We’ve seen some hot topics in golf over the past few years. Slow play dominated discussions for a while, with some PGA Tour players criticized for their pace of play, before the distance debate took over. But a subject that has come up for several years is that of backstopping.
When a player’s ball comes into contact with a ball at rest on the green, the term backstopping is often used and the R&A and USGA have now changed the rules of golf to “protect the course” during a tournament .
But what is backstopping and what rule applies in tournament scenarios?
The popular Instagram page Golf Rules Questions posted a clip of a backstopping incident during a doubles match between amateur golfers, along with a lengthy caption explaining what backstopping is.
WATCH THE INCIDENT IN THE CLIP BELOW:
“‘Backstopping’ is the term commonly used to describe the following situation in Stroke Play: A player, without agreement with any other player, leaves his ball in place on the green near the hole in a position where another player, who is on the point of playing from the green, could benefit if his ball hit the ball at rest.
“As there was no agreement to leave the ball in place to assist a player, there is no violation of the rules – see rule 15.3a. However, the R&A and USGA believe that Backstopping does not take into account all the elements of the other players in the competition and has the potential to give the player benefiting from the backstop an advantage over these other players. Therefore, the R&A and the USGA offer players the following tips and explanations on best practices:
“In Stroke Play, the competition involves all players and, as every player in the competition cannot be present to protect their own interests, protecting the field is an important responsibility shared by all players in the competition.
“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 outside the green, both players must 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 these best practices, it ensures that everyone’s interests in the competition are protected.
“In an Ambrose event (a team event where the best shot is taken and everyone plays from there), the Committee may authorize/deny such actions.”
