Rule Question:

Sean_pop

I was playing a scotch foursomes match the other night. We got to the 10th hole where i hit a drive down the left. We thought my partner was down the middle but he was just in the rough on the right. Our opponent picked up my ball because he thought my partner was down the middle but in fact it was his own playing partner. I told him that we were actually going to use my drive because the lie I had in the rough was much better than my playing partner. My question is when putting my ball back, should he place it or drop it?

Johnny_Fontane

can only think its a two stroke penalty for picking up your ball. Or loss of hole. Either way, its bad news for him.

JIdontknow

I believe he has to place it (you can't drop / place it, he must do it where he believed it was). If he drops it, who'se to say it doesn't hit a slope and run into say a bush or bunker etc. I believe he has to place it as close as possible to where it was. Not sure on the penalties he incurs for that, but I believe he has to place it as opposed to drop it. I remember an incident in my club where a member played the wrong ball, he had to place the ball and he also had to scratch the hole (singles stableford, with the shot penalties he was out of the hole, in matchplay I am unsure)

Rule 18-3b

http://golf.about.com/cs/rulesofgolf/a/rule18_2.htm

http://www.irishopenmatchplay.ie/index.php/enter-irelands-golf-matchplay-online-now-link/182-golf-matchplay-ireland/270-matchplay-ireland-rules
(Scroll to bottom and then go up to point 3)