Linda, I have a question. We were playing in a golf
tournament and my ball came to rest just outside the red lines defining the
lateral hazard. For me to hit the ball I needed to stand in the hazard. The
problem is there is a concrete drainage ditch running in the hazard. So I
needed to stand on it to hit the ball. Would I be entitled to relief from the
hazard? If so the nearest point of relief would take me to the cart path. So
would I also receive relief from the cart path? I played it as it lay and
scored a double.
Thanks.
Lou from Tennessee
Dear Lou,
You are entitled to free relief from an immovable
obstruction in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard when your ball lies outside the hazard [Rule
24-2b]. The only time you are not
permitted free relief from an immovable obstruction is when your ball lies in a water hazard or a lateral water
hazard.
Find the nearest point of relief not nearer the hole and
drop within one club-length of that point. If it turns out that your drop will
be on a cart path, you must drop the ball on the path. After your drop, if you
have interference from the cart path, follow the same procedure if you wish to
take relief from the path.
If you had not had interference from an immovable
obstruction, you would have had to play your ball as it lay outside the hazard
with your stance in the hazard.
Knowing the ruling might have saved you from a double bogey.
However, you are to be commended for deciding to play the ball where it lay. A
player who is unsure of how to proceed will avoid risking penalty for an
incorrect procedure if he plays the ball as it lies.
Linda
Copyright © 2017 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
