RULE OF THE MONTH

1. If, at any time, a player, her partner or either of their caddies, lifts, moves, or touches the player’s ball purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it)  OR
causes it to move, except as permitted by a Rule – OR the equipment of the player or her partner causes the ball to move, (If you drop a towel or club on the ball and it moves, or it moves when removing loose impediments, i.e. leaves, twigs etc, on the fairway), the player incurs a penalty of ONE stroke, and the ball MUST be replaced.  

  2. If a player’s ball moves after she has addressed   it but before she has made a stroke, and the ball moves, whether it be by the wind or some other means, the player is deemed to have moved it and incurs a penalty of ONE stroke and the ball must be replaced.   




3. If however, the ball moves before she has addressed it   (i.e. by the wind) even if it has been marked, there is no penalty and the ball must be played from its new position.  Do not pick it up and put it back behind the marker (See decision 20-4/1)
2 stroke penalty in stroke play or loss of hole in match play                


4. If the ball has been marked and lifted, and the ball marker is subsequently moved by the wind, the ball MUST be replaced at the spot from where it was lifted – NOT from where the ball marker comes to rest.



5. If a player or her caddie moves her ball when searching for it,   she incurs a ONE shot penalty and the ball MUST be replaced (unless covered in a hazard)


6. If however, her opponent or fellow competitor, or their caddies move the ball whilst searching for it, there is no penalty and it MUST be replaced.



7.  If an opponent or her caddie moves or touches the player’s ball OTHER than when searching for it, i.e. steps on it or pulls trolley over it, the opponent incurs a ONE shot penalty.

So just be careful whether you are a player, an opponent, fellow competitor or caddie, when marking your ball, searching for your ball or just walking up the fairway, you could be penalised!