rules/ penalty question...

Question
I have two questions that happened on the same hole in the same event.

We were playing the TPC @ Myrtle Beach.  This was a 2 man best ball event over 18 holes.  12 total golfers involved or 6 teams.

We had a local rule in place that the maximum score a player could take on any hole would be a 7.

The hole in question is a par 5.  One of my competitors has hit two balls into the woods, off the tee and has taken a 7 on the hole and is approaching the green.  My ball lies in a landscaped area between the green and the next tee.  It is obvious that this is landscaping because the cart path splits so that you can drive your cart in a circle to the next tee.  My ball is in the area between the cart paths.  I asked for a free drop and was told that "I would not get a free drop unless it was stated as a local rule in writing on the scorecard".  I punched out with my fourth shot short of the green.  My fifth shot was bouncing toward the green when my competitor grabbed my ball, intentionally out of the air and stated "thats 7 your done".  When I informed him that it was only my fifth shot and I would have a chance to putt in for 6 he placed the ball on the green and said there is no penalty for his actions because he was in the hole with a 7 and after all "I was going to have an easier putt anyway".  His partner got a par on the hole and that was recorded on the score card as the best ball score for that hole.

Question #1.  Should I have gotten a free drop from the Landscaping?

Question #2.  Should he and his team suffer a two stroke penalty in the best ball event.

Thanks,
Vince

Answer
Hey Vince. That's quite a question you've got there.

First of all, the area in the middle of the cart paths is not necessarily going to entitle you to a drop. It all depends on whether any of the artificial surface that makes up the cart path interferes with your stance or your swing. If not, then no releif.

As for the other scenario, wow. Obviously he can't just go grabbing your ball like that. If you and your partner were playing the other pair in a bast ball MATCH play event, the penalty would be for the team to lose the hole, I would think. I can only assume that the team should have been assessed a 2 stroke penalty onto whatever score they ultimately took. You'd have to ask the club pro for sure. In this case you're penalizing one player because of something his partner did, because the guy who broke the rule is already in with the max.

That's my best guess for you. Tough question!

John