Dear Linda,
We were playing the other day and my playing partner's ball
ended up in the mulch near some young plants. If he tries to hit that ball he
will be standing on the cart path. We cannot find any Local rules about the
young plant, but since he is standing on the cart path we figured he was entitled
to relief under Obstruction. Are we right?
Thank you,
Lou
Dear Lou,
Yes. You are
entitled to relief if you have to stand on a cart path to hit a ball. You must
find the nearest point of relief no closer to the hole, and drop within one
club-length of that spot.
If there were no
cart path to interfere with your swing, you would have to play the ball as it
lies in the mulch. A golf course that wants to protect young plants from
wayward golfers needs to let them know that free relief from flowerbeds is
mandatory. If you suspect you may damage a young plant with your swing, you
might try to call the clubhouse first, if possible – the starter may have
neglected to mention the prohibition.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
