Rule with ball against yardage marker?

[anthony]

Today, I hit a drive which came to rest about an inch behind the 100 yard marker. This course has stakes that stick out of the ground for yardage markers which are just on the edge of the fairway. I was playing by myself, so I took a drop, but I'm wondering what the ruling would be. I wasn't up against it, but I certainly would have crashed into it on my downswing. Would this be the same as landing on a sprinkler head or something similar?

Any ideas?

[saevel25]

I believe this falls under man made object, i believe you get, one (or two, cant remember) clubs lengths no closer to the hole.

[popeyegolfer]

Most courses I have seen with poles for markers have poles that come out of the ground. It is usually PVC and there is a corresponding how for the pole so you pull it out and then put it back in. If it is imovable then I would have to think you would get a free drop because of immovable man made object.

[anthony]

It was wooden, about 4 inches across and immovable from what I can tell. I took a club length. Seems like I did the right thing. Thanks for the replies.

[cougar978]

  anthony said:

Today, I hit a drive which came to rest about an inch behind the 100 yard marker. This course has stakes that stick out of the ground for yardage markers which are just on the edge of the fairway. I was playing by myself, so I took a drop, but I'm wondering what the ruling would be. I wasn't up against it, but I certainly would have crashed into it on my downswing. Would this be the same as landing on a sprinkler head or something similar?

You're entitled to one club length no nearer the hole (man made obstruction).

[popeyegolfer]

That stinks that it was permanent.

[Fourputt]

  cougar978 said:

You're entitled to one club length no nearer the hole (man made obstruction).

He was entitled to determine the nearest point of relief, THEN measure one club length from that point, not closer to the hole.

[BonoVox]

  popeyegolfer said:

That stinks that it was permanent.

Yeah all the courses I have played the yardage markers as described by the OP do not move.

[leezer99]

Stance and one club length.

[DaSportsGuy]

Happened to me about a week ago. I just pulled it out of the ground, hit my shot and put it back in accordingly.

[zeg]

  leezer99 said:

Stance and one club length.

Not sure what you mean by "stance," but you get to find the nearest point that provides you full relief (both stance and stroke path but NOT line of play) from the obstruction. Then you get one club length from that point, not nearer to the hole.

That is, unless there's a local rule declaring the markers to be an integral part of the course. From the local rules for Rancho Park here in LA:

  None said:

Yardage Markers - All 200, 150, and 100 yard markers (posts) may be removed. The base of these posts is considered part of the course. If the ball should come to rest near these bases, no drop without penalty is allowed.

[Fourputt]

  zeg said:

Not sure what you mean by "stance," but you get to find the nearest point that provides you full relief (both stance and stroke path but NOT line of play) from the obstruction. Then you get one club length from that point, not nearer to the hole.

Gotta say... that's a silly rule. Relief from the movable part but none from the immovable part? I would bet that if there was ever a USGA sanctioned competition there, that local rule would be suspended for the tournament. It simply makes no sense to penalize a player for a one in a thousand hard luck lie where the rules normally allow relief.

[clearwaterms]

  Fourputt said:

Gotta say... that's a silly rule. Relief from the movable part but none from the immovable part? I would bet that if there was ever a USGA sanctioned competition there, that local rule would be suspended for the tournament. It simply makes no sense to penalize a player for a one in a thousand hard luck lie where the rules normally allow relief.

agreed. unless it is below ground or something along those lines.

[zeg]

Yeah, I haven't ever seen that and had to read it three times when I was getting ready to play there for the first time a few weeks ago. I have no idea what the thinking is, but they're very clear about it. Maybe Shindig has some inside knowledge, I know he plays there regularly...