Ball in a Hazard Part II

[BC MIST]

Similar to the previous thread, with a little twist. This actually happened to a friend last week.

The player addresses his ball in the hazard, takes his backswing and as he starts down his club contacts a tree branch. The tree is in the hazard. He checks his swing. He does not make contact with anything else.

In contacting the tree branch, nothing was broken nor were any leaves knocked from the tree.

His fellow competitors said that he should be penalized 2 strokes and he did not argue.

Should he have been penalized?

[Farzin]

There is a Note attached to Rule 13-4 (Ball in Hazard; Prohibited Actions) stating that AT ANY TIME the player MAY touch grass with the club.

Therefore, there is no penalty.

The wranglings over stroke, swing, at address, downswing, intent to hit, etc. are irrelevant.

Same applies.,I think

[Gary Hill]

No penalty. Here is the complete note to Rule 13-4.

Note: At any time, including at address or in the backward movement for the stroke, the player may touch with a club or otherwise any obstruction, any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course or any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing.