I was playing a very good round yesterday - parring in would have generated my career best score on this course.

On the 16th tee (180 yard par 3) I hooked a 4i hybrid OB - DARN!

Then I looked down and I had not teed off from between the tee markers. The markers were skewed way to the left and I had teed off from the center of the tee box, but to the right of both markers.

So this shot didn't count and I actually didn't hit a ball OB.

dave

ps. Rule 11-4 made it a 2 stroke penalty anyway, but somehow having not hit a ball OB made it feel better

not sure how this made you 'feel better'.

You still put a swing on the ball that caused it to go OB.

You still got 2 strokes added to your score.

End result: exactly the same.

Added item: you still need to either figure out why you hit such a shot in the forst place or have to try to put out of your mind and put your normal swing on the next time.

Unless you have a time machine, Dave, you still hit a ball OOB and you still get a 2 stroke penalty. The only time it wouldn't cost you a penalty is in matchplay.

Sorry jaskanski. You are not correct. The stroke he made that hit the ball out of bounds does not count. Please take a look at the rule Dave cited. Also, there is a decision that specifically deals with this situation.

Decision 11-4b/6

Question: In stroke play, A played from outside the teeing ground and his ball came to rest out of bounds. He played another ball from within the teeing ground. Is he penalised stroke and distance under Rule 27-1, as well as two strokes under Rule 11-4b?

Answer: No. A is penalised only two strokes under Rule 11-4b. The ball played from outside the teeing ground was not in play. Therefore, the fact that it came to rest out of bounds was irrelevant and the stroke itself did not count.

Very interesting!

For your use and reference

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/smileys

which (in the on-line world) would indicate to most folks that maybe this was not intended as a really serious comment.

dave

Yes, but if you read the post in question, the player incurs a 2 stroke penalty whatever. Playing from outside the tee markers incurs a 2 stroke penalty if the ball doesn't go out of bounds. The player must re-tee to correct their error. If the ball does go out of bounds, the player still incurs a 2 stroke penalty and must re-tee. Difference? zero. Decision 11-4b/6 is quite correct, but in terms of the score recorded for that hole it is irrelevant.

So, now I'm confused. Why does he need a time machine?

Obvious - So as not to suffer the embarassment of hitting his original ball OB. Or outside the tee markers. I'd probably just return to 1984.

Well, I wouldn't return to 1955. Only bad things can happen and there is no plutonium.

What course were you playing? I'm from the area just trying to figure out how many par 3s are on 16 and at that yardage.

In matchplay he only has to re-play his shot at his opponents request.
Does this mean if the opponent does not request him to re-load the penalty stands?

There is no penalty. Recalling the shot if played outside the tee markers is solely at the discretion of his opponent. Usually, the opponent would recall a good tee shot, but if his opponent nobbled one into the rough would choose to let it go. If neither party is aware of the error, there is still no penalty.

So the penalty for the OB would stand in matchplay if the opponent did not request a re-load but no penalty if he did request a one.

Not exactly. Consider a match between players A and B. A played from outside the teeing ground and hit his ball out of bounds. B is not obliged to recall the shot so A's ball is in play. Or rather it is out of bounds. Therefore A must drop a ball as near as possible from where the last shot was played under penalty of stroke and distance (rule 27-1), ie outside the teeing area. A cannot tee a ball up from the correct tee area since the original ball was played from outside the correct area (rule 20-5). B probably can't believe his luck. The lesson to everyone is to tee your ball in the correct area! See decision 11-5/3

Pinehurst No. 3 - a very short course with some tough greens and a couple of tough par 3's.

dave

Do not, I repeat, do not attempt to figure out why you feel better. Just feel better. It's good, and it's free.

The penalty for a ball hit out of bounds is one stroke plus distance. Not two strokes.

Count your hits and add one.

-mini

I guess it could have been worse. I could have made a hole in one and still have been hitting 3 off the tee!

dave