Ruling?

[lamebums]

I had this today, and thought I'd share this with y'all. I'm sure everyone's had this sooner or later, and I'm wondering what you did about it.

1) Play the ball as it lies, and to hell with the sole of my wedge?
2) Take an unplayable, drop the ball no nearer the hole, and take a stroke?
3) Consider the cart path an immovable obstruction, thus getting a free drop, no nearer the hole, without penalty?

Personally, I took option 3, but what do you think is the correct choice? (Yeah, I tend to interpret the rules.)

[CG031]

It's obviously option number three. Unless, you are rich and can afford a new club...lol.

[ILLZ]

I was under the impression that if your ball was on a man made cart path or caused your stance to be on a man made cart path it was a free drop?

[Dent]

i know this for a fact its number three. You made the right choice. A cart path is an un-playable lie.

[CG031]

I was under the impression that if your ball was on a man made cart path or caused your stance to be on a man made cart path it was a free drop?

it is. but sometimes you'll get a good lie on the cart path...

if you do, you can hit it off there, just like you can hit it out of a hazard.

[lamebums]

it is. but sometimes you'll get a good lie on the cart path...

Since when is hitting a wedge off concrete a

good lie? If I were forced to play it as it lies, I would probably use the putter, try to advance the ball, but more importantly, get it back in grass.

[NM Golf]

Rule 24: Immovable obstruction- You get free relief one club length no closer to the hole.

[CusePhil]

Rule 24: Immovable obstruction- You get free relief one club length no closer to the hole.

Is it closest relief, or any direction within one club length? If it's any direction, is it one club length from the ball or the cart path itself? Lets say you ball is on the right side of the path, and one club length from the ball to the left still puts you on the cart path (assuming the left side of the path is a more favorable lie). Are you forced to take relief to the left, or can you try and get a lucky bounce off the path to the left? Thanks.

[iacas]

Is it closest relief, or any direction within one club length? If it's any direction, is it one club length from the ball or the cart path itself? Lets say you ball is on the right side of the path, and one club length from the ball to the left still puts you on the cart path (assuming the left side of the path is a more favorable lie). Are you forced to take relief to the left, or can you try and get a lucky bounce off the path to the left? Thanks.

It's one club length from the nearest point of relief. That means complete relief - you can't be standing on it, the ball can't be on it, and your swing can't be affected by it. So, wherever the nearest point of complete relief is, you must drop the ball within one clublength of that spot, no closer to the hole.

I'm not sure why the original poster started this thread. There are some good questions and answers (and even videos) here: http://www.usga.org/QUESTIONS/FAQS/r...idx=96&Rule;=24

[Billbill13]

Is it closest relief, or any direction within one club length? If it's any direction, is it one club length from the ball or the cart path itself? Lets say you ball is on the right side of the path, and one club length from the ball to the left still puts you on the cart path (assuming the left side of the path is a more favorable lie). Are you forced to take relief to the left, or can you try and get a lucky bounce off the path to the left? Thanks.

It is actually the nearest point of relief no closer to the hole. Key word being "nearest".

[thehillgolfer]

I think everyone should go buy a rule book or two....


It is a really good idea to keep one in your bag...the USGA makes them as easy as possible to find and interpret all the rules

[NM Golf]

Is it closest relief, or any direction within one club length? If it's any direction, is it one club length from the ball or the cart path itself? Lets say you ball is on the right side of the path, and one club length from the ball to the left still puts you on the cart path (assuming the left side of the path is a more favorable lie). Are you forced to take relief to the left, or can you try and get a lucky bounce off the path to the left? Thanks.

The procedure would be:

1. Mark the original spot of the ball. 2. Determine the closest spot of complete relief (neither you nor the ball can be on any part of the cart path) to where the original spot was, make sure it is not closer to the hole and mark that. 3. Mark one club length from the spot of relief. 4. Hold your hand straight out from your shoulder and drop the ball within that club length.

[Fourputt]

I can't imagine why the OP would think that there is any other decision than his 3rd option. The rules are quite clear on this. The only possible question would be if the paved area was designated as an integral part of the course, like the road at the 17th hole on the St. Andrews Old Course, but that is a rare exception in the world of modern golf. Note the definition below from the Rules of Golf, particularly the part in bold type:

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. An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort, without unduly delaying play and without causing damage. Otherwise it is an immovable obstruction.

You are always

entitled to relief without penalty from an immovable obstruction, but you are not required to take it. I have hit from paths before when taking the correct relief would have left me nearly unplayable in deep rough. The grass visible in that photo near the ball does not seem to be too bad, so I'd definitely take relief here.