'X’ marks the spot

Avoid confusion and a possible rules violation by making it a habit to mark your ball

Dear North Shore Golf,

I was playing a match against a guy who I didn’t really know that well other than the fact that I had heard he had a history of conveniently forgetting the rules from time to time when it benefited him. The match was all-square as we headed to the par-5, 14th hole. We both drove it into the deep rough on the right side. When we got to the area where our balls were, I immediately found mine and announced it to my opponent. He asked what I was playing and I told him it was a Nike with my initials marked on it.

'X' marks the spot

We both continued to look in the rough for his ball. I asked him what he was playing and he said a Titleist Pro-V1 and about 30 seconds later he said he had found it. It seemed to me that he was a good 15 yards away from where his ball had entered the rough and when I asked him if he was sure that it was his ball he said yes. When I asked if he had marked his ball he said no, but he was sure that this was his ball.

I let it go, even though I was still pretty sure it wasn’t his ball. He won the hole and luckily I went on to win the next three holes to win the match, but the situation on the 14th was still bugging me.

We all know that Pro V1s are probably the most popular ball out on the course. He did announce that he was playing a Pro-V1 at the start of the round, but I never asked if he distinctively marked his ball. My question to you is should he have been penalized for not placing a distinctive mark on his ball? If not, did I have the right to challenge that the ball he found was not his, or did I have to go on the assumption that he was telling the truth and that it was indeed his ball?

– S.P., Beverly, Mass.

North Shore Golf asked Winchester Country Club Head Pro Jim Lane to answer this issue’s question.

Hi S.P.,

Unfortunately, all you have is your opponent’s word in this situation. Rule 12-2 states that it is the player’s responsibility for playing the proper ball and the player should put identification mark on his ball.

That being said, golf is an honorable game and, in this situation, you have to assume your opponent is telling the truth when he says it was his ball. The only way you could have challenged that it wasn’t his ball, according to Decision 12-2/1, would be if there were “reasonable evidence that because of the ball’s condition, it is not the player’s ball.”

Keep in mind, however, that if there happened to be two balls in the same area that were the same brand and the same number, and the player did not put an identification mark on his ball, or could not identify it by its condition, he or she would be penalized for a lost ball since you can’t assume which ball is the correct one. But in your situation, it sounds like there was just one ball and since you couldn’t prove that it wasn’t your opponent’s ball, you have to take his word that it was the correct ball.

The bottom line is that in order to eliminate future problems you should strongly urge your playing companions and opponents to mark their golf balls at all times and announce what brand and number ball they are playing. This is the only way to avoid the type of confusion - and possible dishonesty - that took place during your match.

Jim Lane has been a PGA pro since 1982. He has worked at Winchester CC since 1978 and is serving his 22nd year as the club’s head pro. He previously worked at Weston Golf Club. Last year Lane, who lives in Melrose, was named president of the NEPGA.