February - 2016

In 2012, Rule 18-2b, (Ball Moving after Address) there was an automatic penalty if your ball moved after it was addressed.
There was a very narrow exception that allowed for movement from the wind.
In fairness, this now has been withdrawn-this means that if a ball at rest moves after a player addresses it, the player is no longer automatically deemed to have caused the ball to move.

Now in 2016, there has been an exception added to further clarify this rules situation. They added one simple question “Did the player cause the ball to move”
If the answer is “Yes”
It then is a one stroke penalty, and the player has to replace the ball to it’s original position.
If the answer is “No”
Then the player plays their ball from the new position, (UNLESS another Rule applies.)
Seems simple enough…but you need to understand this Rule and how to implement 18-2/0.5

BALL AT REST MOVED BY PLAYER, PARTNER, CADDIE OR EQUIPMENT
18-2/0.5 Weight of Evidence Standard for Determining Whether Player Caused His Ball to Move

When a player's ball at rest moves, the cause of the ball's movement has to be assessed. In many situations, the answer will be obvious: the player may have kicked the ball inadvertently, dropped his equipment on it, or otherwise clearly caused it to move; alternatively, the player may have taken no action near the ball and something else (such as a spectator or animal) clearly caused it to move.

In other situations, however, there may be some question as to why the ball moved - e.g., because it is less than certain that the player's actions near the ball caused it to move, or because multiple factors were present that potentially might have caused the ball to move. All relevant information must be considered and the weight of the evidence must be evaluated (Decision 34-3/9). Depending on the circumstances, the relevant considerations may include, but are not limited to:

  • The nature of any actions taken near the ball (e.g., movement of loose impediments, practice swings, grounding club, taking stance, etc.),
  • Time elapsed between such actions and the movement of the ball,
  • The lie of the ball before it moved (e.g., on a closely-mown area, perched on longer grass, on a surface imperfection, etc.),
  • The conditions of the ground near the ball (e.g., degree of slope, presence of surface irregularities, etc.), and
  • Wind, rain and other weather conditions.

If the weight of evidence indicates that it is more likely than not that the player caused the ball to move, even though that conclusion is not free from doubt, the player incurs a one-stroke penalty under Rule 18-2 and the ball must be replaced. Otherwise, the player incurs no penalty and the ball is played as it lies unless some other Rule applies (e.g., Rule 18-1). With reference to the considerations above, examples of situations where the weight of the evidence would indicate that the player caused the ball to move are:

  • A player's ball lies on a flat portion of the putting green on a day with light winds. The player addresses the ball and the ball immediately moves. Under these circumstances, it is more likely than not that the act of addressing the ball caused the ball to move.
  • A player's ball lies on a tuft of grass in the rough. The player takes several practice swings near the ball, with the club coming into contact with grass in the process. Almost immediately, the ball then moves vertically down in the grass. Under these circumstances, it is more likely than not that the practice swings, in conjunction with the lie of the ball, caused the movement of the ball. With reference to the considerations above, examples of situations where the weight of the evidence would indicate that the player did not cause the movement are:
  • On a very windy day, a player addresses the ball on the putting green. A short time later the ball moves slightly in the direction the wind is blowing. The strength and direction of the wind and the delay in the movement of the ball after the club was grounded indicate that factors other than the player are more likely than not to have caused the movement.
  • A player's ball lies on an upslope in a closely-mown area. He makes a practice swing, but does so some distance from the ball as he is concerned that the ball may move. He carefully takes his stance but does not ground his club. Prior to making his backswing for the stroke, the ball moves. As the ball did not move while the player made the practice swing or took his stance, it is more likely than not that other factors (i.e., the ball's lie on an upslope) caused the ball to move. (New)

      Derek Duesler