ONLY WHEN THE FORM OF PLAY IS A FACTOR WILL IT BE STATED If you do not have a Rules of Golf book handy, go to: http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Rules-and-Decisions/
If you have any questions pertaining to this or previous
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Question from week #197 In a stroke play event, Eddie hit’s his tee ball on the 12th hole
into a very muddy low lying area in the fairway. This area is not marked as
ground under repair, but similar areas throughout the course are so marked. Because no member of the Committee is available to make a ruling,
Eddie announces he intends to play two balls, his original from where it
lies, and a second ball under the provisions of R25-1, Abnormal Ground
Conditions and he states the second ball should count for score. Eddie determines the nearest point of relief and drops a ball
according to the Rules. Eddie plays the ball from the mud first and hits it
to about a foot from the hole. He then decides not to play the second ball
and lifts it. When he completes the round, the facts are made known to the
Committee before he signs his card. Pick all correct statements: A. The score Eddie made on the 12th hole with his original ball
stands regardless of how the Committee deems the area of question on the 12th
hole. B. Eddie is penalized one stroke for moving his (2nd) ball in
play which is added to the score of his first ball. C. If the Committee rules the area of mud was not GUR, then the
score he recorded on the 12th hole stands. D. If the Committee rules the area of mud was GUR, then he is
disqualified under R3-2.
Answer C and D are both correct. Remember the basic instructions when you play a second ball
under R3-3: Stroke Play Only Doubt as to Procedure, Rule 3-3 Before taking further action the player must
: 1. Announce his intention to play two balls, and 2. Identify which ball is to count for score, if the Rules
permit. Then, 3. Play out both balls into the hole, and 4. Report the facts to the Committee before turning in score
card. Eddie did everything correctly except he failed to play both
balls into the hole. As a result there are two possible outcomes. 1. If the Committee decides the area was not GUR, then
Eddie’s first ball would determine his score for the hole. 2. However, if the Committee had agreed with Eddie’s original
thought that his ball had come to rest in an area that the Committee
overlooked and determined that he was indeed entitled to relief, then that
second ball would determine his score. But, Eddie never completed play of the
hole with that second ball, the one he originally stated he wanted to count
for score if the Rules permit, therefore he has no score for the hole and as
a result is disqualified. You must understand, when you invoke the option to play a
second ball in stroke play, the Committee, not the player, will decide which
ball counts for score. You must complete the play of the hole with both balls
to prevent a possible DQ. You can reverse the order of his actions, meaning he plays the
second ball first and hit’s it next to the hole. I would think he would be
less likely to lift his original in this scenario because he’ll probably
consider the fact the Committee might not grant relief. The reasoning he
would apply in this second case was what he should have considered initially. When you read over R3-3, recognize that R3-3a lays out the
instructions for the player and R3-3b provides the guidance for the
Committee. | 
