How big the 'drop zone'?

[zeg]

Originally Posted by Mordan

Local rules may not contravene the rules of golf.

They may not, but they frequently do.

I've played a few courses in the LA area that have grossly non-compliant rules for dealing with desert scrub and environmentally sensitive areas. Like the case here, they are reasonably logical solutions, except that they violate the rules of golf.

It's frustrating, but if they are enforcing those rules, probably your best bet is not to worry about the proper rule: as has been said, there wasn't one. If you keep a handicap, follow the rules for reporting a score with a hole not completed under the rules of golf (i.e., estimate your most likely score from the point you deviated from the rules). Rules-wise it's irrelevant that you had no choice in the matter.

A proper informal stroke play competition will be impossible on this course (presumably they play by the rules when an organized tournament is happening). A match could work in principle because one of the players could concede the hole, or you could follow Decision 2-1/1.5 and halve the hole (although I believe you would not be permitted to agree about how to resolve this in advance, since that would be an agreement to waive the rules---you have to start the hole and then address the situation if it arises).

[joekelly]

Don't i wish i owned some land here, so does everyone else.  But since this part of socialist China, the government owns all the land, hardly any exceptions. The same is true on the mainland and this reality is the source of huge social  problems and massive corruption since the communist masters control the land, the courts, the police, the jails...  well, u get the picture.