In a junior golf tournament, two kids hit their drives within a few feet of each other. They are playing the same make, model, and number. My son has a club logo that is not visible on either ball. The other player picks up one of the balls and says this is mine. My son checks the distance and grabs a club to hit. He doesn't confirm that the ball is his because the other player was clear on which one was his ball. He puts his second shot close to the pin on the green. While the ball is still rolling and without checking the other ball again, the other player says you hit the wrong ball that is a two stroke penalty.

I believe it is a 2 stroke penalty and he learned a valuable life lesson. I told him to play his correct ball in and mark it for discussion after the round. If the coaches and the tournament director want to enforce the penalty, then I would push for a 1.2a ruling that the other player should be disqualified for their actions.

Disqualifying the other player would probably only happen if malicious intent. I'm not sure how the kid picks up the ball, sees the logo on it, and still says it's his ball. That doesn't really add up.

Tough one! Hope he prevailed.

FROM GROK

**Yes, in golf, you can mark your ball and pick it up in the fairway (or anywhere in the general area) specifically to identify it as yours, under the Rules of Golf.**

This is allowed under **Rule 7.3** (Ball Search: Finding and Identifying Ball) from the USGA and R&A.

Key points from the current Rules:

- If a ball might be yours but **cannot be identified as it lies** (e.g., due to mud, grass, dirt covering your identification mark, or similar reasons), you may lift it to identify it.
- You **must first mark the spot** of the ball before lifting it. This is typically done by placing a ball-marker (like a coin, small disc, or even a tee) right behind or next to the ball, or by holding a club on the ground right behind/next to it.
- After marking, you can lift (or rotate) the ball to check for your identification mark or other distinguishing features.
- When lifted only to identify it (outside the putting green), you **cannot clean the ball** beyond what's minimally needed to identify it no full cleaning allowed.
- If it is your ball, you must **replace it** on its original marked spot (under Rule 14.2) before playing your next stroke.
- If you lift it when it wasn't reasonably necessary to identify it (i.e., you could already tell it was yours without lifting), or if you fail to mark the spot first, you get **one penalty stroke**.

This differs from the putting green, where you have broader rights to mark and lift/clean under Rule 13.1b without needing a specific identification reason.

Note that since the 2019 Rules changes, you no longer need to announce your intention to lift the ball for identification (or give others a chance to watch), which simplified things compared to older rules.

In casual play, especially if your ball is clearly visible and identifiable, most players don't lift it just to check but the Rules do permit it when genuinely needed for identification.

I swear, every time I went out with my kid for a junior golf tourney, something like this would happen. Forced me to brush up on the rules… get ready.

Sounds like your son's playing partner has a bit of Patrick Reed in him. Obviously no way of proving it, but as the story is told, it sounds like he knew exactly what he was doing.

Your son learns a two stroke lesson and to mark his ball in a blatantly obvious way. He also gets to learn that not everyone is going to play in a "gentlemanly manner".

Reminds me of HS golf. I sucked...was at a school where I was the #1 or #2 on the team by virtue of shooting mid-90s. Had a playing partner who was usually in contention for individual medalist at the tournaments, and was a real stickler for the rules for his opponents but played quick and loose when it came to drops for himself (not measuring, not announcing clearly, etc)...but would deny it when asked about it. Was real great when he teed up 6 inches in front of the markers with a coach watching, and I let him tee off, then told him to get another ball and tee it again correctly. He finished 2nd by 1 or 2 strokes. I finished a good 20 behind.

In short, knowing your rulebook is a good skill to have on the course.

Interestingly enough my daughters high school team is playing their district tournament today and tomorrow. First girl hits her shot into a bunker. Second girl hits her shot in the same bunker. First girl goes up and hits her shot out of the bunker, second girl does the same. Then they discover the hit the wrong balls. They each got a 2 stroke penalty and had to place their balls back in the bunker and hit out again. Sucked for girl #2, she just assumed the remaining ball in the bunker after girl 1hit out.

1). mark your ball with something identifiable. multiple marks so that you never have to lift to identify. I understand there was a logo on this one, but still mark it with a dot, line or something.

2) Always verify yourself. Always. Don't trust other's range finders, course "knowledge" or other ancillary comments like "man that was slow I killed that putt" or "I barely tapped that one"...stuff like that is so prevalent in HS/Junior level. Also always verify someone "finding their ball".

So what was the final outcome of this?

in an effort to enforce the rules, they didn't enforce the rules by failing to DQ the kid. He played the wrong ball and did not correct it prior to next tee shot, therefore DQ.

People making up rules remains undefeated.

What would the proper thing for the kid to do? Mark where your son played the second shot from, run up to the green and get the ball, then bring it back and play his second shot? I never played competitive, so curious.

