Golf Rule - OB! (A Query...)?

Question

The other day me and my friends were playing a casual round of golf. I hit a shot out of bounds, into the woods. It was gone for about 10 seconds when a passer by saw the ball enter and threw it back in bounds. Me and my friends thought since the ball was brought back in bounds by a neutral passer by that i was lucky and i could play my ball where the person threw it back in (without penalty).

Just checking whether there is a ruling in this and who agrees or what should have happened?!

Thanks!

Answer 1

If an outside agency was responsible for the ball coming back in bounds like hitting a truck, bouncing off the pavement, deflected in bounds after hitting a house in a complex, there would be no penalty. This ball was out of bounds. The stroke and distance penalty should have applied and the player has to go back to the teeing ground  and drive again. He would be hitting 3 with that shot.Neutral passers are not defined in the Rules of Golf.

Answer 2

The ball is OB.

The person walking on the street is called an "outside agency". How you handle the situation depends on whether or not the "outside agency" intentionally directed the movement of the ball.

As long as the "outside agency" did not intentionally direct the movement of the ball, it is only the final position of the ball that determines whether it is in-bounds.

If you had conked him in the head, and the ball just randomly deflected back onto the course, it would be in bounds and you could play it. Same applies if it hits a tree, or a wall , or a car.

In your case, the outside agency intentionally directed the movement of the ball.

Since the person threw the ball back in bounds, you have to use your best judgment to determine where the ball would have ended up if the person had not thrown it. It is obvious in this case that it would have been out-of-bounds.

The same logic is applied during tournaments when a player's shot hits a spectator.

At the PGA in Hazeltine in 2002, Retief Goosen hit a shot that went over the green. Someone sitting behind the green swatted the ball onto the green. Goosen had to drop where the person was when they swatted the ball.

Answer 3

Out of bounds I am afraid.

Answer 4

if u saw anyone or any animal move it, then you'll have to replace the ball where it last rest. If it was out of bounds then you'll get penalized. If no one saw something move it then you can play as it lies, with no penalty. If your ball when out bounds and hit anything to come at rest in bounds, then it's ok to continue play without any penalty.

Answer 5

Hey, Once the ball leaves the course its out of bounds, unfortunately. Its like a spectator throwing the football back onto the ground from the stands to put it back into play. lol.

Answer 6

It's OB. It doesn't matter if someone throws it back - you'd have to count the penalty because of the ball being OB before the guy threw it back.

Answer 7

It's OB.  1 stroke penalty and loss of distance, meaning you have to re-tee it.  If it were to hit a tree however and come back in, it is perfectly playable.  I'm a caddie and I have seen someone slice it OB, hit a street light, and come back in to the middle of the fairway (he ended up winning the hole).

Answer 8

The key to the rule and your question is where the ball "comes to rest" in other words where it stops moving.  You ball came to rest out of bounds, thus you should hit from the original spot with a stroke penalty.  A ball that goes out of bounds, hits a tree, and comes back in never "came to rest" out of bounds.  It came to rest back in play so you play it from there.

Answer 9

If by out-of bounds you're referring to a white-staked area, then once the ball goes into the hazard...it's gone.  Replay the shot with a one-stroke penalty.  If you hit OB from the tee, your next shot (from the tee) would be your third.