Notes
about the game from Patty Ellis, Past Rules Chair
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When Balls Collide
One of our EWGA members emailed me this question:
I hit my tee shot and my ball hit another ball in the fairway. I asked if anyone knew what to do and one of the girls said that I had to take a 2 stroke penalty because I hit someone's ball.
I thought a penalty only applied on the green. I also thought that the other person had the option of hitting the shot from the original location or leaving it where it was.
I added two strokes to my score but I would like to know the proper procedure.
My response:
When your ball (after a stroke) hits another player’s ball in play, you don't incur a penalty and you play the next shot as it lies (after the deflection). The player whose ball was hit (and presumably moved), MUST replace her ball.
In this instance, there is no penalty assessed on either of you.
The only time hitting another person's ball results in a penalty is when both balls lie on the putting green BEFORE the stroke is made. In match play, there is no penalty, but in stroke play, a two stroke penalty is assessed on the person who made the stroke and hit another player’s ball.
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