Below is how I interpret the ruling...

The situation:

- Player A hits Player B ball (Player A fault for not checking, regardless of the d**k move by Player B)
- Player A must go play his own original ball from the proper place, with a 2 stroke penalty to correct the violation.
- At this moment Player B should have dropped a ball from where Player A played Player Bs ball, no penalty. He does not have to go retrieve the ball hit as said in 14-2 Exception.
- From what the OP said, Player B instead goes and plays the ball which player A wrongfully hit, which is actually Player Bs ball. This is violation Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place (see 14-7a). 2 stroke penalty.

HOWEVER
Since he did not go correct the mistake and started the next hole, he should be DQed (see 14.7b-1). Under this, I would interpret this to be a "Serious Breach" (whether the player could have gained a significant advantage by playing from a wrong place). I would say since he played his next shot from the green and recorded a birdie, this was a significant advantage.

The prosecution rests.

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6-3 c. Wrong Ball
(1) Making Stroke at Wrong Ball. A player must not make a stroke at a wrong ball.
Exception Ball Moving in Water: There is no penalty if a player makes a stroke at a wrong ball that is moving in water in a penalty area or in temporary water:

• The stroke does not count, and
• The player must correct the mistake under the Rules by playing the right ball from its original spot or by taking relief under the Rules.

Penalty for Playing Wrong Ball in Breach of Rule 6.3c(1):
In match play, the player gets the general penalty (loss of hole):

• If the player and opponent play each other's ball during the play of a hole, the first to make a stroke at a wrong ball gets the general penalty (loss of hole).
• But if it is not known which wrong ball was played first, there is no penalty and the hole must be played out with the balls exchanged.

In stroke play, the player gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes) and must correct the mistake by continuing play with the original ball by playing it as it lies or taking relief under the Rules:

• The stroke made with the wrong ball and any more strokes before the mistake is corrected (including strokes made and any additional penalty strokes solely from playing that ball) do not count.
• If the player does not correct the mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning their scorecard, the player is disqualified.

(2) What to Do When Player's Ball Was Played by Another Player as Wrong Ball. If it is known or virtually certain that the player's ball was played by another player as a wrong ball, the player must replace the original ball or another ball on the original spot (which if not known must be estimated) (see Rule 14.2).
This applies whether or not the original ball has been found.

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14.2 Replacing Ball on Spot
This Rule applies whenever a ball is lifted or moved and a Rule requires it to be replaced on a spot.
a. Original Ball Must Be Used
The original ball must be used when replacing a ball.
Exception Another Ball May Be Used When:

• The original ball cannot be recovered with reasonable effort and in a few seconds, so long as the player did not deliberately cause the ball to become unrecoverable,
• The original ball is cut or cracked (see Rule 4.2c),
• Play resumes after it had been stopped (see Rule 5.7d), or
• The original ball was played by another player as a wrong ball (see Rule 6.3c(2)).

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14.7 Playing from Wrong Place
a. Place from Where Ball Must Be Played
After starting a hole:

• A player must make each stroke from where their ball comes to rest, except when the Rules require or allow the player to play a ball from another place (see Rule 9.1).
• A player must not play their ball in play from a wrong place.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 14.7a: General Penalty.
b. How to Complete a Hole after Playing from Wrong Place in Stroke Play
(1) Player Must Decide Whether to Play Out Hole with Ball Played from Wrong Place or to Correct the Mistake by Playing from Right Place. What a player does next depends on whether it was a serious breach that is, whether the player could have gained a significant advantage by playing from a wrong place:

• Not a Serious Breach. The player must play out the hole with the ball played from a wrong place, without correcting the mistake.
• Serious Breach.
  
  • The player must correct the mistake by playing out the hole with a ball played from a right place under the Rules.
  • If the player does not correct the mistake before making a stroke to begin another hole or, for the final hole of the round, before returning their scorecard, the player is disqualified.
• What to Do If Uncertain Whether Breach Is Serious. The player should play out the hole with both the ball played from a wrong place and a second ball played from a right place under the Rules.

6.3c 2 strokes for wrong ball. then 6.3c(2) the original or a substitute ball must be placed on the original spot (yes even if its a divot now).

Since he didn't do that, then...

14.7 Playing from wrong place. In this case it would be considered a Serious Breach because the player gained a significant advantage from playing from the wrong place. The mistake must be corrected by playing out the hole from the right place. If the player doesn't correct it before making a stroke on the next hole they're disqualified.

When I get in a rules tiff I always bring up to the committee the likelihood that a 1.2 Standard of Conduct breach has occurred if I feel anyone has lied intentionally, well organized committees will usually have a schedule of penalties under their 1.2b Code of Conduct. Considering this is with kids I doubt any of that exists.