Rules Query

pazza

Hi,

I had a recent situation that I wanted to see if any rules guru could point me right.

1. My tee shot landed behind red stakes - but NOT in any water and I had a perfect lie for playing. However my playing partners advised that I had to take a penalty and drop 2 club-lengths back.
Question 1 - was this correct, advise I have been offered since (not absolute) indicated that I could have played the ball as it lay, with no penalty but could not ground the club! What is the rule?

2. On looking to drop - 2 club-lengths would have put me onto a tarmacadam path, so was advised that I had to drop behind that. I could not drop immediately behind the path, as I probably would not have been able to find my ball, let alone hit it. I was again advised that I could take another penalty and declare an unplayable lie - and move back from the hole. I could not go in the direction the ball had come from (towards the tee - as dog-leg) so had to go a considerable distance to get an area to have a shot from.
Question 2 - what is the rule where two club-lengths drops on a path as above, and what were my drop options (and penalties incurred)?

Thanks if anyone is able to help!

Jasonw

Point 1 you are correct you could have played the ball as it lay.

point 2, A drawing would help as to your best option but as far as dropping on the path goes, providing paths are not integral parts of the course where you were playing, you may drop on the path and then take relief from the path. Always remember though, it's the 'nearest point of relief', not the 'nicest point of relief'. If that means dropping in thick rough or with no shot to the hole then tough, that's why they're called hazzards.

blackwhite

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-Amateur-Status/Rules-of-Golf.aspx#/rules/?ruleNum=26&subRuleNum=1

Official rules are linked above.

You can play the ball as it lies from the hazard, so long as you do not ground your club in the hazard prior to taking the shot (similar to bunker rules).

Under penalty of one stroke you can either:
- Replay your previous shot from the same place (if you were a good distance back this usually isn't too appealing)
- drop behind the hazard on a line along the point of entry and the pin. This doesn't have ot be within 2 club-lengths, can be as far back as you want.

Assuming you were in a lateral hazard, then there is also the option to drop within 2 clubs lengths of the point of entry into the hazard, or with 2 club lengths of the point on the opposite side of the hazard that is the same distance from the hole as your point of entry.

Seems like your playing partners misled you on two counts: 1, you could have played the ball as was; and 2, you could have taken the ball back as far as you wanted along the line that included the point of entry and the pin.

pazza

Thanks folks - seems like the penalty shots I incurred were unnecessary. My own fault for not knowing the rules...but live and learn!

Thanks.

PRAF

I hope there wasn't a prize or money on the line. Sounds like your playing partners owe you a pint at the minimum!

dixiefly

PRAF wrote: »

I hope there wasn't a prize or money on the line. Sounds like your playing partners owe you a pint at the minimum!

They dont sound like the type of guys I would like to end up playing with. Probably acted cock sure yet did not know the correct rules.

I hope the OP makes sure that he informs his playing partners of this.

Opics

You were screwed there :pac:

pazza

dixiefly wrote: »

They dont sound like the type of guys I would like to end up playing with. Probably acted cock sure yet did not know the correct rules.

I hope the OP makes sure that he informs his playing partners of this.

I was drawn with them in the monthly medal - my first one to play in. In fairness to them, they seemed sure on me having to move the ball from behind the red stakes, but were not sure on the rule with regard to dropping on the path, followed by what to do on the first drop option (i.e. an unplayable lie).So I think they made one mistake (advising I could not play as it lay) and the other was where they tried to provide a best guess.

Thanks to all.

ernieprice

If in doubt I will always play the ball as it lies. If a red or yellow stake interfere with your stance it can be removed. The only stakes that you are not permitted to remove are white(defining out of bounds). I always carry a copy of the rules of golf in my bag just in case of a dispute.

TheGrump

This is ridiculous! :mad:

I'm all for people coming on here and getting clarification of rules, sometimes some strange situations can occur on a golf course, but this is one of the most basic rules in golf (what to do if you hit your ball into a hazard).

There is no way people should be entering competitions if they do not know the rules! The rules are readily available and anyone that couldn't be bothered to take the time to read them should not be in competition. That goes for the OP and his playing partners.

Rant over, sorry.

pazza

TheGrump wrote: »

This is ridiculous! :mad:

I'm all for people coming on here and getting clarification of rules, sometimes some strange situations can occur on a golf course, but this is one of the most basic rules in golf (what to do if you hit your ball into a hazard).

There is no way people should be entering competitions if they do not know the rules! The rules are readily available and anyone that couldn't be bothered to take the time to read them should not be in competition. That goes for the OP and his playing partners.

Rant over, sorry.

Thanks for the constructive comment and encouragement!

I had looked the rule up, and asked a number of people and while I was pretty sure on Q1, it was hard to get an answer to Q2 (allowing for the fact that the situation should never have arisen).

As for playing in the comp, it was the first competition I have ever played in, as I was not exposed to the full rules of golf (trying to learn what I could from playing with friends&TV), and had advised my playing partners before the first tee that this was my first competition and asked them if it would be ok if I could clarify any issues with regard to the rules that I was not sure about - and they were fine with that. Glad I didn't end up playing with someone who has your outlook and I must add that since I took the game up, the majority of people have been brilliant in encouraging me and offering advise.

I am not really sure why you felt the need for your little rant, this is just a little bit condescending and demeaning. As I am sure you are aware - the internet is a vast resource of both useful and useless information, to be used in a variety of ways. My question was such that you could have chosen to ignore, and not post a comment (really!) but somehow felt the need to have your wee rant, as you are well entitled to do, as I am also entitled to ask any question however trivial, basic or even annoying to such well informed people as yourself.

Anyway - if you ever end up playing with someone who is trying to get a little assistance, maybe you could take a wee second to just be a little patient and polite! Enjoy