Hi Linda,
While playing in a club match my opponent hit his ball into
bushes. We found the ball in about 2 feet from the rough but in a rabbit
scrape. He asked me if he was entitled to relief, and I confirmed he was, but
that he was not entitled to improve his position, i.e., he could not get relief
from the bushes. He dropped the ball over the rabbit scrape but each time he
did, the ball touched off the bushes and landed where he had a clear shot. This
happened 3 times and eventually we decided it was in play. What was the correct
ruling please?
Many thanks,
Lou from Ireland
Dear Lou,
If the rabbit scrape weren’t there, would the ball be
unplayable under the bush? Please let me know exactly where the ball lay in
relation to the scrape and to the bush or bushes.
Hi Linda,
Yes, the ball would be unplayable even if it were not in the
rabbit scrape. It was in under the bushes where it would have been impossible
to swing at it!
Thanks,
Lou
Dear Lou,
You are not entitled to free relief from an abnormal ground
condition (a rabbit scrape, in this instance) if something else clearly
interferes with your stroke [Rule 25-1b, Exception]. In your situation, the
ball lay unplayable under a bush. If the rabbit scrape were not there, your
ball would still be unplayable. Since you cannot play your ball, you must add
one stroke to your score and choose one of the relief options in Rule 28 for an
unplayable ball.
In situations where you are
entitled to relief, there is no requirement to drop the ball in the same
condition. For example, if your ball lies in casual water in the rough, and the
nearest point of relief plus one club-length moves you onto the fairway, you
are entitled to drop on the fairway.
Linda
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