A hole made by a greenkeeper is not always “a hole made by a
greenkeeper.” For example, aeration holes, even though they are holes that are
made by the greenkeeper (or his staff), are not “a hole made by a greenkeeper”
as that term is used in the Rules of Golf [Decision 25/15].
The term appears in the Definition of “Ground Under Repair.”
It generally refers to ground that is dug up in the process of maintaining the
course [Decision 25/14]. Some examples would be holes dug (1) to install or
repair pipelines, (2) to remove a tree stump, or (3) to repair turf. It also
refers to a second hole on the putting greens of a nine-hole course, where one
hole is used for play of the first nine holes and the other for the second nine
[Decision 16/7].
If you have interference from a hole made by a greenkeeper,
you are entitled to free relief under Rule 25 (“Abnormal Ground Conditions”).
You may get free relief from aeration holes if the Committee
adopts Local Rule 3d [Appendix I, Part A]. If this Local Rule is in effect, and
your ball lies in an aeration hole through the green, you may lift, clean, and drop the ball as close as possible to
where it lies, no closer to the hole; on the putting green, the ball would be placed. If you are playing a course
that has been aerated recently, it’s the wise player who checks whether this
Local Rule is in effect before he starts his round.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
