Rule of the Week
May 24, 2016 
Harry (Player A) and Lloyd (Player B) played a round of golf on a Tuesday morning.  On this day, they ran into the same situation in three different areas on the course:

A.) tee shots come to rest in the same footprint, in a bunker, 
B.) tee shots come to rest in the same divot on the fairway,
C.) tee shots come to rest in the same foot print in a waste area.
 
How are these situations similar and/or different?  

RULE 20-3
. Placing and Replacing

b. Lie of Ball to be Placed or Replaced Altered

If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered:

(i)            except in a hazard, the ball must be placed in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the original lie, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard;
(ii)           in a water hazard, the ball must be placed in accordance with Clause (i) above, except that the ball must be placed in the water hazard;
(iii)         in a bunker, the original lie must be re-created as nearly as possible and the ball must be placed in that lie.
 
Note: If the original lie of a ball to be placed or replaced has been altered and it is impossible to determine the spot where the ball is to be placed or replaced, Rule 20-3b applies if the original lie is known, and Rule 20-3c applies if the original lie is not known.

A.) tee shots come to rest in the same footprint in a bunker:   

DECISION 20-3b/1Lie of Lifted Ball in Bunker Altered by Another Player's Stroke

QUESTION: The balls of A and B are in the same heel mark in a bunker. B's ball is farther from the hole. A lifts his ball under Rule 22-2, and B plays and obliterates the heel mark. What should A do?

ANSWER:
Under Rule 20-3b, A is required to re-create his original lie as nearly as possible, including the heel mark, and place his ball in that lie.

In this situation, Harry lifts his ball, without cleaning it, and allows Lloyd to play.  Lloyd plays and destroys the footprint. 

Harry and Lloyd agree about the size and depth of the original footprint.  Harry replaces his ball in the new footprint and plays. 

B. and C.) tee shots come to rest in the same divot in the fairway and/or in the same footprint, through the green, in a waste area 

DECISION 20-3b/7 Whether Original Lie May Be "Nearest Lie   Most Similar"
   

QUESTION: A player fi nds a ball he believes to be his lying in a water hazard. When he lifts the ball for identification under Rule 12- 2, the o ri gin al lie is altered. When proceeding under Rule 20-3b, if the altered lie is the nearest lie most similar to the original lie within one club-length of the original lie not nearer the hole and inside the water hazard, is the player required to replace the ball in the original lie in its altered condition?
 
ANSWER: Yes. Although in most situations the nearest m ost similar lie within one club-length will be located elsewhere, there may be circ umstances when the nearest lie most similar to the original lie will be the original lie in its altered condition. 

DECISION 20-3b/4 Lie of Ball Through the Green Altered; Original Lie of Ball Known But Spot Where Ball Lay Not Determinable

QUESTION: In stroke play, B plays A's ball, which was lying through the green, and in the process removes a divot. The original lie of A's ball was known and has been altered. It is impossible to determine the exact spot where A's ball originally lay. Should A proceed under Rule 20-3b or Rule 20-3c?

ANSWER:
As A knew the original lie of the ball, Rule 20-3b applies (see Note to Rule 20-3b). The spot where the ball lay will need to be estimated, and a ball must be placed in the nearest lie most similar to the original lie that is not more than one club-length from the estimated spot, not nearer the hole and not in a hazard.

The B.) and C.) scenarios might require the player to replace his ball back in the original divot and/or footprint even if it's alteration is worse than original lie after other player played.  If there are no other divots/footprints within 1 club length of the original lie, the player is not required to make a divot/footprint.  A tough break but sometimes this happens.      
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Happy golfing and remember the Rules of Golf Matter

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