I know this is a weird question - it was inspired by a weird dream. Sorry.
If I hit a golf ball and it bounced off of a bear, thus angering the bear, and the bear took a swipe at the ball and it landed on the green, just inches from the cup, would I play it where it there, from the green, or where it landed after hitting the bear and before the bear hit it?
If I hit a ball near the water hazard and we found it to be laying in the open mouth of an alligater, would I have to take a penalty stroke to play a new ball?
OK, my apologies, it was a weird dream, but it made me curious.
Just so you don’t have to wade through all of them…
Situation 1, “Ball struck by angry bear.” Rule 13.1, “The ball must be played as it lies…” Since the ball lies next to the hole, play it from there, where it now lies. Tip the bear five bucks.
Situation 2, “Angry alligator gums ball.” Believe it or not, there is a decision on this, although the “dangerous situation” outlined in the rule involves rattlesnakes or bees. Decision 1/4-10:
Personally, I would immediately retire to the 19th hole in this situation.
I assume that the stroke you played was not already on the green when it hit the angry bear.
In that case, the bear is an outside agency, and you have described a “rub of the green,” which occurs when a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by an outside agency. The ball is played where it lands. (Rule 19-1).
If the stroke that hit the bear was a putt - that is, a stroke on the green - the stroke is canceled and ball must be replaced and the stroke replayed. (Rule 19-1(b)).
I believe you’ll find that a live bear is an outside agency, and thus Rule 19-1 is applicable. I agree the same result is produced: play it where it lies – but the analysis proceeds from the ball being moved or deflected, and Rule 19 is relevant because, unlike the analysis under Rule 13, there is a difference between a stroke through the green or in a hazard and a stroke on the green.
Looking at 19-1, I’m sure you’re right there, Rick.
Although (and I mention this only facetiously) there is this addendum to that rule:
(my italics) 1-4 reads: “If any point in dispute is not covered by the Rules, the decision should be made in accordance with equity.” I can now foresee an argument as to whether the bear knocked Khadaji’s ball onto the green on purpose!
There are several tournaments in Florida and Louisiana where the alligator thing could come into play. You frequently seen one in a water hazard along the fairway or out on the bank sunning. The options have been discussed on TV and as stated above the ruling is to abandon the ball without penalty and drop one where it is safe but not nearer the hole. I also assume that if the place where the alligator and your ball are is tall grass, trees or sand you have to drop in tall grass, trees or sand. But maybe not. Sometime the rules let you improve your lie legally.
Before we could give you a definitive answer, we would have to know which course you were playing. Many courses with animate hazards have local rules to cover the situation, so we would need to check them as well.
