
Some more examples of things that are outside agencies:
- A dog that scoops up your ball, a bird that flies away with it (both these things have happened more than once in pro tournaments), a squirrel that deflects it;
- spectators;
- members of the golf course's greenkeeping staff;
- a stray golf ball played by a golfer on some other hole that comes bounding onto the hole you are playing;
Is the ball on the outside agency in golf?
Wind and water aren’t considered outside agencies.) The ball is played as it lies, unless it rests in or on a moving object or animal off the green; if so, it is dropped or placed as close as possible to the location where it rested on the outside agency (no nearer the hole).
What is an outside agency in sport?
outside agency. Any object or person who is not a player or caddie in a particular match, or the ball or equipment of those players. An outside agencies include: referees, markers, observers, forecaddies or spectators.
What happens if an outside agency hits a moving ball?
19-1. If an outside agency hits a player’s moving ball, there is no penalty. (In general, an outside agency is anything other than a player, caddie, a ball in play on the hole or a player’s equipment.
What is outside influence in golf?
First, "outside influence" is used in several places in Rule 9, but Rule 9.6 (Ball Lifted or Moved by Outside Influence) is directly on point. The Player's Edition of the rule book makes things pretty simple: "If it is known or virtually certain that an outside influence lifted or moved your ball there is no penalty.
What is an outside agency?
Outside Agency means any agency from which a student has received services, but does not include an Alternative Program. Examples include, but are not limited to: judicial placement, youth detention facility, substance abuse facility, and mental health facility.
Is a caddy an outside influence?
"Outside influence" is a term used in the Rules of Golf for things that cause your golf ball at rest to move; or cause your moving golf ball to deflect or stop moving; and that are not you, your partner, your opponent (in match play), your caddies, the equipment of any of the above, or wind or water.
Is an animal an outside influence in golf?
If a player's ball in motion accidentally hits any person or outside influence, the ball must be played as it lies, except in two situations: Exception 1 – When Ball Played from Anywhere Except Putting Green Comes to Rest on Any Person, Animal or Moving Outside Influence: The player must not play the ball as it lies.
What happens if someone picks up your golf ball?
Rule 7.4 states there is no penalty if the player's ball is accidentally moved by the player, opponent or anyone else while trying to identify it and it should just be replaced on its original spot. The penalty for breach of Rule 7.4 is the general penalty.
Can you pick up and clean a ball on the fairway?
When you lift your ball from anywhere else it may always be cleaned except when you lift it: To see if it is cut or cracked – cleaning is not allowed. To identify it – cleaning is allowed only as needed to identify it. Because it interferes with play – cleaning is not allowed.
Is it a penalty if you hit your ball on a practice swing?
THROUGH THE GREEN (fairway, rough, hazard) – if you accidentally strike your ball whilst having a practice swing in one of these areas, you are deemed to have moved your ball and must replace the ball and incur a 1 stroke penalty. If you fail to replace your ball it's a 2 stroke penalty.
Is it a penalty if you hit yourself with your own golf ball?
REVISED: Now the penalty for your own ball striking you, your partner, either of your caddies or any of your side's equipment will only be a one-stroke penalty in either stroke play or match play.
What happens if you hit a bird while golfing?
Purpose of Rule: Rule 11 covers what to do if the player's ball in motion hits a person, animal, equipment or anything else on the course. When this happens accidentally, there is no penalty and the player normally must accept the result, whether favourable or not, and play the ball from where it comes to rest.
What happens if a squirrel takes your golf ball?
If your ball is moved by an outside influence, such as an animal or a spectator, there is no penalty to anyone and the ball must be replaced. If your ball is moved by a natural force, such as wind, water, or gravity, you will usually play the ball from its new location without penalty.
Can caddies remove ball from hole?
The player's caddie is allowed to mark and lift the player's ball on the putting green any time the player is allowed to do so, without needing authorization. The caddie continues to be allowed to replace the player's ball only if the caddie was the one who had lifted or moved the ball.
Can you stand behind a golfer when he is putting?
When it comes to reading a putt's break, members of a four-ball team may stand nearly anywhere on the green to watch a partner putt, with one exception: They're not allowed to stand on or close to an extension of the player's line of putt behind the ball (Rule 14-2b).
Can you mark your golf ball with a tee?
Ball-markers must be artificial, such as a tee, coin, the toe of your putter, or other small piece of equipment. A natural object like a leaf or twig may not be used as a ball-marker. The ball-marker must be placed next to the ball, which includes behind, in front, or left and right of the ball.
Outside influence
In golf, outside influence, previously known as “outside agency,” is a phrase that refers to things that cause your golf ball at rest to move. The same phrase is also used to describe the things that cause your moving golf ball to deflect or stop moving.
Counted as outside influence
What qualifies as outside influence include a match referee, a marker (when the marker is not your partner or your opponent), an observer, a forecaddie.
Not counted as outside influence
Not all that causes your golf ball to move is counted as an outside influence. There are exceptions to this which include but are not limited to:
The rules and penalty
So when the ball is caused to move by an outside influence, what now? There are specific rules in golf where outside influence is very prominent:
What is outside agency in golf?
If an outside agency hits a player’s moving ball, there is no penalty. (In general, an outside agency is anything other than a player, caddie, a ball in play on the hole or a player’s equipment. Wind and water aren’t considered outside agencies.)
What happens if a caddie stops the ball?
In match play, if a player’s opponent or opponent’s caddie inadvertently stops or deflects his ball, the player can either replay the shot from the same spot or play the ball as it lies . If the stopping or deflection was deliberate, the opponent loses the hole. 19-4.
What happens if a ball is deflected on the putting green?
If a player’s ball in motion after a stroke on the putting green is deflected or stopped by another ball in motion after a stroke, the player’s stroke is canceled. The ball must be replaced and replayed, without penalty.
What happens if the ball goes out of bounds?
If the ball would have gone out of bounds, the player proceeds under the stroke-and-distance penalty as though it did go OB. If on the green, the ball is placed as close to the spot as possible.
Is wind considered an outside agency?
Wind and water aren’t considered outside agencies.) The ball is played as it lies, unless it rests in or on a moving object or animal off the green; if so, it is dropped or placed as close as possible to the location where it rested on the outside agency (no nearer the hole). If a putted ball is stopped or deflected by, or stops on, ...
Do you get a penalty for hitting the ball on the green?
There’s no penalty unless both balls are on the green, in which case the player who hits the ball takes a two-shot penalty in stroke play (no penalty in match play). If a player’s ball in motion hits another ball in motion (except on the green), he plays it as it lies without penalty.

Definition of 'Outside Influence' in The Rules of Golf
What Happens When A Outside Influence Moves Your Ball?
- The definition of outside influence is most pertinent in the rule book in two particular rules. First, "outside influence" is used in several places in Rule 9, but Rule 9.6 (Ball Lifted or Moved by Outside Influence)is directly on point. The Player's Edition of the rule book makes things pretty simple: And there's also Rule 11.1 (Your Ball In Motion Accidentally Hits Person or Outside Influence). There i…
More Examples to Explain Outside Influences
- Among the things that qualify as outside influences: a match referee, a marker (when the marker is not your partner or your opponent), an observer, a forecaddie. Some more examples of things that areoutside agencies: 1. A dog that scoops up your ball, a bird that flies away with it (both these things have happened more than once in pro tournaments)...