Rule 19-1

Q1. Sarah strikes her ball from a water hazard onto the next teeing ground where Kate, who is making a practice swing, accidently strikes it. Sarah's ball comes to rest in a bunker. What is the ruling?

Answer: The ball must be played as it lies in the bunker. Kate is an outside agency so Sarah's next stroke has to be played from where her ball came to rest.

Q2. Jane chips her ball off the green and as it slows down near the hole a dog takes it in his mouth and then drops it father away from the hole. There is no penalty, but where does Jane play her next stroke from?

Answer: Jane must place the ball as near as possible to the spot where her ball was when the dog picked up. If the moving ball is deflected by the dog (rather than picked up), it has to be played from the place at which it comes to rest.

Q3. Mary putts her ball from on the putting green and while the ball is still in motion, it is picked up and carried away in its beak by a magpie, which then drops it 10 yards from the hole on the other side of the green. What is the ruling?

Answer: The stroke is cancelled and Mary must replace her ball and replay. The same procedure applies if the ball is deflected by any outside agency from a stroke made from on the putting green.

Wind is NOT an Outside Agency

Q. Sally replaces her ball on the putting green and it is at rest. Just as she starts to address the ball a sudden gust of wind blows it farther from the hole. What is the ruling?

Answer: Sally must play the ball from its new position and there is no penalty.