Sue’s Rules – Penalty for Driving Over Golf Ball with Cart?

Back again with another Sue’s Rules with hall of fame rules official Sue May. Here is a good one that we probably have all wondered about at some point.

Q. I was told that if I’m searching for my ball and accidentally move it there is no penalty. Does that mean if I’m driving my cart while searching in the area my ball should be and run over it plugging the ball into the ground there’s no penalty?

Sue’s Ruling: That’s correct, no penalty. If you ran over your ball while searching for it that would be considered an altered lie so you would place the ball on the nearest spot (not nearer the hole) that has the most similar conditions affecting the stroke, is within one club-length of its original spot, and is in the same area of the course as that spot.

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