5-1/1  Use of Ball Not Conforming with Prescribed Specifications

Q. If a player unwittingly plays one stroke with a ball which does not meet the prescribed specifications, would the Committee be justified, under Rule 33-7, in waiving or modifying the disqualification penalty?

A. No — but see Decision 5-1/3 with regard to a provisional ball.

5-1/2  Condition Requiring Use of Ball on List of Conforming Golf Balls; Penalty for Breach

Q. It is a condition of a competition that players must play a brand and model of ball on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls. May the Committee provide that the penalty for breach of the condition is loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for each hole at which a breach occurs rather than disqualification?

A. No. (Revised)

5-1/3  Condition Requiring Use of Ball on List of Conforming Golf Balls; Ball Not on List Played as Provisional Ball

Q. It is a condition of the competition that players must play a brand of ball on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls. A player, believing his ball may be lost or out of bounds, plays a provisional ball. He subsequently finds his original ball and then discovers that the ball he played as his provisional ball was not on the List. What is the ruling?

A. The player incurs no penalty as the provisional ball was never the ball in play.

5-1/4  Status of “X-out,” “Refurbished” and “Practice” Balls

Q. What is the status of “X-out,” “refurbished” and “practice” balls?

A. “X-out” is the common name used for a golf ball that a manufacturer considers to be imperfect (usually for aesthetic reasons only, e.g., paint or printing errors) and, therefore, has crossed out the brand name. A “refurbished” golf ball is a second-hand ball that has been cleaned and stamped as “refurbished.”

In the absence of strong evidence to suggest that an “X-out” or “refurbished” ball does not conform to the Rules, it is permissible for such a ball to be used. However, in a competition where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls (see Note to Rule 5-1), such a ball may not be used, even if the ball in question (without the X’s or without the “refurbished” stamp) does appear on the List.

In most cases, “practice” balls are simply listed, conforming golf balls that have been stamped “Practice,” in the same way that golf balls often feature a club or company logo. Such balls may be used even where the Committee has adopted the condition that the ball the player plays must be named on the List of Conforming Golf Balls. (Revised)

5-1/5  Whether Player May Borrow Balls from Another Player

Q. During a stipulated round, a player runs out of balls. May he borrow one or more balls from another player?

A. Yes. Rule 4-4a prohibits a player from borrowing a club from another player playing on the course but the Rules do not prevent a player from borrowing other items of equipment (balls, towels, gloves, tees, etc.) from another player or an outside agency.

If the “One Ball” Condition in Appendix I is in effect, the player would need to obtain the same brand and type of ball as required by that condition.

Borrowing Partner’s Putter — See 4-4b/1.

Another Decision Relating to Rule 5-1:

Golf Ball Artificially Warmed — See 14-3/13.5.

5-3/1  Ball Internally Damaged

Q. A player hit his tee shot and expressed the view that the ball behaved erratically in flight. Before his next shot he examined the ball but he could find no external damage and the ball was not out of shape. He commented that the ball must have been damaged internally by his last stroke and claimed the right to substitute another ball under Rule 5-3. Was the player entitled to invoke Rule 5-3?

A. No.

5-3/2  Ball Declared Unfit for Play Played at Later Hole

Q. A player damaged his ball at a certain hole, declared it unfit for play and substituted another ball. At a subsequent hole he played the damaged ball. What is the ruling?

A. There is no penalty. However, the player may not again declare the ball (in the same condition) unfit for play.

5-3/3  Ball Not Unfit for Play Deemed Unfit

Q. In stroke play, a competitor, after announcing his intention of doing so, lifted his ball to check for damage, showed it to his marker and claimed that it was unfit for play. The marker disputed this claim, but the competitor insisted on substituting and playing another ball. Before completion of the hole, however, a Committee member was consulted and ruled that the ball taken out of play by the competitor was not, after all, unfit for play. What is the ruling?

A. The competitor should be penalized two strokes for a breach of Rule 5-3 and must hole out with the substituted ball.

In similar circumstances in match play, the player would lose the hole for a breach of Rule 5-3.

