Play it as it lies?????

[Shindig]

After reading the other responses, I'd like to reconsider my answer.

I would suggest that you take the penalty stroke or make one of your 14 clubs an old one (you can get old clubs, such as demo irons, pretty cheap at most golf shops) and use that in such situations.

[golfbarefoot]

Great answer! where in the world did you come up with something like that?

LOL

[Bullitt5339]

I'm not damaging a $120 club over a casual round of golf, ever. We have a lot of pine trees here, and the roots are exposed quite a bit. When I get up against one of the roots, I move the ball just enough to get a shot without smacking the roots. With the group I play with, it's acceptable practice, since we're not rich, and we've got a ton of money invested in clubs, we give each other that courtesy.

When we're playing anything other than casual golf, we take the stroke penalty however.

[-BAMA-]

i drop and take a penalty if im gonna damage the club with somethiong other than a minor scratch or scuff.

[wedge player]

while not in tournment play i will move ball off of rocks as to not damage my club.in a tourny though its differant play the ball how it lies even off a cart path,which sucks btw

[Zeph]

Why play a casual round different from a tournament round? If you bother keeping score, what use is an incorrect score from a casual round?

[max power]

I believe the rule you are looking for is called an unplayable lie and it comes with a penalty stroke... but do whatever you want.

When I lived in Tucson there was only one course I played regularly that could be considered a "desert" course. Great course, but the other seven or so courses that I usually played were all traditional "parkland" style courses.

[Greg]

Honestly I don't see why courses have rocks everywhere people will hit it. Maybe far out of the way, but in the rough next to the green? Come on.

Might be referring to the ball landing on the cart path, which should be a free drop at most courses. I dont want to damage my clubs either so sometimes ill move the ball away from tree roots, sticks, etc. If i simply must play it out of a mess ill usually just punch it out with my 56 deg sw as i dont use it very much and it was a free add on anyway with my irons. I did do this yesterday as I hit a terrible 2nd on a short par 4 and hit the ball into some tall grass and brush about 15 yards or so past the green, might have even been ob but played it anyway. I was actually able to punch it back on the green and 2 putt and get bogey so a pretty good end to a hole that could easily have been a double or triple.