INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES OF GOLF 
by Frank Gal, 
Chairman of Rules & Amateur Status

October 2007 - When can you substitute a ball?

Rule 15-1 lays out one of the game's fundamental principles: You must hole out with the ball played from the teeing ground unless a Rule permits you to substitute another ball.

An example of substituting a ball contrary to the Rules is a player teeing off with a "distance" ball and replacing it on the green with a softer ball to putt with. In this case, the penalty is loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play for a breach of Rule 16-1 which does not allow substitution.

An improperly substituted ball is considered in play, with the penalty noted above if a stroke is made with that ball. However, if the incorrectly substituted ball has not been played, there would be no penalty if the player lifted it and proceeded with the correct ball (see Rule 20-6).

So, when do the Rules allow you to substitute another ball? The most obvious instances are when you are starting a new hole and when your ball is lost.

The Rules allow you to substitute a ball without penalty during play of a hole in the following circumstances:

• When the ball has become unfit for play during play of the hole being played. Rule 5-3 tells us that a ball is unfit for play if it is visibly cut, cracked or out of shape. Note that the Rule provides a strict procedure that must be followed before the substitution is made.

• Rule 5-3 also tells us that if your ball breaks into pieces as a result of a stroke, the stroke is cancelled and you must play another ball from as nearly as possible to where that stroke was made from.

• When the Committee has suspended play, you are allowed to mark and lift your ball. In these circumstances, you are also allowed to substitute another ball at that spot when play is resumed (see Rule 6-8d).

• According to the 1^st note at the end of Rule 18 you are allowed to substitute another ball if you are required to replace it under that Rule and it is not immediately recoverable. A ball is deemed not to be "immediately recoverable" when it cannot be retrieved within a few seconds.

• You can also drop a different ball when taking relief from an obstruction or an abnormal ground condition such as ground under repair or casual water if the ball is not immediately recoverable.

• Rule 26 lets you substitute a ball when taking relief from a water hazard or lateral water hazard. The substitution is allowed even if you retrieve you ball from the hazard.

• Similarly, the unplayable ball rule (Rule 28) also lets you drop another ball when taking relief under that Rule, whether or not you have retrieved your ball.

• If your ball lies in a position at which you would be in danger if you approached it, such as near a venomous snake or a bees' nest, you could drop another ball on the nearest spot not nearer the hole which is not dangerous (see Decision 1-4/10).

Finally, Decision 15-2/1 illustrates the wisdom of taking care when handling a ball if substitution is not allowed under the Rules:

Q.       A player, whose ball was on the putting green, marked the ball's position, lifted it and threw it to his caddie for cleaning. The caddie failed to catch the ball and it went into a lake and could not be retrieved. The player holed out with another ball. Should he be penalised under Rule 15-2?

A.       Yes. Rule 16-1b, under which the ball was lifted, does not permit substitution of another ball. Accordingly, the player incurred a penalty of loss of hole in match play or two strokes in stroke play.