Animal Instincts

Different courses of action to take when unwanted and uninvited spectators influence your ball during a round

Dear North Shore Golf,
I was on the golf course recently and as I was getting ready for my tee shot I noticed a bunch of geese waddling across the fairway. I waited until they passed and then I hit away. Unfortunately, I hit one of my patented slices and the ball bounced a few times and then hit one of the geese instead of skipping into a hazard. I was happy to see that the goose was OK and even more happy that my ball didn’t roll into trouble.

None of us in our foursome were sure of the ruling so I played the ball where it landed. After our round we got into a discussion in the 19th Hole about the different scenarios that could have played out and everybody had a different guess as to what the ruling would be.

So I have three questions:
First, was I correct in playing my ball where it landed without taking a penalty? Secondly, what would have happened if after my ball stopped, the goose decided to pick it up and carry it either out of bounds or, even better, on to the green? And lastly, does the ruling on these two scenarios vary by what kind of animal is affecting the ball? Does it matter if it’s a dog, goose or squirrel, or even some kind of insect?

Thanks,
– J.P., Newburyport, Mass.

North Shore Golf asked Chris Carter, head pro at Hillview Country Club in North Reading, to answer these questions.

Dear J.P.,
You pose some interesting questions about situations that occur on the course more than you would believe. Going to the USGA Rules of Golf handbook you will find that the exact answers are available. Refer to rule 19, section 1, parts a and b.

Rule 19, section 1 defines an “outside agency” as “any agency not part of the match or, in stroke play, not part of the competitors side, and includes a referee, a marker, an observer and a forecaddie.” Or, in your case, a goose. The rule goes on to say that, “neither wind nor water is an outside agency. If a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency, it is rub of the green, there is no penalty, and the ball must be played as it lies.”

So, to answer your first question the goose is an outside agency. You are not penalized for hitting the goose and were correct for playing the ball where it lied after the fact.

Your second question asks what happens if a goose picks up a ball and carries it to another location, such as out of bounds or onto the green. Refer to section 1, part a. This rule states: “If a ball in motion after a stroke other than on the putting green comes to rest in or on any moving or animate outside agency, the player must, through the green or in a hazard, drop the ball, or on the putting green place the ball, as near as possible to the spot where the outside agency was when the ball came to rest in or on it.”

In this case you are able to drop the ball where it was lying before the goose picked up the ball and flew off with it. If you were on the green you would simply place it where it was before the bird swiped it.

Your third question asks if the type of animal involved affects the ruling. That all depends where this happens. If it happens on the putting green, section 1, part b states that: “If the ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green is deflected or stopped by, or comes to rest in or on, any moving or animate outside agency, except a worm or insect, the stroke is cancelled. The ball must be replaced and stroke replayed.”

So, if the ball were touched by a goose, dog, or a squirrel on the putting green the shot would be cancelled and replayed. However, if the ball were touched by a worm or an insect then play would continue on as normal.

Thanks for the interesting questions about almost unthinkable situations. Thankfully the rules of golf seem to cover everything.

Chris Carter
Head PGA Professional
Hillview Golf Course

Chris Carter began his professional golf career in 1996 as an assistant at Gannon Golf Course. He then moved on to Hillview Golf Course in 1998 and gained his PGA membership in 1999. Chris grew up in Lynn playing at Gannon Golf Course learning the game and business under Head PGA Professional Mike Foster. Chris resides in Danvers with wife, Mary Ann, and two children, Catherine and Michael.