What happens if your golf ball hits another player?

The situation

Your shot flies off line and hits another player in your group or on an adjacent hole. Beyond the obvious concern for their wellbeing, you need to know where you stand under the rules.

The rule

Under Rule 11.1a, if a ball in motion accidentally hits a person — another player, their caddie, a referee, or anyone else — there is no penalty to any player. You play the ball from wherever it comes to rest after contact. The same applies if the ball deflects off them and ends up in a better or worse position than you'd otherwise have had. The accidental nature is key — if someone were to deliberately step in front of your ball, that's treated under interference rules, but for any normal on-course collision, no penalty applies.

Real example

Your approach shot hits your playing partner who was standing near the green. The ball deflects into the rough instead of onto the green. No penalty — play your next shot from the rough where the ball came to rest.

What to do on the course

• Check that the other player is okay first — that comes before the rules
• Play from where the ball ended up, no penalty, no replay
• You cannot choose to replay the shot just because the deflection was unlucky
• Always shout "Fore!" for any shot that might reach other people — this is not a rule, but non-negotiable etiquette

Penalty

No penalty. Play the ball from where it came to rest.