Linda, never seen this one before or heard of it happening:
A friend of mine hits a ball that runs up a tree and drops
back down in the rough (extra info). We know exactly where it was suppose to be,
but can't find it for a minute until we notice it is lying in a hole that is
about four inches deep and three inches wide. We grant him relief.
The question:
I realize all holes made by animals are now a free drop, but
how do I tell if a limb fell from the tree sometime before and made this
hole (or some other non-animal reason), or whether it was actually
caused by an animal?
Second scenario: Is a man considered to be an animal? If
someone slams the iron into the soil and creates a hole and then doesn't repair
such, what is the call when finding your ball in such?
Thanks,
Lou from Georgia
Dear Lou,
A hole made by a burrowing animal should be recognizable. In
my experience, it is smooth, fairly regular in shape, and beveled at the
opening. It should not be difficult to differentiate a gouge made by a falling
tree limb from an entrance into an animal burrow.
Man is an animal, but he is not a burrowing animal. There is no relief if your ball lands in a
depression made by an angry, inconsiderate golfer. Someone in his group should
have asked him to repair the damage, or repaired it himself if he feared
mentioning it.
Linda
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