Hi Linda,
During a round of golf recently, one of our players hit
close to a bunker that was GUR. There was a split opinion as to whether she
could take a drop, seeing her foot would be in GUR in a normal stance to play
the shot. I personally thought her ball would have to be in GUR for us
to be arbitrating this question. Others thought she would be given a drop as
she was not required to play from GUR. Surely the player could have hit
sideways, as would be the case had the bunker not been GUR????
Intrigued,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
A player is entitled to free relief if her ball lies in
Ground Under Repair (GUR), or if the GUR interferes with her stance or the area
of her intended swing [Rule 25-1a]. The GUR in your scenario interfered with
the player’s normal stance. She was entitled to a free drop outside the bunker
within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
The fact that the drop may give her an improved stance is not a consideration
in determining whether she is entitled to relief.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
