Last Week's Rules Contest

[Colby]

A player touches his ball with his hand in removing loose impediments when the ball lies through the green. The ball does not move. Is there a penalty?

No Under the Rules there is no penalty if a player accidentally causes his ball to move in the following circumstances:

• In searching for a ball in a hazard covered by loose impediments or sand, for a ball in an abnormal ground condition or for a ball believed to be in water in a water hazard — Rule 12-1
  
• In repairing a hole plug or ball mark — Rule 16-1c
  
• In measuring — Rule 18-6
  
• In lifting a ball under a Rule — Rule 20-1
  
• In placing or replacing a ball under a Rule — Rule 20-3a
  
• In removing a loose impediment on the putting green — Rule 23-1
  
• In removing movable obstructions — Rule 24-1.

The question asked if the player touches the ball when it is lying through the green. The highlighted answer, based on 23-1, states that the ball is on the putting green, which is not the same thing.

“Through the green’’ is the whole area of the course except:
a. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played; and
b. All hazards on the course.

When a player’s ball is in play, if:
(i) the player, his partner or either of their caddies lifts or moves it, touches it purposely (except with a club in the act of addressing it) or causes it to move except as permitted by a Rule,

Now in the question, the ball doesn't move, but is touched by the player accidently. The answer is still no penalty because the player does not touch it purposely, rather than the exemption under 23-1.

[Kilroy]

Yup I quoted the wrong part of the rule. Now fixed.