Ball moved while at rest on PUTTING GREEN: If your ball at rest on the putting green has moved
before you have played your next stroke, you need to first of all determine 1 has it actually moved
and then 2 clarify what caused it to move. ‘Moved’ is defined in the rules and states that the ball
must have left its original spot and come to rest on any other spot, and the movement must be
enough that it can be seen by the naked eye. If the ball only wobbles (oscillates) and stays on or
returns to its spot, it has not moved.
1. Has the ball moved?
A player’s ball at rest is treated as having moved, only if it is known or virtually certain that it did. If
the ball only might have moved but it is neither certain or virtually certain that it has, then it is
treated as not having moved and must be played as it lies.
• If a player marks, lifts and replaces the ball on the green and then does not see it has moved
off its mark, but this is seen by a fellow player, then that is enough certainty to confirm the
movement.
• If a player plays an approach shot over a hill and unbeknown to anyone, that ball hits and
moves another ball at rest on that green, there is no certainty. As long as this is not
brought to anyone’s attention before the next stroke then no ‘wrong place’ penalty will be
incurred.
2. What caused the ball to move?
Most movements require replacement but some do not allow that. Knowledge of the differences is
important to avoid ‘wrong place’ penalties being incurred.
• Accidental movement of the ball (or ball marker) by a player, opponent, another player,
another ball, or outside influence does not incur any penalty and the ball must be replaced
on its original spot before being played. However, the ball must be played as it lies if the ball
begins to move during backswing or stroke and the stroke is made. In other words, no
penalty is incurred for the movement or non-replacement.
NB: ‘Accidental’ could be: practice swing, addressing ball, kicking ball or dropping something on
it. Also there is no wrong place penalty if accepted that a player did not know his or her ball, or
marker had been moved before play.
• Deliberate movement by an opponent, will see a penalty for that opponent and the ball
must be replaced
• Natural forces movement (e.g. gravity or wind) can occur either before the ball is marked
and lifted or after it is put back on the spot. If before, then the player has to live with the
result (good or bad) but if after, then the ball must be replaced without penalty before being
played. The rationale is that the player ‘owns’ the spot after marking and lifting, but not
before. The same will apply if some relief has been taken on the green, and the ball moves
after being put back on the green
