Ask Linda #22 - nearest point of relief from cart path

Hi Linda–
When the conversation comes up about when the ball stops on the cart path parallel with the
fairway, I get all different answers. So why not go right to the top. :-) In your own time can you explain that rule? Sorry for being a pest but I would like to put this to rest.: I've heard it matters what side of the path it is on--- where the ball stops on the path--- where it entered --- drop it one or two club-lengths or take it back as far as you want and so on. It seems I heard a lot of mixed rules or different rules. Please respond and thank you for your patience.
Lulu


Dear Lulu,

You're not being a pest, Lulu. While I have answered this question before, apparently there are many people out there who are still confused about this issue.

Here's your answer. When your ball comes to rest on a cart path (I'm assuming a paved cart path, since you would not get free relief off a dirt path), it is lying on an immovable obstruction. Rule 24 will tell you that you may "lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief."

The rulebook is very specific about "nearest point of relief." You are entitled to complete relief from the cart path, but you may not choose on which side of the path you will take your relief, unless your ball has come to rest precisely in the middle of the cart path. Let's say, for example, your ball is on the left side of the path and you are a right-handed player. You will move off the left side of the path onto whatever is there (rough, trees, fairway, anything but a bunker or a green). Now, take your stance WITH THE CLUB YOU WOULD HAVE USED had the ball not been lying on the cart path. Place a tee in the ground where your ball would lie. Now, using any club (most golfers select their driver), lay the club on the ground with one end
at the tee and the other on a slight angle away from the hole. Place another tee at the end of your club. You must now drop the ball between the two tees. If the ball rolls forward (closer to the hole than an imaginary line drawn between the two tees) you must re-drop. The ball, when dropped, is allowed to roll no further than two club-lengths, so it can actually come to a stop outside your two tees and still be a good drop.

Something you might tell your friends, who are confusing various rules, is that when your relief is free, it is always taken within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. Situations where you are taking the ball back as far as you want or taking two club-lengths relief have to do with water hazards and lateral water hazards (Rule 26), and unplayable balls (Rule 28), all of which incur a penalty when you take relief.

If you're still confused, you know how to reach me.

Linda

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