After making a stroke at their ball resting in the general area, a player discovers that the ball they have played was moved onto the course by an outside influence after the ball had come to rest out of bounds. Which of the following is false?

A.      In match play, the player must correct the mistake if the discovery is made before the opponent makes his next stroke or takes a similar action.

B.      In stroke play, the player must correct the mistake if the discovery is made before making a stroke from the next teeing area or for the final hole of the round before returning their scorecard.

C.      In match play or stroke play, the player gets the general penalty for playing a wrong ball and in stroke play must correct the mistake by taking stroke-and-distance relief (Rule 18.2b) from the teeing area.

In this week’s question we expand further on the question from last week regarding a ball that has knowingly come to rest out of bounds and then had been moved onto the course by Natural Forces. This week our ball has been moved back onto the course by an Outside Influence after having come to rest out of bounds.

So, just what is an Outside Influence, and how do they differ from Natural Forces? For that answer we can compare the 2 definitions.

Outside Influence

Any of these people or things that can affect what happens to a player’s ball or equipment or to the course:

• Any person (including another player), except the player or their caddie or the player’s partner or opponent or any of their caddies,
• Any animal, 
• Any natural or artificial object or anything else (including another ball in motion), except for natural forces, and
• Artificially propelled air and water, such as from a fan or irrigation system.

Natural Forces

The effects of nature such as wind, water or when something happens for no apparent reason because of the effects of gravity.

Let’s image that we have hit a tee shot, not knowingly, just out of bounds. After playing the ball, we then learn that it was returned back to the course, by either an animal or a person tossing the ball back in play. Obviously, the Rules of Golf could not possibly penalize us for this could they? And what is the result if I have already played my ball? Luckily for us Clarification 9.6/4 gives us the guidance to proceed upon the correct path.

Clarification 9.6/4 – Ball at Rest Played and Then Discovered to Have Been Moved by Outside Influence; Ball Turns Out to Be Wrong Ball

If a player discovers, after playing their ball, that it had been moved onto the course by an outside influence after the ball had come to rest out of bounds, the player has played a wrong ball (see Definition). Because it was not known or virtually certain at the time the ball was played, the player does not get a penalty for playing a wrong ball under Rule 6.3c(1) but might need to correct the mistake by proceeding under Rule 18.2b (What to Do When Ball Is Lost or Out of Bounds) depending when that discovery is made:

• In match play, the player must correct the mistake if the discovery that the ball was moved onto the course by the outside influence is made before the opponent makes their next stroke or takes a similar action (such as conceding the hole).

If that discovery occurs after the opponent makes their next stroke or takes a similar action, the player must continue to play out the hole with the wrong ball.

• In stroke play, the player must correct the mistake if the discovery that the ball was moved onto the course by an outside influence is made before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning their scorecard.

Now that we are aware of the correct procedures for both Match and Stroke play, we can now determine that this week’s answer is C. Wait “C”, really?

Do you have a rules question that you have often wondered about? If so, please send it to dmiller@mvgolf.org for an answer and who knows it could very well be our next “Rules Question of the Week”.