Rules question

[eclark53520]

This happened to a friend of mine at work...

After getting rained on heavily, he took aim on a par 3, took his back swing, and on the down swing he lost the grip on the club. Hits about 8" behind the ball, digs a divot that flips up and over the ball covering it completely. The club then flies out of his hands down the fairway.


How should the golfer proceed? Obviously that stroke counts, but does he have to take an unplayable? Is it lost because he can't identify the ball even though he knows it's under there? Can the divot be removed? Would that be 'improving' his lie? Does 'always replace your divots' come into play? Loose impediment?

I'm at a loss as to how this would be handled in accordance with the rules of golf.

 

[TEA Time]

Wow. What an incredible, and unfortunate, series of events! Replacing your divots isn't a rule, btw, so it wouldn't come into play with the ruling.

I'm very interested to see what happens though, because I guess it is possible for a competitor to land his divot on your ball which would result in essentially the same ruling... I guess.

 

[eclark53520]

Wow. What an incredible, and unfortunate, series of events! Replacing your divots isn't a rule, btw, so it wouldn't come into play with the ruling.

I'm very interested to see what happens though, because I guess it is possible for a competitor to land his divot on your ball which would result in essentially the same ruling... I guess.

The replacing divots part was satire, but yeah i kinda want to send it in to someone.

 

[MCDavis]

By any chance did the ball stay on the tee? If so, could the divot be considered a loose impediment and removed?

Also, isn't there a rule about a whiff? And also one about the ball falling off the tee due to wind/causes other than being struck by the club?

 

[anonymous golfaholic]

He should be hitting 2, obviously. If half of the divot isn't still connected to the earth, he should be able to move it(assuming he doesn't move the ball in the process). Otherwise I guess he should play it as it lies or take an unplayable.

If he was playing with me, I would say to re-tee and hit 2 from the tee. My usual foursome tends to bend the rules and it's cool w/me. We don't play for money.

 

[eclark53520]

If he was playing with me, I would say to re-tee and hit 2 from the tee. My usual foursome tends to bend the rules and it's cool w/me. We don't play for money.

That's how I would handle it as well...once I stopped laughing...

My only thoughts were basically the same as yours...either he plays it as it lies or takes an unplayable...wasn't sure if there was any other rules that might apply.

 

[limpalong]

Interesting. I would think the Rules of Golf would consider his first swing at the ball "1". The result of that swing is an unplayable lie. So, he takes an unplayable (2), uncovers the ball, takes a drop, and hits (3).
If that happened in our regular group, we'd allow the person to retee. However, the Rules of Golf are somewhat unforgiving when it comes to playing the ball as it lies.

 

[TEA Time]

Interesting. I would think the Rules of Golf would consider his first swing at the ball "1". The result of that swing is an unplayable lie. So, he takes an unplayable (2), uncovers the ball, takes a drop, and hits (3).
If that happened in our regular group, we'd allow the person to retee. However, the Rules of Golf are somewhat unforgiving when it comes to playing the ball as it lies.

He wouldn't have to take an unplayable, though. He could swing through the divot for his 2nd shot. Although lying 3 on the tee is probably better than lying 3 god-knows-where.

 

[limpalong]

Correct. You don't have to take an unplayable, if you think you can advance the ball. However, the way Clark explained it, I was seeing only the "beaver pelt" with the ball hidden somewhere under it. If I can't see the ball, why waste a stroke and shove it deeper into the sod?

 

[trumb1mj]

This is crazy!

 

[Wi-Golfer]

Utilize the WBL rule and invoke the use of your 5th mulligan

 

[VA Park Ranger]

Sounds like bull $hit to me.

 

[BigJim13]

When u say "lost the grip" does that mean the club left his hands?

One time at the Masters, Tiger was distracted IN his downswing by a bird. He tried to stop but swing over the ball. He was ok to hit again without counting the shot or taking a penalty.

I would bet your buddy could say once he lost grip he was no longer taking a real stroke and re tee without penalty.

 

[VA Park Ranger]

All stories start out with "A friend of mine...." Translation: "This happend to me the other day..."

 

[BigJim13]

When u say "lost the grip" does that mean the club left his hands?

One time at the Masters, Tiger was distracted IN his downswing by a bird. He tried to stop but swing over the ball. He was ok to hit again without counting the shot or taking a penalty.

I would bet your buddy could say once he lost grip he was no longer taking a real stroke and re tee without penalty.

The key is intent. Once he lost the grip his intent was no longer to trike the ball.