Generally cases against golfers who hit an errant ball at another person are difficult to win because the risk of hitting another player or a spectator or a walker must be reasonably foreseeable.
What happens if you hit someone with a golf ball. If you are hit by a thrown golf ball or any other thrown equipment then the person who has thrown these objects is liable for causing harm outside the normal sporting risks. What happens when you hit someone elses ball. Application of the doctrine to golfers hit by golf balls golf clubs or golf carts while on the golf course The doctrine applies to golfers who are hit by errant golf balls or even flying club heads.
Most amateur golfers hit a ball within a 30 degree cone and so foreseeability becomes an issue when a ball unexpectedly hooks or slices outside this cone. It can do serious damage. When a golf ball lands it also compresses again but not nearly as much.
The golfer whose shot struck the ball at rest plays his ball as it lies. The short answer to whether its a penalty is this. See how theres pieces missing on the stairs.
In match play also no penalty. In almost all cases playing the wrong ball results in loss of hole in match play and a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. The first rule of hitting someone with a golf ball is - dont.
Your ball will be played from where it lies and your friends ball returned to its original resting position. Ruleswise in a match whoever makes the first mistake of hitting the wrong ball loses the hole. There is no penalty to any player.
The second rule of hitting someone with a golf ball is make sure you have shouted a warning if there is the least possibility of the ball hitting someone. If a players ball in motion accidentally hits any person or outside influence. If you putt your ball and it strikes a competitors ball which is also on the green you will incur a 2 shot penalty stroke play only.