Golf mind games

The Rooster wrote: »

Two questions:



1. Is that correct? In matchplay can you not tap-in your second (or third!) putt if your opponent is outside you and hasnt given you permission?

2. I was playing a friendly fourball matchplay yesterday and on a particular par 5 me and my partner were safely on the fairway but both opponents found trouble. One of them couldnt find his first tee-shot that went into the trees so headed back to play the provisional drive he'd hit (found the edge of the fairway, but was quite short). I ambled back to be behind the ball when he was hitting (his 4th shot now), but I left my trolley/bag at the edge of the trees and as he was over the ball I noticed it was a great opportunity for him to hit my trolley and thus win the hole. Am I right in saying that if he hit my trolley he'd win the hole? Would that be cheating or unethical or just using the rules to your best advantage?

Rule 10 - Order of Play
10-1 Match play

a.When Starting Play of Hole
The side that has the honour at the first teeing ground is determined by the order of the draw. In the absence of a draw, the honour should be decided by lot.
The side that wins a hole takes the honour at the next teeing ground. If a hole has been halved, the side that had the honour at the previous teeing ground retains it.
b. During Play of Hole
After both players have started play of the hole, the ball farther from the hole is played first. If the balls are equidistant from the hole or their positions relative to the hole are not determinable, the ball to be played first should be decided by lot.
Exception: Rule 30-3b (best-ball and four-ball match play).
Note: When it becomes known that the original ball is not to be played as it lies and the player is required to play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played(see Rule 20-5), the order of play is determined by the spot from which the previous stroke was made. When a ball may be played from a spot other than where the previous stroke was made, the order of play is determined by the position where the original ball came to rest.
c. Playing Out of Turn
If a player plays when his opponent should have played, there is no penalty, but the opponent may immediately require the player to cancel the stroke so made and, in correct order, play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).

Rule 19-3 Ball in Motion Deflected or Stopped
By opponent, caddie, or equipment, in match-play

If a player’s ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by an opponent, his caddie or his equipment, there is no penalty. The player may, before another stroke is made by either side, cancel the stroke and play a ball, without penalty, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (Rule 20-5) or he may play the ball as it lies. However, if the player elects not to cancel the stroke and the ball has come to rest in or on the opponent’s or his caddie’s clothes or equipment, the ball must through the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball came to rest in or on the article, but not nearer the hole.