2 Questions

[g8r]

Both of these situations happened to me this weekend.....both I was unsure of how to proceed
There was a previous post about squirrels and the like moving your ball, but what happens if you hit a bird in mid air, play it where it lies? re-hit?

question 2 - My ball lands in the rough (short rough, right beside OB, it was muddy and wet), and plugs into the ground completely, is this a free drop (Casual water?) or do I have to play it, or deem it unplayable and drop with penalty?

Thanks,

[NoBack]

what happens if you hit a bird in mid air,

Count it as a birdie!!!
Couldnt resist that one, really dont know the answer but I would say play it as it lies. :cryin

[spidey]

1 - Hitting a bird is a "rub of the green". You play it as it lies. Imagine this was a tee shot and when you hit the bird, the ball dropped on the green and fell into the hole. Would it count as an ace? Yes.

2 - The rules allow you to lift and clean your plugged ball only in "closely mown areas through the green". "Casual water" would be defined as "when you stand in it, the water comes above the soles of your shoes". There is no relief for a "muddy ball". If the water is not deep enough to deem it "casual water", then there's no free relief. You may declare your ball unplayable at any time except when the ball lies in a water hazard.

[spidey]

Follow-up question on embedded ball....

The rule says the ball must be dropped as near as possible to the pitch mark.

Can you re-drop if the ball rolls into the pitch mark?
Can you fix the pitch mark?