INSIDE THE RULES
By Chris Gaffney
Pace of play is always a hot topic and something that’s covered a few different ways in the Rules of Golf. Rule 1 deals with the standards of player conduct, and right in the first section, there is a bullet point that covers “showing consideration to others.” The first example given is playing at a prompt pace. Then in Rule 5.6b, “Prompt Pace of Play,” the governing bodies provide examples of pace of play recommendations and guidance on when a player can or should play out of turn.
The Rules also provide another tool to keep things moving that is only available during stroke play events and allows a player to play two balls when they are uncertain about the right procedure. Rule 20.1c(3) alleviates the players’ need to rush to make a decision that might be wrong or delay play to get a ruling from the committee.
The requirements are as follows: The player MUST decide to play two balls after the uncertain situation arises and before making their next stroke, and the player SHOULD choose which ball will count if the Rules allow the procedure for that ball by announcing that choice to their marker or to another player. The use of the word should is intentional because if the player does not choose, the ball played first is treated as the ball chosen by default.
One of the most important parts of this rule is that you must let the committee know about the situation before returning your scorecard. Failure to report to the committee will result in a disqualification, even if you think you scored the same on both balls. Once the situation is reported, the committee will decide the player’s score for the hole through this method: the score with the ball chosen (purposefully or by default) counts if the Rules allow the procedure used for that ball. If the Rules do not allow the procedure for the chosen ball, the score with the other ball played counts. The Rules still need to allow the procedure for that other ball played. If the Rules do not allow the procedure for each of the two balls, the score with the ball chosen counts unless there was a serious breach in playing that ball from a wrong place, in which case the score with the other ball counts. If there was a serious breach for both balls, the player is disqualified.
It can be a little confusing, so to bring this Rule to light, let’s look at a situation from a recent qualifier. A player’s ball was at rest on the first cut, a couple of yards off the putting green on a windy day. As the player was walking up to his ball, a gust of wind blew the ball slowly onto the putting green into a much better position. The player thought he needed to replace it, and his caddie thought he should play it as it lies. Since the player was unable to find a Rules official and had doubts about how to proceed, he was permitted to play two balls. The player let his group know that he was going to play two balls, one from each spot, but he forgot to say which one he wanted to count. Which ball counted? Is it an issue that he played the ball from the fringe first and showed himself the read for the putt he would have with the second ball?
The player never declared which ball he wanted to count, so the Rules direct us that whichever ball he played first would count, if the Rules permit. In this situation, the ball in the correct position is the one on the putting green because it was moved by the wind (Rule 9.3 says that since natural forces moved the ball, it must be played from its new spot), so there is no need to replace it. The ball played from the fringe was played from a wrong place, which means the Rules do not allow the procedure used for that ball, and the second ball from the putting green automatically counts.
Under Rule 20.1c(3), the player is allowed to play two balls when there’s doubt how to proceed; there’s no caveat that says he or she can’t play two balls if the first might give him or her insight on their next shot. The uncertain situation in stroke play provides that permission, and there is no issue if the player’s first putt gave him or her the read for the ball that ultimately counted.
Rule 20.1c(3) effectively provides a player with an outlet during their round in stroke play. It acknowledges that coming to a timely decision when it comes to the Rules can be a challenge and there isn’t always an MGA Committee member standing on every hole. Knowledge of this procedure can help you protect yourself from two of the biggest problems on the course – slow play and penalty strokes!
Next time you’re in a situation where you don’t know what to do, or there might be a disagreement around what to do, play two balls, keep it moving, and let the committee know so they can decide at the end of the round.
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