Could I have taken relief?

[cnl390]

What was the proper way to play this lie?  Relief w/ no penalty, drop w/ penalty or play it where it lies?

 

[Golfingdad]

LOL - well that's an unfortunate break!

If you drop it, you'd have to take a penalty (unless you can find a working sprinkler head in the trunk of that tree ) so what I try to do is compare the shot after the drop to the likely shot after hitting it from the tree.  I doubt I'd be able to advance it from there or get to a fairway, so I'd take the unplayable penalty and drop, and play for my bogey.

[Rulesman]

Remember, if you choose to drop within 2 club lengths, then it is measured from the ball not the edge if the tree (and not nearer the hole).

Edited January 19, 2017 by Rulesman

[Hatchman]

I know I could not play it.  Relief from the spot of ball for me and hopefully a decent path to the hole and not back into the tree. 

[iacas]

Play it as it lies (except for OB, GUR with mandatory relief, wrong putting greens, and ESAs… I think those are the only times you have mandatory relief), or take a drop within two clublengths of the ball no closer to the hole, or anywhere on a line from the ball through the hole (backward), or re-play the original shot.

Play it as it lies or take an unplayable.

I have seen cases where a grounds crew will mark trees as GUR when they're in the process of cutting them down, but that one's been that way for awhile…

[CarlSpackler]

Take a drop and go raise hell in the pro shop. 

[iacas]

  On 1/19/2017 at 5:15 PM, CarlSpackler said:

Take a drop and go raise hell in the pro shop. 

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Why? If that was still a tree you wouldn't, and a full tree is far more penal.

[CarlSpackler]

  On 1/19/2017 at 5:20 PM, iacas said:

Why? If that was still a tree you wouldn't, and a full tree is far more penal.

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Because that one that appears to be half cut down with a big gash in it that can trap balls seen above. 

[David in FL]

  On 1/19/2017 at 8:12 PM, CarlSpackler said:

Because that one that appears to be half cut down with a big gash in it that can trap balls seen above. 

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Then don't hit it there.  

[CarlSpackler]

  On 1/19/2017 at 8:27 PM, David in FL said:

Then don't hit it there.  

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If I could manage that, my HCI would be a whole lot lower. 

[iacas]

  On 1/19/2017 at 8:12 PM, CarlSpackler said:

Because that one that appears to be half cut down with a big gash in it that can trap balls seen above. 

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So?

Like a bush? Or another tree?

[CarlSpackler]

  On 1/20/2017 at 12:08 AM, iacas said:

So?

Like a bush? Or another tree?

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If they want it there, that's fine. It seems odd to keep a fallen tree sitting there.

[Golfingdad]

I'm not so sure that tree isn't part of the one behind it.

[David in FL]

  On 1/20/2017 at 12:17 AM, Golfingdad said:

I'm not so sure that tree isn't part of the one behind it.

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Agree.  I think that's all one tree...

[Lastpick]

I like the character of the tree.  It would be helpful to know the location of the tree in relationship to the intended path of play.

[cnl390]

  On 1/21/2017 at 2:24 AM, Lastpick said:

I like the character of the tree.  It would be helpful to know the location of the tree in relationship to the intended path of play.

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The tree was just to the left of the fairway in the first cut.

[Lastpick]

  On 1/21/2017 at 2:42 AM, cnl390 said:

The tree was just to the left of the fairway in the first cut.

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I say the tree is good where it is at.  Kind of interesting.

[6Aces]

  On 1/19/2017 at 4:43 PM, Golfingdad said:

 

If you drop it, you'd have to take a penalty (unless you can find a working sprinkler head in the trunk of that tree ) so what I try to do is compare the shot after the drop to the likely shot after hitting it from the tree. 

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Your statement in bold suggests that, hypothetically, if there was a sprinkler head in the tree, (or perhaps some other abnormal ground condition or immovable obstruction) that you would be entitled to free relief.

The exceptions in 24-1b and 25-1b indicate that you would not get free relief.