basic rules Q: hitting from another fairway

[justinbaker]

ok so heres my question,

i have two holes running next to each other, but separated by a road. There are OB stakes lining each side of the road.

If i slice it into the other fairway, is it OB, or can i still play it since its still on the course?

[alf174]

OB. OB includes a vertical plane that extends up through the OB markers. Its defined in The Rules of Golf , sorry I don't have my copy with me to reference the page #.

[King Norre]

Because you're OOB (you crossed the OOB markers) you are not allowed to play from there, even if it is another fairway.

[iacas]

  alf174 said:

OB. OB includes a vertical plane that extends up through the OB markers. Its defined in

  King Norre said:

Because you're OOB (you crossed the OOB markers) you are not allowed to play from there, even if it is another fairway.

You're both probably (see below) incorrect. You can drive your ball over OOB (and back into play), and you're still in play. An example of this would be the Road Hole - you hit it over the hotel (which is OOB) and back onto the course. The "OB plane" isn't what matters - it's where the ball comes to rest.

The pertinent Decision on the Rules of Golf is 27/20 :

Source: Decision 27/20 Q. A public road defined as out of bounds divides a course. A ball crosses the road and comes to rest on the part of the course on the other side of the road. Is the ball out of bounds? A. No. Since the ball lies on the course, it is in bounds unless a Local Rule provides otherwise. However, because it is unfair that a ball on the road is out of bounds and a ball beyond it is in bounds, it is suggested that the following Local Rule should be adopted: “A ball which crosses a public road defined as out of bounds and comes to rest beyond that road is out of bounds, even though it may lie on another part of the course.”

I said probably incorrect because we don't know if the suggested local rule was adopted at the OP's course.

[alf174]

Talk about splitting hairs .

My first thoughts were the OOB definition and then having played on courses with parallel fairways split with OOB stacks.

[bcp]

Definitely OB. If your ball comes to rest outside of the boundary of the hole you are playing, it is OB.

Interestingly situation at my course: #1 and #18 border each other. OB stakes run in between the two holes (on the right of #1/ right of #18); however, the local rules stipulate that the stakes are only OB for #18. Supposedly, the stakes were added years ago along with the local rule to prevent players from taking a short-cut over the #1 tee box to the par 5 18th green.

[justinbaker]

  iacas said:

well i am not aware of any official ruling at the course. nothing on the card or anything.

So i wonder if it would be safe to assume that its in bounds since nothing is posted

[Q.Q.Quillume]

  justinbaker said:

well i am not aware of any official ruling at the course. nothing on the card or anything.

Ask the pro if there is a local rule; all local rules are not necessarily posted on the scorecard. At an inter-club match the other day, in the "briefing" before everybody teed off (shotgun start ) the pro briefed us on a couple of local rules that were not on the scorecard, so maybe that happens at other clubs as well.

[justinbaker]

  Q.Q.Quillume said:

Ask the pro if there is a local rule; all local rules are not necessarily posted on the scorecard. At an inter-club match the other day, in the "briefing" before everybody teed off (shotgun start ) the pro briefed us on a couple of local rules that were not on the scorecard, so maybe that happens at other clubs as well.

well the assistant pro is my brother, and he says its out of bounds. However, i think he just assumed it was OB, not knowing if there was an official local rule.

I doubt the pro knows either, he hasnt been the pro here very long. I guess ill just try and find out from some of the members that have been around for a while

[Fredguay642]

This question was basically answered a few months ago in a Golf Digest but it was across a train track. The ball is in play, but I would suspect that course rules don't allow players to hit golf balls over road on purpose, I play a course that has that rule. So, the ball proably should be considered out of bounds.

[iacas]

  bcp said:

Definitely OB. If your ball comes to rest outside of the boundary of the hole you are playing, it is OB.

Did read my post? In the absence of a local rule stating that it's OB, it's in play.

  justinbaker said:

well i am not aware of any official ruling at the course. nothing on the card or anything.

They should post something if it's even somewhat common for people to hit across the road. After all, that kind of stuff matters - it matters in leagues, it matters when people bet each other, and it matters to actual golfers who are trying to follow the Rules of Golf.

In the absence of a local rule, the ball is in play. To "play it safe" (i.e. not post a lower score than you may otherwise get, not piss anyone off in a league or a bet, etc.) you may just want to play it as if it's OB, but the official Rule and Decision state pretty clearly that it's in play unless a local rule says it's not, and I'd push for the course to POST such a local rule to clear up any confusion.

[Mr.Buckethead]

Iacas nailed it. Not sure why you all are arguing the point.