Lesson 4: The Ball in Motion
Once you have hit your golf ball, it is in motion — and there are rules about what happens while it is moving.
You cannot stop a ball that is rolling toward the rough to keep it on the fairway. You cannot redirect a ball that is heading toward the water. You have to let it go wherever it goes.
But what if something unexpected gets in the way? If a bird flies into your ball’s path, or if another ball on the course deflects yours, there are specific rules for those situations.
The most important idea is that you cannot control the ball after you hit it. Your job is to make the best swing you can. After that, the ball is on its own.
Rule: Once a ball is in motion, you must not stop it, redirect it, or touch it. It must come to rest naturally before you play again.
Stand on a putting green or smooth floor. Roll a ball slowly toward a target. Now roll it again but this time see what it feels like to stop yourself from touching it while it rolls — especially if it is heading somewhere bad! Talk about: how does it feel to have to let go of the ball? What does this teach us about golf and about life?