What happens if the wind moves your golf ball?

The situation

You've played your shot, found your ball, and while you're preparing to hit it again the wind picks it up and moves it to a new spot — or even blows it into a bunker.

The rule

Wind is a natural force. Under Rule 9.3, if natural forces move a ball at rest, there is no penalty and you must play the ball from where it has come to rest. The only exception: if the ball had already been lifted and replaced (marked on the green, for example), and wind then moves it before you play — in that case you replace it in its original spot.

Real example

Your approach shot lands on the edge of the green. While you're walking up, a gust rolls the ball off the green and into the fringe. No penalty — you play it from the fringe.

What to do on the course

• Do not replace the ball (unless it had been lifted and replaced previously)
• Play from wherever the wind left it
• If the ball moved into a worse position, that's just the wind — no relief available
• If the ball moved into a penalty area while you were watching, take penalty area relief as normal

Penalty

No penalty. Play the ball from its new position.