We are back with another Sue’s Rules, from Las Vegas Golf Hall of Fame and Southern Nevada Golf Association rules official Sue May. So, here we go.
Question: I was driving down the fairway not paying attention and ran over a player’s ball. Is there a penalty to me or the player whose ball I ran over?
Sue’s Rule:
No penalty to either of you and the ball must be replaced by you or the player. Since the ball was run over, it is likely that the lie of the ball was altered. If so, the Player must place the ball in the nearest most similar lie that is within one club length from its original spot not nearer the hole and in the same area of the course as that spot.
Question:
I hit my all onto the cart path in the General Area near some bushes. I marked it and lifted it intending to take cart path relief. The players with me said my nearest relief was in the bushes. I decided not to take relief and replaced the ball. Now I was told that since I had already picked the ball up, it would cost me a one stroke penalty to replace it. Is that right?
Sue’s Rule:
Yes, it is. Since you were allowed to take cart path relief, you must take it to avoid a penalty stroke. You have lifted a ball in play.
