Fall Ball

When a ‘lost ball’ really isn’t a ‘lost ball’

Dear North Shore Golf,
With autumn right around the corner, I wanted to ask a question about a situation I ran into last year at the tail end of the golf season.
A guy I was playing with hit his second shot on a long par-5 into a pile of leaves on the side of the fairway. All of us in the foursome saw exactly where the ball went in, but when we got to the pile of leaves none of us could find it.
After about five minutes, I thought he was going to declare the ball lost, but instead he claimed that accumulated leaves on the golf course are considered to be “ground under repair,” meaning that he could drop another ball without penalty. None of the other players in the group had ever heard of this rule, so we didn’t allow him to get away with it.
Since this happened, I’ve mentioned this supposed ruling to a few other people and a few have told me there is such a rule. So before the leaves start falling this year, I’d like to have this clarified. Is there a rule that actually permits you to drop without penalty if you can’t find your ball in a pile of leaves?
- J.C. Hamilton, Mass.

North Shore Golf asked Ferncroft Country Cclub head pro Tim Frazer:

Dear J.C.,

This is a great example why all golfers should have a rulebook in their golf bag. On page 8 of the rulebook it defines Ground Under Repair.  

The definition includes material piled for removal, such as grass cuttings, a hole made by a greenskeeper, or in your case, a pile of leaves. However, if the material was left on the course and is not intended to be removed, it is not considered “ground under repair,” unless it is marked that way by the local course.

Also, Rule 25-1c (Lost Ball in abnormal ground condition) states that with reasonable evidence (all players agreeing that the ball is lost in the pile of leaves) a player may substitute another ball without penalty at the point where the ball last entered the condition, no nearer to the hole. So it sounds to me that in your case, everyone would have agreed that the ball was lost in the pile of leaves and this guy would have been able to take a drop without penalty.

Hopefully you’ll be able to take advantage of this rule this fall.

Happy golfing,

Tim Frazer, PGA