NWO Golf Links June 2016

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Did you happen to see Louis
Oosthuizen’s hole-in-one on the 16thhole
on Sunday in the final round of theMasters
this year?
It landed on the green and careened
off his playing partner, JB Holmes’ ball
before finding the bottom of the cup.
Does that count as an ace? You bet it
does! But how, do you ask?
USGA Rule states when a player’s
ball in motion is deflected by another
ball at rest that player must play his
ball as it lies. In this case, Oosthuizen
got some help from Holmes’ ball in play,
directing it towards the cup.
What about JB? Does he gain any
preferential treatment? Sorry, not in this
case. USGA Rule states, if a ball
in play and at rest is moved by another
ball in motion after a stroke, the moved
ball must be replaced. JB’s ball had to
be placed in its original position before
it was nudged by Louis.
Note, the rulesays ‘placed’, not ‘dropped’.
There are times when you put a ball back
into play by dropping, but on the green,
like in this case, isn’t one. Also note,the
WHEN GOLF BALLS COLLIDE!
BY RICHARD TODD
NWO Golf Links