Ask Linda #125-Proper relief

Hi Linda,
Recently, I had the following situation. I hit a ball out of the woods, thru the fairway, and over the cart path. Ball stopped by a bush. To hit the ball, I would have had to stand on the macadam. I took relief and dropped the ball a foot behind the prior spot, which was hard-pan. In order to hit the ball from this spot I had to stand on the macadam. I selected to hit from this spot, since if I dropped the ball where my feet were off the macadam, I would be behind a large bush. This was a 2 of 4 best ball and my score didn't count on this hole. Was my procedure OK , or a no,no???????
Lou Lou

Dear Lou Lou,

This was a “no-no,” Lou. When you take relief from an immovable obstruction, you must take complete relief. In your situation, you were entitled to free relief because in order to hit the ball your feet would be on the macadam. After you dropped the ball, your feet were apparently still on the macadam. Rule 20-1c, which explains when to re-drop a ball, will tell you that you must re-drop if you still have interference from the same condition that caused you to take a drop in the first place.

When you take relief from an immovable obstruction, you must find the nearest spot no closer to the hole that affords complete relief. Once you establish that spot, you must then drop your ball within one club-length of that spot (Rule 24-2b). You will have to re-drop that ball if:

1. you were not in a hazard and the ball rolls into a hazard;
2. you were in a hazard, and the ball rolls out of the hazard;
3. the ball rolls onto a putting green;
4. the ball rolls out of bounds;
5. the ball rolls to a spot where you have interference from the same condition from which you were taking relief [your situation, Lou];
6. the ball rolls more than two club-lengths from the spot where it first hit the ground when you dropped it;
7. the ball rolls nearer to the hole.

Note that “nearest relief” means “nearest relief.” If your nearest relief is in an unplayable lie, that’s where you’ll have to take your drop. From your description, it sounds like your nearest relief was behind a large bush. When the nearest relief will put you in an unplayable lie, then I would recommend that you play the ball as it lies, if that is an option. With today’s required soft spikes, hitting the ball with your feet on the macadam was probably your best option.

A word of advice: Always assess your relief possibilities before you lift your ball. You may observe that the cure is worse than the disease, and decide that your best choice is to play it as it lies. Once you lift that ball, you are not permitted to replace it without penalty.

Linda

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