I am confident that no Rule was not breached in this incident, which I did not witness. Caddies have to stand somewhere and unless they draw attention to the positioning of their feet in order to point a line for putting for the player there is no penalty. Decision 8-2b/2 provides the ruling;

Q.A player’s ball lies on the putting green and his caddie attends the flagstick for him. The caddie suggests, before the stroke, that the player aim at the caddie’s left foot. Is the player in breach of Rule 8-2b?
A.If the caddie had placed his foot in position for the purpose of pointing out the line for putting, the player was in breach of Rule 8-2b as soon as the caddie placed his foot in that position. The breach could not be corrected by the caddie subsequently moving his foot.
If the caddie did not initially place his foot in such a position for the purpose of pointing out the line for putting but subsequently suggested the player aim at his left foot, the player would be in breach of Rule 8-2b if the caddie did not move that foot to another position that does not indicate a line for putting prior to the stroke.
The same answer would apply if a player’s partner attends the flagstick for him.

Barry

I am on your Newsletter list. I’m also a tournament official for the Northern California Golf Association. The reason for my requests is for clarity. I have a very good feel for the rules overall, but I still struggle with some phases on interpertation. I hopefuly will become rules cerified in 2012. and your blog allows me to question myself and get an expert opinion. Once I have your explanation I usually have the rule clear in my mind. Hopefully I’m not too much of a pest.

Thank you,
Phil

No, the player scored six. I referred you to Rule 27-1 in my previous answer, part of which states;

Except as otherwise provided in the Rules, if a player makes a stroke at a ball from the spot at which the original ball was last played, he is deemed to have proceeded under penalty of stroke and distance.

So, 1- tee shot, 2 – hits cart sign, 3 – penalty for stroke and distance under Rule 27-1, 4 – onto green, 5 & 6 – putts. It does not matter that the player did not know that they were being penalised under Rule 27-1, which permits substitution.

Barry

P.S. If you are interested in the Rules of Golf I think that you will find my weekly blog useful: http://www.barryrhodes.com

In regards to my earlier question, did the player play her third stroke when she put another ball into play (wrongly substituded ball). Her second shot hit the cart sign and she thought she was entitled to replay her ball. For reference assuming that her wrongly subsituted ball was then hit on the green and she two putted her ball into the hole. Play off the tee, one stroke, next stroke l hit the cart sign stroke two, wrongly substituded ball, stroke three, two putts stroke four and five. Two stroke penalty for playing from the wrong place for a seven. Yes or no?

Phillip

I do not have any inside information as to why the Exception to Rule 15-2 states that a player is only penalised for playing from the wrong place and not for a wrong substitution. However, i will offer the following comments. First, Decision 1-4/12 confirms the principle that different acts resulting in two Rules being breached, when the breach of second Rule Is a direct consequence of the initial breach, only incurs a single penalty. Second, Rule 27-1 states that a player may at any time, under penalty of one stroke, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (note that it specifies “a” ball, confirming that the player may substitute their original ball when doing so. It would therefore be inequitable to impose two penalties in the circumstances that you describe.

Barry

A player playes their second shot and the ball hits a cart sign in the middle of the faraway. Not knowing Rule 19, “rub of the green” she then hits a different ball from where she hit her originial ball.. Under Rule 15-2 she has substituded a ball when not permitted to do so. Is she pentalized 2 strokes for wrongly substituding a ball or 2 strokes for hitting from the wrong place or both. The exception in Rule 15-2 states that the player is pentalize for hitting from the wrong place and not for a wrong subsitution. Could you please explain why two violations only equal one violation. Or maybe I’m not interperting this rule correctly.

Thank you,
Phillip

Please advise should or could rule 26 apply after it gets dark. As in virtually certain.

Will give scenario if required,

John.