BALL MOVING ON GREEN

Question
AFTER MARKING HIS BALL. CLEANING IT. HE REPLACED THE BALL AND LIFTED HIS MARKER. WHILE GETTING READY TO ADDRESS THE BALL. THE BALL BEGAN TO ROLL AWAY FROM THE ORIGINAL SPOT FOR ABOUT 15 FEET. WHAT IS THE RULING AND PENALTIES IF ANY? THERE WAS NO GUST OF WIND OR ANY OUTSIDE AGENCY INVOLVED. THE BALL WAS ON A SLIGHT INCLINE. DID HE NOT CAUSE THE BALL TO MOVE BY REMOVING HIS MARKER? IF WAS AT REST FOR ABOUT 2 SECONDS BEFORE MOVING.

Answer
Bob,

This is A question/answer from the 2008-2009 USGA Decisions on the Rules of golf that comes closest to answer your question.

18-2b Ball Moves After Stance Taken But Before Address

Q. Outside a hazard, the player took his stance but did not ground his club. The ball moved. What is the ruling?

A. As the player had not addressed the ball, he did not incur a penalty under rule 18-2b ( see Definition of "Addressing the ball")

If however, the player caused the ball to move, he was subject to penalty and the ball should have been replaced - Rule 18-2a.



Personal note. A player has not addressed the ball he has grounded his club. This is the reason Jack Nicklaus never grounded his club before any of his shots.

Thanks for the question.

Michael Hoffman
PGA Professional