Is there a penalty if I hit another player with my ball?
Stumped by something you’ve seen out on the course? Our Rules of Golf expert delves into the book to find you the answers
Striking a fellow player has got to be a golfer’s worst nightmare. Those balls can do a lot of damage. I hope you’ve all got insurance.
But aside from all the penalties that can accrue off the course, are you going to get sanctioned on it too.
George Bankes got in touch on social media with this poser: “A player was taking a while to hit his shot and one of the fourball started to walk forward. When he was about 25 yards away, the player took his shot and it veered into the guy walking – hitting hard. Are there any penalties for hitting your opponent with a ball?”
Golfer hit by ball: Is there any penalty?
Ouch. I’ve been struck at close range by a howitzer and I can tell you it’s no fun. But if the player was upset at decking a fellow golfer, at least they didn’t have the knockout blow of a penalty to deal with too.
Rule 11.1a says: “If a player’s ball in motion accidentally hits any person or outside influence, there is no penalty to any player.
“This is true even if the ball hits the player, the opponent, or any other player or any of their caddies or equipment.”
The player has to play the ball as it lies, except in two situations.
The first is when a ball played from anywhere except the putting green comes to rest on a person, animal, or moving outside influence. In that case, the player has to take relief.
The other exception is when a ball played from a putting green accidentally hits a person, animal, or movable obstruction on the green – and that includes another ball in motion. Then the stroke doesn’t count and has to be played again.
Got a question for our expert?
Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.
What do you think this golfer hit by ball rule? Let me know by leaving a comment on X.
Steve Carroll
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
