this happened 2x in our group at our recent US Open....stroke play event..what is the correct penalty?

thanks

2 stroke penalty and one must play the correct ball. If the wrong ball was another competitor's ball, the owner of the ball places it on the spot from where it was incorrectly played.

does the player who hit the wrong ball then go back to where his ball was...??

Yes the player that hit the wrong ball must go back and play his ball.

USGA Rule15-3b:

If a competitor maks a stroke at a wrong ball, he incurs a two stroke penalty.

He must correct his mistake by playing the correct ball. If he fails to correct his mistake before making a stroke on the next teeing ground, or before leaving the last putting green with the intention of correcting his mistake, he is disqualified.

Conclusion: Don't glance at the ball that you think is your ball. Really check it. And, make sure you have a visible, somewhat unique mark on your ball.

In my time I have hit another player's ball into a water hazard (how is that for bad news, 2 strokes AND a pissed off opponent). I have also hit abandoned balls (I was the only one to hit to the left side of the green so that Titleist had to be mine - nope). Talk about a bad feeling, hole out and when removing the ball from the hole you notice it is not the same one with which you started.

I once hit a sand shot and two balls came out of the trap. Evidently there was another ball under mine. Strange thing. Both were the same brand with same mark. 2 black dots. Never could figure which was which so I holed out the closest ball for a sandy and never looked back.
Strange co ink a dink don't you think.

joe jones wrote:

I once hit a sand shot and two balls came out of the trap. Evidently there was another ball under mine. Strange thing. Both were the same brand with same mark. 2 black dots. Never could figure which was which so I holed out the closest ball for a sandy and never looked back. Strange co ink a dink don't you think.

Of course, you forgot to mention the mulligan you took on the previous shot....

:p

joe jones wrote:

I once hit a sand shot and two balls came out of the trap. Evidently there was another ball under mine. Strange thing. Both were the same brand with same mark. 2 black dots. Never could figure which was which so I holed out the closest ball for a sandy and never looked back. Strange co ink a dink don't you think.

Both balls were lost according to Dec 27/11. So whichever you played it was a wrong ball.

Mea culpa, Mea culpa.

I'll take a retro active 2 stroke penalty the next time I do it.

By the way. Can't anyone but me see the unbelievable odds of the event. Things like this usually only happen on the twilight zone. Everyone in my group cracked up over it and not a one pressed for a penalty. I guess they weren't anal retentive.

joe jones wrote:

By the way. Can't anyone but me see the unbelievable odds of the event. Things like this usually only happen on the twilight zone. Everyone in my group cracked up over it and not a one pressed for a penalty. I guess they weren't anal retentive.

Oh, I see the unbelievability of the situation. In fact, it's so unbelievable, that's why I thought you either took a mulligan and hit it in the exact same place...or you did your magic duplicating ball trick out of the bunker.

Sorry...just trying to be funny.

Rulesman wrote:

joe jones wrote: I once hit a sand shot and two balls came out of the trap. Evidently there was another ball under mine. Strange thing. Both were the same brand with same mark. 2 black dots. Never could figure which was which so I holed out the closest ball for a sandy and never looked back. Strange co ink a dink don't you think. Both balls were lost according to Dec 27/11. So whichever you played it was a wrong ball.

I don't believe 27/11 applies here since neither was a provisional. I think you're thinking of 27/10. Something tells me that upon closer inspection it could have been determined which was which, but yea they both should have been lost.

Yes 27/10. Miskeyed

@joejones: I see the craziness of your story and agree people need to lighten up for real!