Expert: Skip Ward - 2/3/2007

Question
We have a holf on our home course that if we were to hit our drive, we could find that our ball came to rest on the  # 1 HOLE GREEN.What is the right action to take?Lift the ball off the green ,with a stroke pen.,, putt off that green and continue to finish the hole, hit off that green  with any club? What is the right action to take?

Answer
Dear Doug, thanks for the question.  Incidentally I rec'd your questions, I presume, out of order.  In any event, the right action in this circumstance is governed under Rule 25-3/B, which states that a player MUST take relief off of an incorrect green at the nearest point possible and no closer to their own hole.  There is no penalty of course...this relief is Free.  I've listed the rule below.
Thanks again, good luck, and as always...

Love the game,
skipper

USGA Rule: 25-3/b. Relief
If a player's ball lies on a wrong putting green he must not play the ball as it lies. He must take relief, without penalty, as follows:
The player must lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When dropping the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the wrong putting green and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.