Rules of the Game

20-3 Placing and Replacing

a. By whom and where

A ball to be placed under the rules must be placed by the player or his partner.

If a ball is to be replaced, the player, his partner or the person who lifted or moved it must place it on the spot from which from which it was lifted or moved. If the ball is placed or replaced by another person and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke. In any such case, the player is responsible for any other breach of the rules that occurs as a result of the placing or replacing of the ball.

If a ball or ball marker is accidentally moved in the process of placing or replacing the ball, the ball or ball marker must be replaced. There is no penalty, provided the movement of the ball or ball marker is directly attributable to the specific act of placing or replacing the ball or removing the ball marker. Otherwise, the player incurs a penalty of one stroke under Rule 18-2A or 20-1.

If a ball to be replaced is placed other than on the spot from which it was lifted or moved and the error is not corrected as provided in Rule 20-6, the player incurs the general penalty, loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play, for a breach of the applicable rule.

Enjoy the Game