Phrasing of local rule reg environmentally sensitive area

[retozimmermann]

Dear community

My local golf course has a lot of environmentally sensitive areas which are defined as water hazards by a local rule. The rule states that it is forbidden to enter these areas and that players should proceed according to the water hazard rules.

During my last tournament I found my ball 10 centimeters inside the marked boundaries of one of these areas. The question arose whether I would be allowed to play my ball as long as I don't step into the "hazard".

When I enquired about my situation in the clubhouse, I was told that of course playing from these areas was not permitted, regardless whether a player stands in them or not. The answer was delivered in such a matter-of-fact way as though even asking that question was utterly ridiculous.

Apart from the logical sense that the intent of the rule makes, I was not satisfied with the phrasing of the written rule and went to have a look at the R&A; rules and decisions. Therein I found that an environmentally sensitive area can indeed be defined as water-hazard and that it is possible to define whether it should be prohibited to "enter and/or play from" the hazard.

Based on this statement, I strongly believe that the written local rule should be amended to include "and/or play from".

From you I would be curious to know two things

A) do you agree that the local rule should be clarified?

B) even if the local rule only states "not enter", can the local club just say "and not play from" without this having to be written in the local rule? Could this be inferred implicitely from the fact, that the rule is about environmentally sensitive areas and as such should be protected as much as possible?

I would be highly interested in your opinion on this case and my questions.

Thanks in advance
Reto

[Ignorant]

Just from a common sense point of view, if a Local Rule does not explicitly say what is allowed and what is not it should certainly be more accurate. In this particular case if playing from the environmentally sensitive area is not allowed then it should be clearly stated.

[Kingfisher]

Dear community

Perhaps the folks who wrote the rule forgot that in the case of a water hazard, you don't need to take relief from the hazard - you can play the ball from the hazard - which in the case of your ESA causes some confusion.

In the case of a water hazard, there's nothing to stop you from stepping inside the hazard, regardless of whether you're playing your ball from inside or outside the hazard. Like you said, maybe it just needs some clarification.

[retozimmermann]

Thank you for your feelings on this.

In case the rule really should say "not play from", can the club just say (i.e. in a tournament situation where it might matter), "we meant not play from"? I mean, can they just verbally add what they thought or is that not actually possible?