What to do when your ball moves

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Did my ball just move . . . or was it moved?

When teaching the Rules of Golf, I have found that most golfers can remember concepts but few are willing to invest the time in learning the specifics of the Rules.  During the first round of the Oregon Amateur at Bandon Dunes, I spent the day overlooking the fourteenth green while helping with Rulings throughout holes thirteen through eighteen.   After repeated questions by players the following concept came to mind that I hope to use to explain one of the most often misunderstood procedures in golf:

What do I do when my ball moves?

Ask yourself this question:

Did the ball just move or was it moved?

If the ball just moves, you will nearly always play the ball from where it comes to rest (the one exception applies to a ball moving after you have addressed it).  If the ball is moved, you must always replace it.

It’s quite simple if you understand the difference between a ball that just moves and a ball that is moved.

Examples of a ball that just moves would be:

1)    You play an approach shot that stops on a steep slope.  You call out for the ball to stay . . . it obeys for a moment and then begins to roll back down the hill.
2)    Your ball lands in a precarious position in bush.  As you approach the ball, you do nothing that would cause the ball to move and it falls from the bush.
3)    Your ball is at rest on a putting green and a wind gusts causes your ball comes to rest in another location – sometimes a great distance, sometimes less than an inch.
4)    Your ball is at rest on a slope and due to heavy rain your ball rolls down the slope.
5)    You have lifted your ball from the putting green, lined the logo up along your intended line of putt and, as you are surveying the putt and take a few practice swings, you notice it is no longer lined up as you placed it.

In all of these examples the ball is played as it lies from where it came to rest without penalty.

Examples of a ball that was moved:

1)    You or someone else walks up to your ball and kicks it.
2)    During a practice swing you hit your ball.
3)    A player in your or another group lifts your ball.
4)    A spectator lifts your ball.
5)    You or someone else runs over your ball in your cart.
6)    You or someone else accidentally drops something on your ball and it moves.
7)    Another ball hits your ball and moves it.
8)    Your ball comes to rest against a bunker rake or a water bottle and when you move the obstruction the ball moves. (Note, I initially listed this in the first set - thank you to Michael K for pointing out the error, Rule 24-1a requires the ball be replaced without penalty.)

In all of these examples the ball must be replaced.

i)    If you moved the ball, you have incurred a penalty stroke.
ii)    If an opponent (match play) moves your ball the opponent incurs the penalty stroke. 
iii)    In nearly all others cases, including when you move your ball as a direct result of something you are permitted to do (like lifting a bunker rake or marking & lifting your ball on the putting green) no penalty would be incurred but the ball must always be replaced.

Lastly, once you have addressed the ball, you are deemed to have made it move in nearly all cases.  Rules Officials refer to this event as putting the player “on the hook”.  You have addressed the ball when you have both grounded your club and taken your stance (in a hazard, because you are prohibited from grounding your club, you have addressed the ball when you have taken your stance only).  If the ball moves after you have addressed the ball you incur a one-stroke penalty and must replace the ball.

Afternoon winds are expected throughout the week here at the Oregon Amateur and with the greens at Championship speeds, I expect to see many more incidents involving Rule 18 – Ball at Rest Moved and plenty of opportunities to mention that a ball that just moves is played as it lies without penalty (unless the player has addressed it) and a ball that is moved must be replaced and depending on how it was moved a penalty may be incurred.

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