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Repacing balls on greens

• SteveP29 34 Posts

  Thu, Jun 3 2010 2:44 PM

  I know the software is programmed to replace balls after a certain number of hits and it'd be hard to implement and override that programming, but under the rules of golf, you cannot change the ball that is in play on a green.

  Any thoughts?.....

• Doublemochaman 2,009 Posts

  Thu, Jun 3 2010 3:01 PM

  Well, and you can't go translucent on the green either.  Just kidding.  Your thinking has merit.  Perhaps the ball should not be taken our of play until the round is finished.  Or, better yet, if you want to begin an 18 hole round with fewer than 50 hits left on your ball perhaps WGT should take it out of play at that point.

• WGTniv 1,788 Posts

  Thu, Jun 3 2010 3:17 PM

  Hi Steve,

  We try to do the best we can to uphold the rules of golf in every instance, but sometimes programming details get in the way of by-the-letter implementation.

• AlaCowboy 1,321 Posts

  Thu, Jun 3 2010 8:41 PM

  WGTniv:

  Hi Steve,

  We try to do the best we can to uphold the rules of golf in every instance, but sometimes programming details get in the way of by-the-letter implementation.

  But I seem to recall that putts do not count in the life of the ball, so it won't be replaced while putting. Is that correct?

  
  

• WGTniv 1,788 Posts

  Thu, Jun 3 2010 10:25 PM

  That's correct AlaCowboy.  I believe Steve is referring to when a ball expires just as it is hit on the green.  You'll be informed that your ball was replaced before you strike your first putt.  I've had that happen to me before as well.

  The one thing you don't have to be concerned about is wear from the putter.  Even though the ball is replaced on the green in this situation the hits do not deplete unless you knock it off the green or until you reach the next tee (where the ball would normally be substituted as per the rules).

   

• VanHalenLover 1,422 Posts

  Thu, Jun 3 2010 11:38 PM

  Niv,

  Any reason that the ball life seems to have drastically diminished since the Oakmont release?

• WGTniv 1,788 Posts

  Thu, Jun 3 2010 11:48 PM

  I've played a few rounds myself and nothing seems out of the ordinary.  Keep in mind that many players are hitting 10-14 more shots per round because the courses are so difficult.  High 70's scores vs the usual mid to low 60's will make an appreciable difference after a round or two which would give the perception that ball life is shorter.

  Nothing has changed though.

• VanHalenLover 1,422 Posts

  Fri, Jun 4 2010 9:27 AM

  Good call Niv,

  I've been hammering on Oakmont, too, trying to get it tamed, so that would help to explain it.

• IvaThongon 933 Posts

  Sat, Jun 5 2010 1:21 PM

  WGTniv:

  That's correct AlaCowboy.  I believe Steve is referring to when a ball expires just as it is hit on the green.  You'll be informed that your ball was replaced before you strike your first putt.  I've had that happen to me before as well.

  The one thing you don't have to be concerned about is wear from the putter.  Even though the ball is replaced on the green in this situation the hits do not deplete unless you knock it off the green or until you reach the next tee (where the ball would normally be substituted as per the rules).

   

  Thank god. I've spent A LOT of strokes putting. My vacation refreshed my life and ruined my putting stroke!  :-p

• TheLighterDark 1,404 Posts

  Sat, Jun 5 2010 1:29 PM

  I always thought putts counted towards the diminishing duration of a ball, good to know information there Cowboy.