Rules Clinic: Wind Moves Ball

In the Rules of Golf, a little known or understood rule is when your ball moves either by wind or slope on the green. What is contrary to what you might be thinking is that even though your ball moves and you may still have your ball marker in place, your ball is “in play” when placed on the green. If you’re not careful, you could be penalized up to two penalty strokes for violation. However, in an extremely lucky case, wind could actually cause you to hole out – without even putting the ball!

To illustrate these scenarios, please see the following USGA Rules below:

18-2a/7 Ball Moved by Wind Replaced

Q.  In stroke play, a competitor’s ball was moved by wind. Since wind is not an outside agency, he should have played it from where it came to rest, but he replaced it. What is the ruling?

A.  The competitor incurred one penalty stroke under Rule 18-2a, and, before playing his next stroke, he should have replaced the ball on the spot where it came to rest after being moved by the wind. If he did not do so, he incurred a total penalty of two strokes.

Rule 20-4/1 Ball Replaced on Putting Green But Ball-Marker Not Removed; Ball Then Moves

Q.  A player replaces his ball on the putting green but does not remove his ball-marker. Subsequently the wind moves his ball to a new position. What is the ruling?

A.  Under Rule 20-4, a ball is in play when it is replaced, whether or not the object used to mark its position has been removed. Consequently the ball must be played from the new position – see Decision 18-1/12.

18-1/12 Ball Replaced and at Rest Is Thereafter Moved by Wind

Q.  A player replaces his ball on the putting green and the ball is at rest. Before the player addresses the ball, a sudden gust of wind blows the ball farther from the hole. The player plays the ball from its new position. Is that correct?

A.  Yes. Wind is not an outside agency.

Q.  A player replaces his ball on the putting green and the ball is at rest. Without addressing the ball the player steps away to read his putt. The ball moves either due to the wind or the slope of the putting green. How should the player proceed?

A.  The player must play his ball from the new position without penalty. If the ball was moved into the hole then the player is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke (Decision 20-3d/1). Note: it is not relevant whether the player had removed his ball-marker before the ball was moved by the wind or gravity as the player’s ball was in play when it was replaced (Rule 20-4).

20-3d/1 Placed Ball Rolls into Hole

Q.  A replaces his ball on the putting green three feet from the hole. As he is about to address the ball, it rolls into the hole. Should the ball be replaced or is A deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke?

A.  The answer depends on whether the ball, when replaced, came to rest on the spot on which it was placed before it started rolling. If it did, A is deemed to have holed out with his previous stroke. If not, A is required to replace the ball (Rule 20-3d). However, if the ball had been overhanging the hole when it was lifted, the provisions of Rule 16-2 would override those of Rule 20-3d.

Source: usga.org