Hi Linda,
At our golf club bare patches at the side of some of our
greens are marked as GUR. The problem is that the nearest point of relief is
quite often behind the marked area. As this is close to the green, I
usually putt from that position, but I now have to putt through this GUR area,
which seems to me to make the marking of the area rather pointless. Is this the
correct interpretation of the GUR rule, or would it be reasonable to drop the
ball out of the GUR such that I would not have to putt through the GUR marked
area? Also, sometimes having to drop behind the GUR marked area means dropping
the ball in longer grass.
Thank you in advance.
Lou from South Africa
Dear Lou,
Relief from GUR must be within one club-length of and not
nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief [Rule 25-1b]. If the nearest
relief is in longer grass behind the GUR, that is where you must drop. You do
not get to choose where to drop the ball.
The only time you are entitled to relief on the line of putt
is when your ball is on the green [Rule 25-1a].
Don’t forget to assess your relief option before you lift
your ball. If might be preferable to chip or putt the ball from the GUR rather
than take it out and drop it in long grass.
Linda
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