Monday, March 26, 2018

Ask Linda #1726-Change relief option after dropping ball

Hi Linda
When a ball comes to rest in a bush and is unplayable, I think the player has the usual three options – take a two club length drop, take stroke and distance, or drop on the flagline…no problem so far.

The player elects to drop within two club-lengths. When he drops the ball the ball rolls forwards and therefore is ‘not in play yet’ and has to be re-dropped.
He then decides it is too risky to drop and elects to go back to the tee or drop on the flagline. Can he do this or is he committed to continuing with the ‘two-club-length’ relief option?

Many thanks, you are very much appreciated.
Lou from Hampshire, England

Dear Lou,

Once the player chooses a relief option and drops a ball, he is committed to that option [Decision 20-2c/5]. So if he drops a ball under the two-club-length relief option, and the ball rolls to a position that requires a re-drop (see Rule 20-2c), he must re-drop the ball. The ball is in play as soon as it is dropped, regardless of whether the drop must be repeated.

Linda
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