Sunday, December 22, 2013

Ask Linda #766-Stance in GUR


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
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