On course. Touching ball in play

[Augster]

Hey.

 

My ball lies on the fringe. Like an idiot, I go to mark the ball then realize I'm on the fringe, not the green.

 

I don't pick it up, but I do bump it and it oscillates but does not move.

 

I only bumped it "in the act of marking". Of course, it was an unauthorized marking.

 

Penalty? No? Thanks!

[HitEmTrue]

If you accidentally touched it, no penalty:

 

By Player, Partner, Caddie or Equipment

 

Except as permitted by the Rules, when a player's ball is in play, if

 

(i) the player, his partner or either of their caddies:

 

• lifts or moves the ball,

• touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing the ball), or

• causes the ball to move, or

[Stuart_G]

breach of 18-2 - one stroke (would be my ruling)

 

Many decisions in 18-2 on lifting the ball in situations where lifting was not authorized (intentional touching would be the same).

 

I guess one might argue that if you mentally made the decision to not mark the ball right before touching - and touched it accidentally anyways - it could be considered accidental and not intentional. But that sounds pretty weak to me and more like sophistry. You had the intention to touch the ball and couldn't stop yourself in time to correct that error. But only you know the exact sequence of events so the final call has to be yours on whether to decide if it was intentional or accidental.

[Augster]

Thanks for the responses.

 

I accidentally touched it. It was while I was placing the mark. My finger, holding my mark, brushed it while I set my mark down. I let go of the mark, with the ball still on the ground, and stepped away to look at it as something seemed off.

 

I didn't attempt to pick up the ball at any time.

 

Thanks.

[Stuart_G]

Thanks for the responses.

 

I accidentally touched it. It was while I was placing the mark. My finger, holding my mark, brushed it while I set my mark down. I let go of the mark, with the ball still on the ground, and stepped away to look at it as something seemed off.

 

I didn't attempt to pick up the ball at any time.

 

Thanks.

 

Thanks for the clarification. In that case, I'd agree to it being accidental.

[Augster]

I had always thought you couldn't touch your ball in play, not on the green, except with the clubface. Or when you are asked to mark. Or lifting to ID.

 

Am I reading that part wrong?

 

Thanks for the help

 

 

[Stuart_G]

I had always thought you couldn't touch your ball in play, not on the green, except with the clubface. Or when you are asked to mark. Or lifting to ID.

 

Am I reading that part wrong?

 

Thanks for the help

 

See the quote of the rule in HitEmTrue's post above.

 

 

You can't touch it purposefully except with the club in the act of addressing the ball.

 

 

If it's accidental, it only matters if you actually cause the ball to move or not.

[Augster]

Thanks Stuart.

 

The contact was certainly accidental. I've gotten pretty lazy marking on the green, if I bump and move the ball in the act of marking, no penalty/replace. Marking on the fringe, without being asked, threw me.

 

Now, if the ball HAD moved, would I be able to avoid the penalty as it was in the act of marking? Though I wasn't asked to mark it. I'm pretty sure it'd be a penalty for moving my ball as I'm not following any rule just randomly marking my ball in play.

[Stuart_G]

Thanks Stuart.

 

The contact was certainly accidental. I've gotten pretty lazy marking on the green, if I bump and move the ball in the act of marking, no penalty/replace. Marking on the fringe, without being asked, threw me.

 

Now, if the ball HAD moved, would I be able to avoid the penalty as it was in the act of marking? Though I wasn't asked to mark it. I'm pretty sure it'd be a penalty for moving my ball as I'm not following any rule just randomly marking my ball in play.

 

I dont' know right now but I don't think you'd be able to avoid a penalty since you would not really be marking or lifting under a rule that allowed it (which is required for 20-1). Either that or I suspect possibly the fact that you never did actually lift it would disallow that exception (how can it be the act of lifting if the lifting never occurred?). Whether that would still be an 18-2 penalty or more likely one associated with rule 20 for marking/lifting when not allowed - I can't say right now (sorry don't have time to dig). Hopefully someone else can dig into the details for confirmation.

[Sawgrass]

20-1, and the exception under 18-2, permit you to accidentally move your ball while marking and lifting if you're doing so "under the Rules"

 

From 20-1: A ball to be lifted under the Rules may be lifted by the player, his partner or another person authorized by the player.

 

Consequently, if Augster had moved his ball when he had no right to lift it IMO he would be penalized. Accidentally touching it without moving it is of course no problem.

 

Curiously, if Augster had put his mark down and then moved his ball while later in the process of picking his mark up, Rule 24-1a would free him from the accidental movement on "the back end."

 

(Sorry, but I'm tickled by that peculiarity.)

[Augster]

Thanks Sawgrass. The "under the rules" part negates the "moved in marking" exception.

 

24-1a. That is peculiar. :)

[Sawgrass]

Thanks Sawgrass. The "under the rules" part negates the "moved in marking" exception.

 

24-1a. That is peculiar. :)

 

HaHa. The key is not moving the ball while you supply your own Movable Obstruction, so you can accidentally bump the ball when you remove it.