Need a ruling opinion please

[moparman426]

I am having an issue determining if I should be taking a penalty stroke or not. My regular course I play on is a 'pasture" course with sand greens and is a very difficult course if you aren't on with your shot placements. The course follows a river in the shape of a cul-du-sac, with the water about 60-70 feet below. So that leaves a shear cliff all along the right hand side for the entirety of the course except for a couple of holes. The drop occurs right at the edge of the fairways....no rough.

On the other side is a barbed-wire fence abutting the fairways, again, no rough except for a few outside corners on the dogleg rights. The local rule is all fences are OB, and I play it that way. My question is....would rule 24 come into effect if I am right up against said man made fence, and it interferes with my swing? I have been taking a club-length relief from the barbed-wire fence after a little incident with one of my new hybrids, and marking a penalty. Is this correct, or should I be getting a free relief here?

[moparman426]

I suppose I should have posted this in golf talk instead.

[Fat Slice]

By my read, fences are *not* obstructions, so no relief without penalty.

Obstructions
An "obstruction" is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured
ice, except:

a. Objects defining out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings;

b. Any part of an immovable artificial object that is out of bounds; and

c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.

[moparman426]

By my read, fences are *not* obstructions, so no relief without penalty.

I knew that would apply to something placed on the course by the owners to define the out of bounds area (they have staked areas as well), but the fence isn't their property, it's the farmers' who own the adjacent alfalfa fields, which is what was confusing me. So I was correct in taking my penalty then. The OB ruling on all fences is to keep people from trespassing onto someone else's property.

[clubchamp]

By rules yes but I would ask the pro because the local rule could be something else since it is not their fence. I had a weird situation 2 weeks ago with some decorative guard rail by the cart path that was in a lateral hazard and I hit my drive right under it. Lucky for me there was a local rule that said I could drop no penalty but I had to stay in the hazard. Apparently they made that area a hazard after the rail was put up so they decided it was not fair to have the rail in a lateral hazard.

[moparman426]

I wish we had a pro there, it is run by a provincial park authority. We don't even have anyone attending the clubhouse, lol. What we do have is winter rules in effect all year round, like I said, it's a pasture course so the fairways are terribly rough (and hard packed, I might add). How would preferred lies/winter rules apply to my situation if at all? Maybe hope it's lying in a small hole and on a rock, he he.

[2bGood]

Where in the GWN are you?

[Fourputt]

I knew that would apply to something placed on the course by the owners to define the out of bounds area (they have staked areas as well), but the fence isn't their property, it's the farmers' who own the adjacent alfalfa fields, which is what was confusing me. So I was correct in taking my penalty then. The OB ruling on all fences is to keep people from trespassing onto someone else's property.

Actually what you are doing is declaring the ball unplayable, so you should read Rule 28 for your relief options. You get 2 clublengths from where the ball lies, not one, and there are 2 other relief options available too if the necessity should arise.

[Greg]

If I hit a ball up against a fence im moving it a club length, not going to damage my club same as if im right up against a tree or on a tree root or something, i try to follow most of the rules but thats one ill bend a little to save my equipment, I hit a practice 2nd shot today that ended up right against a storage shed past the green. I didnt play it, but would have moved it if i had, actually my real shot was better anyway.

[iacas]

If I hit a ball up against a fence im moving it a club length, not going to damage my club same as if im right up against a tree or on a tree root or something, i try to follow most of the rules but thats one ill bend a little to save my equipment

So save your equipment and follow the rules: call your ball unplayable, give yourself the penalty stroke, and drop away from the "club damaging" fence.

[Fourputt]

If I hit a ball up against a fence im moving it a club length, not going to damage my club same as if im right up against a tree or on a tree root or something, i try to follow most of the rules but thats one ill bend a little to save my equipment, I hit a practice 2nd shot today that ended up right against a storage shed past the green. I didnt play it, but would have moved it if i had, actually my real shot was better anyway.

I see this excuse put forth way too often as a reason to ignore the rules. It ain't gonna fly. There is a rule that covers this and and Erik just told you what it is. Rule 28 - Ball unplayable. Take your medicine (and the penalty) for hitting your ball where it isn't supposed to be. You can choose to ignore the rules if you wish, that's your decision, but don't be making excuses for it. Just admit that you don't play the game as it is intended to be played.

[moparman426]

Where in the GWN are you?

Saskatchewan. I had just resolved to just not hit the ball OB anymore and remove the issue, ha ha. I shot a 92 over the weekend, with three OB's, all resulting in 3 snowmen. I didn't drive over the fence this time, but had incurred the three OB's by rolling under the fence......I'll sort it out yet. On a side note, I blew 2 eagle opportunities on a 270 yard par4. Pinned the green on the first time around with my drive and rimmed the cup on the 8 foot putt, and the second time around my chip shot stopped 7in from the cup. That made me forget about the 3 blow-ups and just made my day.......I know the 80's are just around the corner. Man, I love this game.