Hi Linda,
Playing recently one player in my group found his ball amongst a collection of wood cuttings. They were small in size but had been assembled by presumably the greenkeeping crew in a neat pile. They had been there some time as now the grass/weeds had grown around and through the pile.
My playing partner could not play the shot without hitting the wood cuttings, nor could he move the cuttings without moving his ball. Given this situation the player said he was entitled to relief without penalty as this was "greenkeepers workings.” He quoted a similar scenario where there might be a pile of grass cuttings and relief is provided in such an instance where it’s clear the pile has been created by a greenkeeper for later removal.
I guess the query for me is about the existence of this rule, and how long could it apply if ultimately the pile was not removed, such as occurred with the woodcuttings this ball found itself in.
Can you provide any assistance on:
- the existence of this rule
- examples of how it can be used correctly/incorrectly.
Regards,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The Definition of Ground Under Repair includes a reference to material piled for removal. It explains that “material left on the course that has been abandoned and is not intended to be removed is not ground under repair unless so marked.”
If the wood cuttings in your question have been sitting around so long that weeds have begun to sprout, you can safely assume that there is no intention on the part of the greenkeeper to remove them. The player in your question was not entitled to free relief under Rule 25 (Abnormal Ground Conditions).
Greenkeepers commonly pile grass cuttings, leaves, wood chips, and other debris in out-of-the-way places in the rough. Simply because the material is in a pile does not mean that there is a clear intention to remove it. I would suggest the following guidelines:
1. If the material is marked as Ground Under Repair, obviously you are entitled to free relief.
2. If workers are actively gathering material into manageable piles, you can assume they plan to remove them and you are entitled to free relief.
3. If the material has been loaded onto a truck and dumped in the woods, this does not constitute “material piled for removal,” so no free relief.
4. Any sign that the material has been left around for a significant amount of time, such as the presence of weeds, is a clear indication that there is no intention to remove it.
Keep in mind that wood chips, grass cuttings, leaves, etc., are loose impediments. If you can move them without causing your ball to move, you are entitled to do so.
If you are playing in a tournament, and there is no Committee member available to make an on-the-spot ruling, then you should play two balls under Rule 3-3 (Doubt as to Procedure) if you are uncertain as to whether the material under your ball has been piled for removal.
In casual play, common sense and honest judgment should make it easy to decide whether you are entitled to free relief.
Linda
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