Yes. And, no.
Confused?
This is a confusing golf rule.
Let’s take a look at a few examples and maybe that will help clear things up.
Stroke Play Scenarios
Legal backstopping scenario
Let’s suppose Bill and Tom are playing together in a stroke play tournament.
Bill hits his ball on to the putting green and is close to the hole on a down slope heading towards a lake at the edge of the green.
Tom hits his ball into a greenside bunker.
Bill goes to park his cart and while he’s parking his cart Tom plays from the bunker and Tom’s ball hits Bill’s ball saving it from going into the lake.
This is all perfectly legal according to the rules of golf and neither Tom or Bill are awarded any penalty strokes.
In fact it’s probably common practice during most weekend matches.
It is not in accordance with R&A and USGA best practice and therefore is a bit suspect.
The R&A and USGA recently came out with a clarification on Rule 15 and 15.3a:
“Backstopping“ is the common term used to describe the following situation in stroke play:
A player, without agreement with any other player, leaves his or her 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 his or her 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
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.
Consequently, The R&A and USGA offer players the following guidance and explanation of best practice:
– In stroke play, the competition involves all players and, because each player in the competition cannot be present to protect his or her 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.
Essentially they are saying, pros should just mark their ball so we don’t have to worry about this.
Not marking might assist a fellow competitor. On the PGA tour one stroke from a helping ball could be the difference in the tournament.
Despite this best practice language, backstopping still occurs on the PGA tour and normally sets off another backstopping controversy.
Illegal backstopping
Now let’s say Bill arrives at the green before Tom gets to the bunker.
Bill says to Tom, “I’ll leave my ball here in case you hit your bunker shot too hard.”
He’s essentially offering his ball as a backstop to keep Tom’s ball from going in the lake.
This is giving Tom an unfair advantage against the rest of the competition.
Assuming Tom heard Bill, then, once Tom has played his ball, both players should be awarded two penalty strokes.
For instance, Fred, who was playing with them and didn’t hear this conversation because he was parking his cart but then finds out about it would be obligated to assess the penalty on both players.
Ugh.
That’s no fun.
All players agree
Let’s now take this scenario one step further.
What if Fred was there when Bill made the offer to not mark his ball?
Assume Fred heard the offer.
He’d be liable for a two stroke penalty as well.
Backstopping key assumption
The key assumption in all of the above scenarios is none of the golfers knew about the backstopping rule.
If any player knew about the rule and didn’t take action before Tom hit his ball, that person would be disqualified.
Rule 15.3a
Here’s the rule:
Rule 15.3a applies only to a ball at rest on the putting green, not anywhere else on the course
If a player reasonably believes that a ball on the putting green might help anyone’s play (such as by serving as a possible backstop near the hole), the player may:
Mark the spot of the ball and lift it under Rule 13.1b if it is his or her own ball, or if the ball belongs to another player, require the other player to mark the spot and lift the ball (see Rule 14.1).
The lifted ball must be replaced on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).
In stroke play only:
A player who is required to lift a ball may play first instead, and
If two or more players agree to leave a ball in place to help any player, and that player then makes a stroke with the helping ball left in place, each player who made the agreement gets the general penalty (two penalty strokes). – Emphasis added
Backstopping in Match Play
Leaving a ball unmarked in match play is perfectly acceptable.
It’s even ok to say you’re trying to help the other player.
The reason is, the only person affected is the player in the match.
Backstopping a shot in match play is legal, but why would anyone ever agree to it.
However
And there’s always a however with golf rules.
What if a player whose ball has a reasonable possibility of assisting another competitor says he or she wants to mark his or her ball before the shot is played but the other player plays?
Rule 15.3a covers that scenario too:
The general penalty also applies if the player:
Makes a stroke without waiting for a helping ball or ball-marker to be lifted or moved after becoming aware that another player (1) intended to lift or move it under this Rule or (2) had required someone else to do so, or
Refuses to lift his or her ball or move his or her ball-marker when required to do so and a stroke is then made by the other player whose play might have been helped or interfered with.
Backstopping Controversies in Golf
The rule has been cleared up but controversies will continue.
A quick twitter search pulled up this blatant backstopping action.
The second one was so egregious it’s lucky they weren’t DQ’d.
And until a brave committee determines this type of blatant silent collusion is illegal, backstopping in golf will continue.
Golf Rules Philosophy
Golf is hard.
Understanding the rules of golf is harder.
Sure, there are easy rules that everyone knows.
Or at least everyone thinks they know them.
For instance, here are a few of the “easier” ones:
Player furthest away hits first, play the ball as it lies, tee off behind the markers, etc.
Simple enough.
But so many have exceptions.
And it seems the rules are always changing.
Every year.
Golf Rules Are For Everyone
All golfers, from professional golfers to beginners should learn, know and understand the rules of golf.
Not making a judgement on whether everyone should abide by all the rules of golf every time they play.
For some, that just wouldn’t be enjoyable. And that’s easy to understand.
But, like any sport or endeavor, it’s good to know what is truly allowed and what is not allowed.
Golf unlike other sports
Golf is unlike other sports in that players are supposed to call rules infractions on themselves. If you knock a ball close to the hole and you think it might help another competitor you do have a duty to the other players in the field.
You generally shouldn’t do anything that might assist another player.
More importantly, you really shouldn’t take any action in life or on the golf course that will put your integrity into question.
Integrity is the one thing no one can take from you, you can only give it away.
Don’t be that guy or gal that is a known cheater.
No one will want to play with you and worse, no one will trust you.
Golf Handicap
And at some point in a golfer’s career they might enter a tournament or even establish a golf handicap within the Golf Handicap Indexing Network or GHIN for short.
In that case knowing the rules and playing by the rules becomes paramount.
If you want a good and honest handicap then it’s important to play by the rules.
It is no fun to inform a fellow competitor that they are going to get an additional stroke.
Let’s look at one of the more challenging rules every serious golfer should know.
Conclusion
While not illegal, backstopping is uncool.
Personally I don’t do it on my shots and will always ask someone to mark.
I’ve seen plenty of players use my ball as a backstop before I had a chance to mark my ball.
I never say anything because I really don’t want to be “that guy” in a friendly match.
In a tournament I would definitely say something so I could mark the ball.
All competitors have a duty and an obligation to the rest of their fellow competitors.
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