ball embedded in fringe

[ejimsmith]

playing a couple weeks ago, i hit a high approach shot that landed on the fringe.  the grass was very soft, and the ball was embedded in it almost up to its equator.  one of my playing partners said i am allowed to pull it out of its divot.   was he correct?

[dhanson]

yes, i think so:

Quote:

25-2. Embedded Ball

A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green . "Closely mown area" means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.

through the green defined as:

Quote:

"Through the green" is the whole area of the course except:

a. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played; and

b. All hazards on the course.

and the phrasing of "putting green" does not seem to be inclusive of the fringe:

Quote:

The " putting green " is all ground of the hole being played that is specially prepared for putting or otherwise defined as such by the Committee . A ball is on the putting green when any part of it touches the putting green.

i am curious, given these definitions, how you're supposed to handle an embedded ball on the green. can you just mark, pick it out of its pitch mark, repair the mark, and replace?

[iacas]

Originally Posted by dhanson

i am curious, given these definitions, how you're supposed to handle an embedded ball on the green. can you just mark, pick it out of its pitch mark, repair the mark, and replace?

Yes.