Hi Linda,
After a heavy storm a very large branch had broken away from
a tree trunk, falling across the edge of the course. It was too large to move
but would be done by green staff once seen. My ball was about 10 yards behind
the branch but impeded my line to the green. Was I entitled to a free drop no
nearer the hole but to the side of the overhanging branch?
Look forward to your reply.
Lulu from England
Dear Lulu,
You are not entitled to free relief from a loose impediment
that interferes with your line of play. You may move it (clearly not an option
here); you may ask others to assist you to move it, provided it doesn’t unduly
delay play [Decision 23-1/3]; you may break off parts of the branch [Decision
23-1/4].
If the branch fell prior
to your round, and it has not been marked as ground under repair (GUR), you’re
out of luck. If the branch falls during
your round, the Committee has several options [Decision 25/9.5]:
1. require play to continue, offering no relief;
2. suspend play and have the tree removed;
3. declare the area ground under repair; or
4. in equity, adopt the relief procedures for temporary
obstructions in Local Rule #7 [Appendix I, Part B].
Declaring the area ground under repair would probably not
provide any relief for a ball that lies ten yards away. Players do not get
line-of-play relief from obstructions. The only option that would provide
relief for the line of play would be Local Rule #7.
Linda
Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
