong place.
HOWEVER:
If the Pro had said, I better confirm that and
referred
to Rule 34 (Disputes and Decisions). He would have read
in Rule 34-1b that "in stroke play, a penalty must not be
rescinded, modified or imposed after the competition has
closed".
Then reading the exceptions found in Rule 34-1b "a penalty of disqualification must be imposed
after the competition has closed if a competitor:
Rule 34-1b(iii) returned a score for any hole lower than
actually taken for any reason other than failure to
include a penalty that, before the competition had
closed, he did not know he had incurred.
At that point, the Pro would need to call Ed and go over
the situation.
When the Pro calls Ed he would ask, "Did you know your
golf ball had been moved by Mike's golf ball?" When Ed
said yes, the Pro would then ask, "Do you know you were
required to replace the ball?" Ed says NO.
The Pro says thanks and the competition stands because
Ed did not know that he incurred a penalty for not replacing
his ball. |
