rules question-- is a car an immovable obstruction?

[doublesuited77]

here's one for all of your rules junkie out there. In a corporate tourney last week, I pulled a three-wood trying to hit a par 5 in two about 40 yards left of the green. onto the tee box of the next hole, a par-3.

At the par-3, they had a new mercedes there for anyone who got a hole-in-one. my ball was directly behind the car. None of the sponsors had or could find the keys to this car.

Should i have been entitled to any relief here?

[AndrewM]

yes, you should have been

(just saying yes wasnt enough characters for a response lol)

[Dent]

Yep, its not part of the golf course and is simply a prop, why should that be in play for you to play around?

[lamebums]

here's one for all of your rules junkie out there. In a corporate tourney last week, I pulled a three-wood trying to hit a par 5 in two about 40 yards left of the green. onto the tee box of the next hole, a par-3.

If it's readily movable, then it's a movable obstruction. Get it out of the way. Otherwise, it's immovable, and you get relief.

There's a decision on this. "Parked Car" in the Rules of Golf.

[popey]

This happened a few weeks ago on the European tour. The ball was under an ambulance but the keys could not be found with out holding up play so the rules official allowed the player a free drop in line with the immovable obstruction rule.

There is a good picture on the internet of it somewhere. I will try to find it!

[powerfade]

Here's a USGA Decision...

24/8 Parked Car


Q. A player’s ball lies under a parked car. What is the procedure?

A. If the car is readily movable, it should be treated as a movable obstruction and moved — see Rule 24-1.
If the car is not readily movable, it should be treated as an immovable obstruction and the player is entitled to relief as provided in Rule 24-2b.

[NM Golf]

You say behind the car. You only get relief for stance and swing not line of site. So in order to get relief you would have had to be close enough to the car to hit it with the club during the swing or had it interfere with taking your normal stance.