Hi Linda,
Could you please let me know if this player [Ask Linda #717]
incurs a penalty stroke if he has to re-drop the ball after placing it and
finding that he still has interference from the condition from which he was
taking relief? As I understand it, the ball is in play the after he places
it.
Also, assuming the player takes a drop within one club-length
and the ball rolls away from the drop point but stopped within 3 club length,
he has to play the ball as it lies but if he is unfortunate enough to land the
ball on a very bad patch or behind say a tree or some bushes, what option does
he have? Another free drop or a penalty drop? I think it is the latter but I
still do want your confirmation.
Kind regards,
Lou from Malaysia
Dear Lou,
A ball is in play as soon as it has been dropped or placed correctly.
A ball that has been dropped or placed in the wrong place but not played may be lifted without penalty [Rule 20-6]. The player in
yesterday's column [Ask
Linda #717-Foot on cart path after relief] clearly did not drop his
ball in the correct place, i.e., where he would get complete relief from the
cart path. He must start the process again, determining the nearest point of complete relief before he drops the
ball (and possibly re-drops and then places the ball).
After dropping the ball, it must be re-dropped if it rolls
more than two club-lengths from the
spot where it hit the ground, not three.
If it settles within two club-lengths in an unplayable area, the player may try
to play it as it lies or declare the ball unplayable. Taking relief for an
unplayable ball includes a one-stroke penalty [Rule 28].
Once again, I must caution readers to assess their relief
options before they lift their ball. The shot from the cart path may be
infinitely more preferable to a shot from the brambles. Once you lift your ball
in play, you will incur a one-stroke penalty if you decide not to take relief
and replace it in its original position [Decision 18-2a/12].
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
