Linda,
The player’s identified ball is lodged in the limb of a
large tree that is rooted in an area defined as GUR - the limb and ball
overhang above (within) a lateral water hazard. Is the ball considered in the GUR
or in the lateral water hazard? What is the correct procedure?
Appreciate your help as this actually happened in our group.
Thank you,
Lulu from Florida
Dear Lulu,
When a tree is growing in ground under repair (GUR), a ball
in the tree is considered to be lying in the GUR, even if it is lodged in a
limb that protrudes past the margin of the GUR. Thus, the player’s ball is
lying in GUR.
However, Note 1 to Rule 25-1 explains that a player is not
entitled to free relief from GUR if the GUR is in the water hazard. The
Definition of Water Hazard tells us that the margin of a water hazard extends
vertically upwards.
Since the limb of the tree has broken the plane of the
vertical margin of the water hazard, the ball on the limb is in GUR in the
hazard. Unless the player plans to hit the ball out of the tree, her relief
options are those that are available for a ball in a water hazard [see the relief
options under Rule 26-1].
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
