Readers,

Many of you have been asking Foremost about colliding balls…

The general rule related to a moving ball striking a ball at rest is well-known and practiced. The scenario usually involves an approach shot striking a ball resting on the putting green. Most golfers know that the ball at rest that is moved must be replaced (R18-5).

Less certainty prevails, however, when both balls are moving. Two recent incidents are offered for consideration:

1. Facts – Partners’ Balls Collide

From Reader TN: In 4-ball competition, and unbeknownst to each other, TN and his partner simultaneously play bad bunker shots from across a putting green. The swiftly moving balls collide next to the hole leaving a short putt for TN which he sinks to win the hole. TN’s opponents, mindful that they lost the hole because of simultaneous play and a ball collision, seek a ruling.

2. Facts – Opponents’ Balls Collide

In 4-ball competition, F (who is highly ridiculed for his shot selection) aggressively bumps a 7-wood from light greenside rough. As F’s ball races past the hole, it strikes the moving ball of opponent, HC, who, after biding his time awaiting F’s deliberate club selection process, and mindful of approaching storm clouds, had quickly played from a greenside bunker as soon as F had hit. F’s ball, which was destined to widely overshoot the green, stops by the hole leaving a short putt which he sinks for par. (F doesn’t miss many of these). HC’s ball, which was destined to stop by the hole, is knocked 12 feet away. HC knows a ball at rest struck by a moving ball must be replaced (R18-5) … his ball was only barely moving.

HC asks for a ruling. F asks for a ruling as well. (Given the result of the collision, HC doesn’t understand why F is griping about anything).

Issues

1. Is there a penalty for simultaneous play by TN and his partner? Must they cancel and replay either or both shots?
2. May HC replace his ball by the hole at the spot it would have come to rest but for the collision? May he cancel and replay his bunker shot?
3. Is HC (F’s opponent) penalized for playing while F’s ball was still in motion?

Rulings

1. Partners

As long as the partners did not play out of turn (R10), and the strokes were made from off the putting green, there is no penalty or recourse and the balls were correctly played as they lay after the collision. (R19-5b; See, Note). If one of the shots had been played from the putting green, it would have had to be cancelled and replayed … again with no penalty. (Ibid.)

(Remember, partners may play their balls in the order they deem best (R30-3), so there was no order of play violation as long as both balls were played before it was an opponent’s turn to play.)

2. Opponents

If a player’s ball in motion is stopped or deflected by an opponent, his caddie, or his equipment, the player in match play may elect to cancel and replay his shot (R19-3). Since, however, a “ball” being played is not “equipment” (See, Def.), R19-5 is again applicable. Accordingly, HC did not have the option of replaying his bunker shot. Both balls were properly played as they lay after the collision.

Since F’s ball was played from just off the putting green, there was no penalty incurred by HC for playing with F’s ball still in motion. Had F, however, been playing from the putting green, HC would have incurred the penalty of LOH for playing his stroke from the bunker, unless it was his turn to play anyway, in which case no penalty would attach. One must not make a stroke while another ball is in motion after a stroke from the putting green, unless it his turn to play anyway. R16-1f.

As usual, all comments or corrections are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,

F

*A shout-out to Wisconsin Reader PP: Hey, Vanderbilt golfer, Harrison Ott, wins the Wisconsin State Am this year! Eight play-off holes! Anchor down!

** And a further shout-out to Reader KW, the GCT and its members who hosted the Womens’ U.S. Amateur Championship last week: F has rarely seen a more attractive, more spectacular looking golf course on tv! Great tournament! Well-done!