Golfers often swap out balls during a round, but not always by choice. Errant shots go AWOL, forcing new balls to be put into play.
But what happens if you haven’t lost your ball and still want to change it? Can you simply plunk down a different ball mid-hole?
It depends.
Under Rule 14.3, you can change balls between holes at any time. You may also substitute a new ball when taking free relief, for instance, from a cart path, sprinkler head, or casual water, or when taking penalty relief from a penalty area or an unplayable lie.
A damaged ball can also be replaced, but only if the damage is a cut or a crack. A minor scrape or scratch doesn’t qualify. Swapping out a ball mid-hole just because you fancy it is not permitted. Once you’ve teed off on a hole, you must stick with the same ball until you’ve putted out.
This applies to the golf most of us play.
However, in elite competitions, things get stricter. Model Local Rule G-4, often called the “same ball” rule, is frequently enforced. It requires players to use the same brand and model of golf ball throughout the entire round.
Just ask Russell Henley. At the 2019 Mayakoba Golf Classic, Henley was hit with eight penalty strokes after discovering he had used two different types of Titleist Pro V1x balls during the second round. Whether anyone else would have noticed is debatable, but Henley did. He spotted his error while signing post-round autographs and turned himself in.
You’d do the same, wouldn’t you? Living with that guilty secret would be too much to bear.
Leave a comment