Linda,
Last Saturday in a doubles match on an unfamiliar municipal
course my ball came to rest short of the green by about 3 yards - in the second
cut. However, it came to rest in an unusually deep and wide hollow of a drain.
The hollow was about 2 feet in diameter. The ball was nestled very deeply in
grass very near to the grate. My left foot was 4 inches below my right in the
hollow as I addressed the ball. But, the club head was not likely to touch the
grate if I aimed at the pin. I asked my competitor if he thought I was entitled
to relief. He thought I was. However, I didn’t take relief. I swung at the ball
and moved it about 4 feet. Lost the hole but eventually we won the match.
Do you think that I was entitled to relief?
Lou from Hackettstown, New Jersey
Dear Lou,
Judging from your narrative, you were not entitled to free
relief. Your stance, swing, and line of play were not affected by the grate,
which is an immovable obstruction.
Linda
Copyright © 2016 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