5-3/3.5  Player Lifts Ball on Putting Green, Throws Ball into Lake and Then Announces That Ball Is Unfit for Play

Q. A player mis-hits his approach shot but the ball comes to rest on the putting green. The player marks the position of his ball, inspects it and throws it into an adjacent lake from which it cannot be retrieved.

The player then announces to his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor that the ball was unfit for play and that he is substituting another ball. The player did not, as required by Rule 5-3, announce his intention in advance to his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play and give his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor an opportunity to examine the ball.

What is the ruling?

A. The player was entitled under Rule 16-1b to lift his ball without announcing his intentions. However, when he threw the ball into the lake, he deprived his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor of the opportunity to examine the ball and dispute the claim of unfitness, and he made it impossible to replace the original ball should such a dispute be resolved against him. Accordingly, he incurs a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for a breach of Rule 5-3, but he may substitute another ball to complete the hole.

5-3/4  Ball Breaks into Pieces as a Result of Striking Paved Cart Path

Q. A player plays a stroke and the ball strikes a paved cart path. As a result of the impact with the cart path, the ball breaks into pieces. Should the ball be considered to have broken into pieces “as a result of a stroke,” in which case the player must replay the stroke without penalty under the last paragraph of Rule 5-3?

A. Yes.

5-3/5  Ball Embedded in Hazard Lifted to Determine Whether Unfit for Play

Q. Under Rule 5-3, a ball in a hazard may be lifted to determine whether it is unfit for play. If a ball embedded in a hazard is lifted to determine whether it is unfit for play and the lie is altered in the lifting process, does Rule 20-3b apply?

A. Yes, see Note 2 to Rule 5-3.

The same ruling would apply if the lie of a ball in a hazard is altered when the ball is lifted for identification (see the Note to Rule 12-2). (Revised)

5-3/6  Ball Thought to Be Unfit for Play Lifted Under Another Rule and Cleaned; Ball Then Determined to Be Unfit for Play

Q. A player believes that his ball may have become unfit for play as a result of his previous stroke, but he is un-able to determine whether the ball is unfit due to a large piece of mud adhering to it. He lifts his ball to take relief from an area of ground under repair. He then cleans the ball as permitted under Rule 25-1b and determines that the ball is unfit for play. Is the player subject to penalty under Rule 5-3 which prohibits cleaning the ball?

A. No. The player is entitled to clean the ball as provided in Rule 25-1b.

5-3/7 Ball Thought to Be Unfit for Play; Committee Involvement When Opponent, Marker or Fellow-Competitor Not
Readily Available

Q. A player wishes to lift his ball to determine if it is unfit for play, but his opponent, marker or fellow-competitor is not readily available. May a referee or a member of the Committee fulfill the responsibilities of the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor in the relief procedure under Rule 5-3?

A. Yes. However, every effort should be made to have the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor fulfill his responsibilities under Rule 5-3. A referee or a member of the Committee should only become involved if the opponent, marker or fellow-competitor is not readily available.

The same ruling would apply if a player wishes to lift his ball to determine whether he is entitled to relief under a Rule. (Revised)

5-3/8 Opponent or Fellow-Competitor Disputes Player’s Claim That Ball Is Unfit for Play

Q. A player considers his ball unfit for play. His opponent or fellow-competitor disagrees. There is no referee or Committee member available for a ruling. In spite of the opponent’s or fellow-competitor’s disagreement, may the player substitute another ball?

A. Yes, subject to the following considerations:

In match play, if the opponent then makes a claim (Rule 2-5) and the Committee, after examination of the original ball, upholds the opponent’s claim, the player would lose the hole. Otherwise, the result of the hole would stand as played.

In stroke play, the player may also play a second ball in accordance with Rule 3-3.

In either form of play, the player must ensure that the condition of the ball he considered unfit for play is preserved until the Committee examines it. Otherwise, the Committee should rule against the player and in match play the player would lose the hole and in stroke play the player incurs a penalty of two strokes.