Dear
Linda,
Friends
of ours played on a neighboring course. On the side of the fairway, there were
mature trees that had, at some much earlier point, been staked to assist in
their growing. These stakes had never been removed. One of their shots landed
next to one of these stakes, and the player sought relief from the stake,
however, she was told that their rule was that there is no relief from them. Is
this the proper ruling???
Thanks
and best regards,
Lulu
Dear
Lulu,
Have
the stakes developed a root system and turned into trees? Not likely. Stakes
are man-made, and are therefore obstructions. The Committee may write a Local
Rule declaring the stakes to be immovable obstructions if it does not want
golfers to remove them, but it does not have the power to change them into
living things.
Golfers
are entitled to free relief from obstructions. If the stakes are movable, they
may be removed. If they are immovable (or declared “immovable” by the
Committee), golfers must find the nearest point of relief that is no closer to
the hole and drop within one club-length of that point.
All of this being said, the Committee is permitted to declare stakes supporting trees to be an integral part of the course. If that is the official policy at the course, and you have been properly informed, then you would not be entitled to free relief from such stakes. The Committee needs to communicate this information to every player in the competition.
All of this being said, the Committee is permitted to declare stakes supporting trees to be an integral part of the course. If that is the official policy at the course, and you have been properly informed, then you would not be entitled to free relief from such stakes. The Committee needs to communicate this information to every player in the competition.
Linda
Copyright
© 2012 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
