Foremost is pretty sure he was incorrect in his initial answer to all of the following Reader inquiries. See if you get them correctly!

(1)An Out-of-Bounds Argument         

Reader JJ closely examined opponent VP’s ball (picture attached). The ball was situated in a long, wispy grass, either on or next to a white out-of-bounds line, at its outer edge. Although upon close examination, the ball appeared to be resting on the natural green/brown roots of the grass, every time the wind blew, even ever so slightly, the painted white tops of the blades of grass would bend and touch or rest atop the ball.

The players agreed that a ball had to be totally out-of- bounds to be deemed out-of-bounds. There was some discussion of verticality….whether the edge of a boundary extends upwards. Ultimately, since the painted grass continuously reached and touched the ball, the players concluded that the ball was in-bounds.

JJ reports that he lost the match one-down.

Issues

Was the ball touching the boundary line? Whether a ball touching the outer edge of a boundary line is in-bounds?

Ruling

The players were correct that a ball must be totally out-of-bounds to be out-of-bounds. R18.2a(2). In this instance, however, it didn’t matter whether the ball touched the line or the painted grass at the “outer” edge of the boundary line. The ball was clearly OB as the boundary line itself is “out-of-bounds” (See, Def.).

(2) A Ball Collision

Per Reader AN, Player CM was on the putting green and “out” and played first. CM’s partner, Player DT, unwittingly chipped as CM’s ball was rolling. The balls collided near the hole.

Issues

Were either of the players entitled to any relief (perhaps, a redo?)or did either incur a penalty? Is the result the same if the players are opponents rather than partners?

Ruling

While the general rule is that balls that “accidentally” collide are played where they come to rest, an exception exists when a ball is played from a putting green (R11.1b, Exception2). When a player plays from a putting green, and his ball collides with an outside influence (including a moving ball), he must cancel the stroke, replace the ball, and replay the shot.

Accordingly, CM had to replace his ball and replay his shot in this particular case, or he would have been assessed the General Penalty on the hole (DQ) for playing from a “Wrong Place”(referencing R14.7a).

(There is no longer any distinction under the Rules as to whether an accidental deflection is caused by a partner or opponent).

(3) Ball Mark Relief

Player EC watched closely as his towering approach shot sucked back slightly, just off the putting surface of the Par 4 15th hole at BMCC. Examining his line of play (the Rules no longer offer a definition for “line of putt”), he found that a putt (his preferred play) would have to cross his own deeply indented ball mark, which upon close examination perfectly straddled the edge of the fringe and the putting green, thus splitting the indentation into both the General Area and the Putting Green.

Unsure of his options, he reports that he reluctantly grabbed his lob wedge.

Issue

Could he repair the damage from his ball mark before putting?

Ruling

While a Player ordinarily may not take actions that interfere with Conditions Affecting the Stroke, such as removing indentations in his line of play (R8.1a), he may without penalty repair damage on a putting green. R13.1c(2). The problem in this scenario, of course, is that the damage of the indentation was present on two areas of the course.

In this case, EC gets to fix the entire ball mark. It would be “unreasonable” to restrict his repair of the same ball mark to that portion lying only on the putting green. (Interpretation 8.1b/7).

As usual, all comments or corrections are welcome! Thanks for the scenario submissions!

Respectfully submitted,
F