Need help on golf rule. Unusual situation. Help.?

Question

Ok. On aproach shot ball hits back of green on a uphill slope. Because of rain the night before the ball plugs,comes out and rest on the uphill side of the plug, right against it. Now this plug looks like a minature volcano. I mark the ball and repair the ball mark. When trying to place the ball, it wont set on the slope where it was. It wants to roll back down the slope and settle some 15 feet away. The ball could not be putted next to the plug it rested against because it was too big. So the question is what should you do and is there a penelty involved? Thanks.

Answer 1

Yes, there would be a penalty incured, as you can't pick the ball up to clean it unless it is on the green. You would in fact get a 2 shot penalty, as:

1: You picked the ball up where it is prohibited

2: You've disturbed the ball's position

Answer 2

do your best, who cares about penalties.

Answer 3

If the ball won't come to rest when you try to replace it, there is no penalty. You have to find a spot where the ball will come to rest, that is as close as possible to the place where it was, but not closer to the hole. You place the ball on that spot. (Rule 20-3d).

Edit: Rule 25 (abnormal conditions/embedded ball) does not apply in this case. The definition of abnormal ground condition does not include pitch marks. The part of the rule covering an embedded ball only applies "through the green", meaning everything except the teeing ground, hazards and the green.

Answer 4

i have two basic answers for situations

A) if you are just playing with some friends, they're not gonna care, drop the ball there and let it roll back to chip from where it comes rest

B)if you are in a tournament of some sort, you get a few tries, and if it never comes to rest where it should, you incur a 1 shot penalty to play it from where it lies, i would suggest you assess the situation to see if the embedded lie shot is easier than the uphill chip

hope that helped

Answer 5

Of what I know, you mark the ball, replace the divot, and then set the ball where it was (just as it sounds you did).  I believe you have to have the ball exactly where it is for no penalty to be enforced.  You may have to adjust the divot a few times so that the surface is smooth but it must be in the same spot.  You really have to be gentle with it in this case, but usually the ball will stay if you have the right touch.

Answer 6

This is all transpiring on the green? The rule 25-1 Abnormal Ground Conditions, Section b Relief iii On the Putting Green explains the relief  and the procedure. If after repairing the plug mark of the ball, the ball will not rest where it is placed, the player must lift it, without penalty, place it at the nearest point of relief which is not in a hazard, and not nearer to the hole, affords complete relief from the ball rolling closer to the hole. The nearest point of relief or maximum available relief may be off the putting green.

Answer 7

if you couldnt get the ball to stay in place, then you have to drop backwards with a penalty (one stroke)