TheRULES
Damage Control
The Rules of Golf provide
procedural guidance regarding
when a ball is unfit for play and
may be taken out of play
by ROBERT OCKENFUSS
T
6
Before doing anything, there is a certain
procedure you must follow to avoid penalty:
1. Mark the position of the ball.
2. Tell your opponent or fellow-competitor
you want to lift and check your ball for
unfitness.
3. Lift it for inspection, and give your
opponent or fellow-competitor a chance
to observe the process, including the
opportunity to look at the ball.
4. Be careful not to clean the ball, in case it
must be replaced.
If any part of this process is not followed,
you are penalized one stroke. Even if your
ball is on the putting green, it’s important
to note that the ball must still be marked
and you must give your opponent or fellowcompetitor an opportunity to inspect the ball.
If the ball is “unfit for play,” you are
allowed to substitute another ball. The
VIRGINIA GOLFER | MARCH/APRIL 2015
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When preparing to putt on the putting green of the
hole being played, before deciding if a ball is unfit for
play, a player must give his or her opponent or fellowcompetitor an opportunity to inspect it for damage.
substituted ball must be placed on the spot
from where you picked up the original ball.
On the other hand, if your ball is not
“unfit for play,” that ball must be replaced
and you need to continue to play it. If you
substitute another ball when your original
ball is not unfit and you make a stroke at it,
you are penalized two strokes in stroke play
or lose the hole in match play.
Nonetheless, once the hole is finished,
even if the ball was not “unfit for play,” feel
free to switch balls before teeing off on the
next hole.
Author Robert Ockenfuss is the manager of
rules communications for the United States
Golf Association.
MICHAEL COHEN/GETTY IMAGES
he construction of the golf ball
has evolved over the years, from
the early wooden and featherie
balls, followed by the gutta
percha balls of the 19th century,
the wound ball of the 20th century, and on
to the golf balls of today, consisting of a solid
core and synthetic cover.
While there are a wide variety of golf
balls to choose from, the ball you use must
conform to certain specifications. For
example, the ball must have a diameter of
at least 1.680 inches and the weight cannot
exceed 1.620 ounces. No matter what golf
ball you’re using, the goal of the game has
not changed; you still have to get that white
sphere into the hole.
If you’ve been playing golf for a long time,
you can probably recall mis-hitting a shot
once or twice or bouncing your ball off a
cart path, only to find your ball smiling back
at you or its cover cracked. The materials
used to make a golf ball have become much
more durable over the years. Thus, cuts and
cracks are now extremely rare. That said, the
Rules of Golf still account for this possibility.
While you are not usually allowed to
substitute another ball during the play of
a hole (e.g., you are not allowed to use
a “putting ball”), certain Rules do allow
substitution (e.g. Water Hazards, Ball
Unplayable). Additionally, Rule 5-3 (Ball
Unfit for Play) allows you to substitute
another ball for your ball if it is “unfit for
play,” which is defined as visibly cut, cracked
or out of shape. However, “unfit for play”
does not include scuff marks or scratches,
which can be caused by your ball striking a
cart path or a tree, nor does it include any
discoloration to the cover.
During play of a hole, if you believe
your ball has become “unfit for play” while
playing that hole, you are allowed to lift it to
see if it is unfit, without penalty. If your ball
is unfit, you can substitute another ball for it.
w w w. v s g a . o r g
3/17/15 3:10 PM
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