Player A’s ball and Player B’s ball are both on the putting green. Player A has a 15-foot downhill putt. Player A strikes the ball a little too hard. Player A’s ball goes five foot past the hole and strikes Player B’s ball. What is the Ruling?
Rule 11.1a Exception – Ball Played on Putting Green in Stroke Play.
If a player’s ball in motion hits another ball at rest on the putting green and both balls were on the putting green before the stroke, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes).
Stroke Play
In the question above, Player B would replace his/her ball back to its original spot (no penalty).
Player A would play his/her next stroke from where his/her ball ended up adding two strokes to his/her score.
Match Play
If this would happen in Match Play there is no penalty for Player A even if Player A hits his/her partner’s ball. Player A would play his/her next stroke where the ball ends up. Player B would place their ball back to where their ball was struck.
Here is this month’s golf etiquette tip: Before you make a stroke at a ball, make sure the group ahead of you is out of your range.
