Guidance and Explanation of Best Practice to Help Prevent “Backstopping”
“Backstopping“ is the common term used to describe the following situation in stroke play: A player, without agreement with any other player, leaves their ball in place on the putting green close to the hole in a position where another player, who is about to play from off the putting green, could benefit if their ball struck the ball at rest.As there has been no agreement to leave the ball in place to help any player, there is no breach of the Rules (see Rule 15.3a).However, The R&A and USGA take the view that “backstopping” fails to take into account all of the other players in the competition and has the potential to give the player with the “backstop” an advantage over those other players.As a result, the following guidance and explanation of best practice is available to players to help prevent backstopping:
- In stroke play, the competition involves all players and, because each player in the competition cannot be present to protect their own interests, protecting the field is an important responsibility that all players in the competition share.
- Therefore, in stroke play, if there is a reasonable possibility that a player’s ball close to the hole could help another player who is about to play from off the green, both players should ensure that the player whose ball is close to the hole marks and lifts that ball before the other player plays.
- If all players follow this best practice, it ensures the protection of the interests of everyone in the competition.
15.3
Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play
15.3a/1
Breach of Rule for Leaving Helping Ball in Place Does Not Require Knowledge
In stroke play, under Rule 15.3a, if two or more players agree to leave a ball in place on the putting green to help any player, and the stroke is made with the helping ball left in place, each player who made the agreement gets two penalty strokes. A breach of Rule 15.3a does not depend on whether the players know that such an agreement is not allowed.For example, in stroke play, before playing from just off the putting green, a player asks another player to leave their ball that is near the hole, in order to use it as a backstop. Without knowing this is not allowed, the other player agrees to leave their ball by the hole to help the other player. Once the stroke is made with the ball in place, both players get the penalty under Rule 15.3a.The same outcome would apply if the player whose ball was near the hole offered to leave the ball in play to help the other player, and the other player accepted the offer and then played.If the players know that they are not allowed to make such an agreement, but still do it, they are both disqualified under Rule 1.3b(1) for deliberately ignoring Rule 15.3a.
15.3a/2
Players Allowed to Leave Helping Ball in Match Play
In a match, a player may agree to leave their ball in place to help the opponent since the outcome of any benefit that may come from the agreement affects only their match.
15.3/1
Methods for Moving Ball or Ball-Marker Helping or Interfering with Play
When a player is moving their ball or ball-marker under Rule 15.3, it should be placed to the side by measuring with a club, such as by using the clubhead or the full length of a club. This can be done by measuring directly from the ball or by marking the spot of the ball and measuring from there.Some examples of this include:
- The player may mark the spot of the ball and then move the ball-marker one or more clubheads to the side.
- The player may lay a club or clubhead down immediately to the side of the ball and move the ball to the other end of the club or clubhead, or place a ball-marker at that point.
In moving the ball or ball-marker, the player should align the club with a fixed object (such as a blemish on the green or a sprinkler head) to ensure that when replacing the ball, the steps can be reversed and the ball be replaced on the spot from which it was lifted.
Kind Regards
Jamie Evans
Competitions, Handicaps & Membership Secretary
Golf Operations Team
Columbia Secret Valley Golf
Email: [email protected]
Members Portal: secretvalleygolfresort.net
Columbia Secret Valley Golf: csvgolf.com
