what's the ruling?

[tjy355]

Was this in competition or a friendly round? ...

If you carefully read the post, he mentions the round was part of the CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP!

As for the other question about the OOB - remembering geometry, it takes two points to define a line, so you sort of have to have two oob markers to draw a line between. But the OP was describing how the OOB "ended," i.e. the player was beyond the last OB stake (???), I'm not at all sure how that works...

[powerfade]

Right, you still need two reference markers which his course does not have.

I play at my buddy's cc once in awhile and they have this same scenario to the right of the par 5 4th. It's ob to the right from the tee to about 100 yards from the green. They have a double stake indicating the end of the ob line.

[jowlar]

One last question, does anyone know where I can find some guidelines for golf course markings (oob, hazards)? I have looked through the rule book and they either are not there or I am too stupid to find them. Thanks for all your responses.

This issue needs to be addressed at my club b/c it has happened before but not in the club championship and it determined the winner. The hole in question is the 18th and the player saved bogey, had his ball been ruled oobs (which it probably should have) he would have had another nasty shot from behind a very full cottonwood tree.

[Fourputt]

One last question, does anyone know where I can find some guidelines for golf course markings (oob, hazards)? I have looked through the rule book and they either are not there or I am too stupid to find them. Thanks for all your responses.

If a row of out of bounds stakes ends without a double stake to define it, then it extends to the intersecting boundary. That is for a properly marked course. A single white stake sitting alone on the course is meaningless unless it's the 150 yard marker.

Typically the USGA holds just a single course marking seminar each year, and you have to be prepared to go to wherever it's held to get properly trained. That said, it really isn't rocket science. Water hazards which are perpendicular to the normal line of play should be marked with yellow lines and stakes. Water hazards (lateral) which lie mostly parallel to the line of play should be marked with red lines and stakes. Out of bounds should be clearly identified by the course staff or the competition committee. That can be white stakes or lines, or a fence or roadway.... there are many ways of defining the boundaries, but they should be clearly identified on the scorecard or other publication readily available to the player. Learning to follow the procedure for such markings when you run afoul of them is done by getting familiar with the Rules of Golf. There really isn't any substitute for playing with the rule book in your bag and referring to it any time there it the slightest question. If you do so regularly, you will become accustomed to the way the book is laid out and you begin to see a logic and consistency in the way the Rules are presented. Finding the right answers will soon be a snap. Then, if you are like me, you'll want to know more, and that brings in the Decisions on the Rules of Golf. And attending USGA Rules seminars. One of the most often used bookmarks on my computer is to the USGA Rules web page.