TheRules
Rule 9.6 is essential to know , whether you ' re in competion or just playing a casual round .
by CHRIS LANG
Bounces , Good and Bad
What to do when your ball at rest is unexpectedly moved
Over the course of the spring , summer , and fall , I ’ ll attend dozens of VSGA championships in my role as the association ’ s media representative . Much of that time is spent in the field — taking photos , talking to players , and observing some high-level golf . Spend that much time around the game , and you ’ re bound to run into some interesting rulings . Here ’ s one that sticks out and may even apply to casual weekend outings at your club .
On the final day of the State Open of Virginia in July , Brandon Berry hit his tee shot on the par-3 11th hole at Independence Golf Club to about 15 feet . It was a stock , middle-of-the-green shot that ’ s fairly common . Next to hit was Logan Reilly , who would eventually claim the championship in thrilling fashion by draining a 30-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole against Jay Woodson .
From the start , it appeared that Reilly ’ s ball was hit on a similar line . It landed on the green , took one hop , and careened straight into Berry ’ s ball , sending it an additional 30 feet or so toward the back of the green .
This is a simple ruling that occurs plenty in everyday play . We turn to Rule 9.6 ( Ball Lifted or Moved By Outside Influence ) to find that :
• If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence ( including another player in stroke play or another ball ) lifted or moved a player ’ s ball at rest :
» There is no penalty , and
» The ball must be replaced on its original spot ( which if not known must be estimated [ see Rule 14.2 ]).
Essentially , you ’ re entitled to the spot where your ball originally landed . You ’ re not always going to have spotters or Rules officials at the green when you ’ re playing with your friends on a Sunday morning . I was with an official that day and we were able to help Berry find the spot where his ball originally settled ; he replaced it and played on . The words “ if not known must be estimated ” are key in this Rule , as had there been no spotter , Berry would have had to estimate where his original ball was from information he could glean from the teeing area .
12 V IRGINIA G OLFER | S EPTEMBER / O CTOBER 2024 vsga . org