|
The Rules Corner
Contributed by Tom Carpus, PGA Professional
PGA of America Rules Committee
A STROKE OF LUCK
In October 2004, the Southern CPC Championship was held in Toccoa, Georgia at Currahee Golf Club. During the final round, the leaders were approaching the 12th hole, which was a difficult par 3 with a water hazard protecting the front and sides of the green. There was a media golf cart following the group, and as the players prepared to hit their tee shots, the golf cart parked on the cart path left of the green. A player in the group hooked his tee shot and his ball landed left of the green, hit the golf cart (which is an outside agency), and disappeared. The player was very fortunate because the ball was stopped by the golf cart and didn’t bounce into the water hazard, which was just on the other side of the cart path. Initially, we looked around and under the golf cart and we couldn’t find the ball.
I then asked for the cart to be moved a couple of feet forward, and sure enough the ball popped out. Apparently, the ball had bounced into the wheel well of the golf cart and was stuck there. From the Rules of Golf standpoint, the first thing to keep in mind is that the golf cart is an outside agency, so when the ball struck the cart, it was a rub of the green, and the ball is played as it lies without penalty (see Rule 19-1). Since the golf cart (which was parked) is considered a movable obstruction, and the ball came to rest in or on the obstruction, Rule 24-1b applies. The player was able to lift his ball, move the obstruction, and drop the ball as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball in or on the obstruction, but not nearer the hole.
Since the golf cart was parked on the cart path (an immovable obstruction), the player had to drop his ball on the cart. Both on the first drop, and the re-drop, the players ball rolled more than two-club lengths from where it first struck a part of the course. As per Rule 20-2c (Dropping and Re-Dropping), the player must now place the ball as near as possible to the spot where it first struck a part of the course when re-dropped. This required the player to place his ball on the cart path. The player now had interference from an immovable obstruction, and could either play it as it lies, or take relief under Rule 24-2b, which is the other section of Rule 24 that covers Immovable Obstructions. The player opted to take relief, so he lifted his ball and dropped it without penalty within one club length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The player then chipped onto the green, and two-putted for a bogey. The ruling took quite a long time, but it was necessary to follow all of the steps as outlined in the applicable rules.
This is an example of how one ruling can turn into multiple rulings, and there are no short cuts. My role as the official was to make sure the player understood his options, and proceeded in accordance with the Rules of Golf throughout each part of the ruling. When the ruling was completed, the player was very appreciative for the time and effort it took to get him back in play. If his ball had hit the cart and deflected into the water hazard, it still would have been a rub of the green (no penalty; play it as it lies), but I think the player would not have been very happy. While playing the game of golf, there will be good luck and bad luck. This was an example of good luck. As for bad luck, always remember, bad luck has to start somewhere!
|
