How to Tell If a Ball Is in the Fairway?

[reidsou]

I'm fending off members of my club who want to implement model local rule E-3, but for balls in the rough. Such a rule is not authorized. 

Their main objection is that there are places on our course where it is impossible to tell whether the ball is in the fairway or in the rough. There is no definitive line where the length of grass changes. Do the rules of golf address this situation? What is the correct way to decide if a ball is in the fairway or not? (Or on "grass cut to fairway length".)

Edited April 13, 2023 by reidsou
Corrected misspelling

[Rulesman]

2 hours ago, reidsou said:

I'm fending off members of my club who want to implement model local rule E-3, but for balls in the rough. Such a rule is not authorized. 

 

It is but it is only not recommended.

You could specify the the ball must be on a grassed area not constrained by bushes (eg).

Incidentally, what is the limit of your relief area? 1cl, 6" or ?

Edited April 13, 2023 by Rulesman

[reidsou]

I had the issue slightly wrong. It is that the ground is bare in large areas where the edges of the fairways would be. Making it often impossible to tell whether the ball is on the fairway. 

[reidsou]

The USGA got back to me about this question. Their answer is that rule 1.3b(2) allows the player to use their reasonable judgement to determine whether the ball is in the fairway or not.