Penalty for Moving Attached Object for Another Player
2 min read
The Situation
In stroke play, Player A's ball lies near a partially detached tree branch. Player B, attempting to help A get relief, lifts the branch, inadvertently worsening A's line of play. What is the ruling for Player B?
The Ruling
The statement is True. Here's why:
1. Partially Detached Branch is Part of the Course: A 'partially detached' tree branch is considered a 'growing or attached natural object' and is therefore part of the course, not a loose impediment. Loose impediments are unattached natural objects.
2. Prohibited Action: Rule 8.2a prohibits a player from deliberately moving, bending, or breaking anything growing or attached to the course to affect their own ball at rest or stroke to be made.
3. Action for Another Player: Rule 8.3 states that a player must not take any actions restricted by Rule 8.1a (improving conditions) or Rule 8.2a (deliberately altering other physical conditions) for another player.
4. Penalty: Because Player B deliberately lifted a partially detached branch (an action restricted by Rule 8.2a) for Player A, Player B breaches Rule 8.3. The penalty for breaching Rule 8.3 is the general penalty (two penalty strokes in stroke play).
5. Accidental Worsening is Irrelevant to the Breach: The fact that Player B accidentally worsened Player A's line of play does not change the breach. The rule prohibits the action of moving an attached object, regardless of whether the outcome improves or worsens the conditions.
Summary: Player B's action of lifting a partially detached tree branch, which is part of the course, is a deliberate alteration of physical conditions. Even though it accidentally worsened Player A's line of play, the act of moving an attached object for another player is a breach of Rule 8.2a, and Player B incurs the general penalty under Rule 8.3.
1. Partially Detached Branch is Part of the Course: A 'partially detached' tree branch is considered a 'growing or attached natural object' and is therefore part of the course, not a loose impediment. Loose impediments are unattached natural objects.
2. Prohibited Action: Rule 8.2a prohibits a player from deliberately moving, bending, or breaking anything growing or attached to the course to affect their own ball at rest or stroke to be made.
3. Action for Another Player: Rule 8.3 states that a player must not take any actions restricted by Rule 8.1a (improving conditions) or Rule 8.2a (deliberately altering other physical conditions) for another player.
4. Penalty: Because Player B deliberately lifted a partially detached branch (an action restricted by Rule 8.2a) for Player A, Player B breaches Rule 8.3. The penalty for breaching Rule 8.3 is the general penalty (two penalty strokes in stroke play).
5. Accidental Worsening is Irrelevant to the Breach: The fact that Player B accidentally worsened Player A's line of play does not change the breach. The rule prohibits the action of moving an attached object, regardless of whether the outcome improves or worsens the conditions.
Summary: Player B's action of lifting a partially detached tree branch, which is part of the course, is a deliberate alteration of physical conditions. Even though it accidentally worsened Player A's line of play, the act of moving an attached object for another player is a breach of Rule 8.2a, and Player B incurs the general penalty under Rule 8.3.