Kent said:
By golly I think you are right. Rule 5 covering the ball states that the only requirment is that you must use a ball that is on the USGA conforming list.
My apologies. That is why one should have a copy of the USGA golf rules.
Not sure where I got the idea that you could not change brand and/or make of ball, but have always applied that rule to myself.
I do not have a copy of the USGA rules of golf, but I will get one and research this some more.
Regards,
Kent
This is copied and pasted from the USGA website:
“Limitation on Balls Used During Round: (Note to Rule 5-1)
(i) One Ball Condition
During a stipulated round,the balls a player plays must be of the same brand and type as detailed by a single entry on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls.
Note: If a ball of a different brand and/or type is dropped or placed, it may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed by dropping or placing a proper ball (Rule 20-6).
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF CONDITION:
Match Play — At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round — Two holes.
Stroke Play— Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round — Four strokes.
(ii) Procedure When Breach Discovered
When a player discovers that he has played a ball in breach of this condition, he must abandon that ball before playing from the next teeing ground and complete the round using a proper ball; otherwise, the player is disqualified. If discovery is made during play of a hole and the player elects to substitutea proper ball before completing that hole, the player must place a proper ball on the spot where the ball used in breach of the condition lay.”
Funny story - I'm not sure how many of you know this, but at the 2000 US Open, Tiger Woods was constantly having his rounds broken up by inclement weather. On Friday night, I believe, after he had completed something like 12 holes in his second round before either darkness or more bad weather set in, he grabbed a bunch of balls out of his bag so he could practice putting in his room, and Steve Williams (caddie) took his bag. The next morning, Tiger never had time to hit the practice green before completing round 2, so they headed right out to #13. They play the next 5 holes without incident and then he proceeds to duck hook his drive on 18 at Pebble Beach into the Pacific. (This was the infamous string of profanity that television caught coming from Tiger's mouth.)Steve Williams then realizes that he never grabbed any more balls, and Tiger only has 1 ball left in his bag, and Tiger is wanting to hit his driver again. Stevie tries to convince him to hit 2 iron, because he knows that if Tiger hits another into the ocean, he's DQ'd, because none of his playing partners were playing the same ball for him to borrow. Tiger striped one down the middle and finished with no further problem, but that could have been the end of the "Tiger Slam" right there.