1. George and Noel on the Green about to putt when they realise they have played each others ball – but have no idea when the exchange took place - what is ruling - in Matchplay? - In Stroke play?
2. You pull your drive at the 7th into the trees on the left - you declare and play a provisional and hit it down the right side of the fairway – in the interests of saving time you decide to play this second ball, still declaring it as provisional while your playing partners search for the first ball. After you’ve played, your playing partners call you back to where they have found the first ball which is behind where you played the second provisional shot ie further away from the hole.
What is the ruling?
3. In Foursomes – player A drives but thinks his ball may be out of bounds. They decide to play a provisional. Who plays the Provisional shot - A again or B?
4. Nick and Maggie are playing in mixed foursomes. At the 2nd, Maggie hits her drive straight right into the munchies.
They declare it lost and Nick then walks back to the men’s tee and plays another tee shot. What is the ruling? Any penalty??
5. Brian and Alison are playing in mixed foursomes. On the green at the 2nd Alison stands behind Brian and helps him line up his putt.
If Alison then moves away and Brian also steps away and then retakes his stance before playing. What is the ruling? Any penalty??
ANSWERS No 7
1. Stroke play – both disqualified
Matchplay – play out the hole with the ball they are currently playing – then change.
2. First/original ball is deemed lost – provisional becomes ball in play – now playing your 5th. You can only continue to play the provisional ball when it is still short of where the initial ball is thought to be – once you go past that point and play the provisional ball again, you have deemed initial ball lost.
3. Player B
4. Nick should remember this. He should have played from the same place as Maggie which would have been their 3rd. Playing from the wrong place is minimum 2 shot penalty. Ideally and strictly speaking they should correct this before playing the next hole – otherwise, they risk disqualification.
5. Strangely enough - No penalty. Totally contrary to ruling if the same thing happened on the fairway – once Brian corrected it is OK.
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