Searching for and Identifying your Ball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another great change that is taking place with the 2019 Rules of Golf Modernization is the removal of a penalty if you accidentally cause your ball to move while searching for it. As long as what you are doing to find your ball is a reasonable action (i.e. no stomping around in the tall grass and recklessly breaking things), you will not be penalized for causing the ball to move or even breaking a protected item under Rule 8.1.

 

 

Identifying your Ball. (Rule 7.2 & 7.3) When you need to reasonably identify your ball, you must mark and then lift your ball to confirm whether or not it is your ball. There is no longer a need to announce to your opponent or fellow competitor that you intend to mark and lift the ball or have them come over and observe this procedure. The Rules are putting more emphasis on player integrity here that the player will only do this when necessary to do so and will abide by the Rules when operating under that Rule. If the ball is your ball, you will replace it back the way you had found it and proceed as necessary. This Rule highlights the importance of having an identifying mark on the ball so it will be better identifiable while searching for it. Click HERE to see a video explanation.

 

 

Searching for Ball. (Rule 7.1) When searching for a ball that is not readily visible, you have a number of options and restrictions while searching. First, you must search in a reasonable and fair way in order to find the ball. If you break or move items that are protected under 8.1a (Conditions Affecting the Stroke) you will not be penalized as long as the breaking and moving of items are reasonable.

 

If you search in a way that is found to be unreasonable, the player will get the General Penalty. Unreasonable would mean that you are disrupting the atmosphere around your ball in a way that is not considered careful by flattening out tall grass areas or breaking fixed or natural objects that is not necessary to find you ball.

 

 

Ball Moved While Searching. (Rule 7.4) There will be instances when fairly and reasonably searching for a ball will result in the ball accidentally being moved from its original spot. When this happens, Rule 14.2 tells you how to replace the ball, depending on the original lie and spot of the ball. If the spot and lie of the ball is known, simply replace the ball back in the original lie. If the spot or lie of the ball is not known, you will estimate both the spot and the lie of the ball and place it in that condition. Click HERE to see a video explanation.