Questions on etiquette and rules of golf

By RCGA national rules officials Kay Thompson and Bruce Watson/tely Junior Golf Tour

Question

Is there a new rule concerning movement of the golf ball on the putting green?

Answer:

Not a new rule exactly. As of Jan. 1, 2017, the committee in charge of the competition can implement a local rule covering accidental movement of the ball on the putting green only. In fact, this change was outlined in one of our 2017 columns.

The suggested local rule reads as follows:

“When a player’s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent or any of their caddies or equipment

“The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1. This Local Rule applies only when the ball is on the putting green and any movement is accidental.”

For example, if your ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if you accidentally kick your ball, move it accidentally with your putter in preparing for the stroke or accidentally move your coin marking the ball’s position. However, there is still a penalty if you touch or move your ball to line up the logo without marking its position first. That touching or movement is deliberate as opposed to accidental.

But if the ball on the green (not the ball-marker) moves as a result of wind, water or gravity and you did nothing to cause it to move, then it is played from its new position. If the ball marker is moved by wind or water, it must be replaced.

E-mail your etiquette/rules question to bwatson@telytour.ca