Dear Linda,
Can you please clarify the difference between “Relief “ and
“Complete Relief” from GUR?
I give you a specific situation.
There is one green on our course that is being refurbished
after the rainy season with additional sand/mud, etc. It is rectangular in
shape: 45 feet long (North–South) and 35 feet wide (East–West). The hole is in
the middle, 20 feet from the South line.
The GUR line is marked up to 15 feet from the South line.
The ball is lying 1 foot from the South line, so 19 feet from the hole. The
nearest point of relief (NPR) outside the GUR is quite close to the South line.
So if one plays towards the hole from the NPR with a Putter, the GUR is
intervening on this line.
My Question: Can one take complete relief by measuring the
distance of 19 feet between the ball and hole towards North, thus remaining on
the green for the next shot?
Regards,
Lou from Pune, India
Dear
Lou,
No.
When a
player’s ball lies on the putting green, and an abnormal ground condition (such
as ground under repair, casual water, etc.) interferes with the player’s stance
or area of intended swing, or intervenes on his line of putt, the player is
entitled to free relief [Rule 25-1a]. He must place his ball at the nearest point of relief that is not in
a hazard and not nearer the hole. If complete relief is not possible, he may
place it at a spot that affords the maximum available relief. (For example, if
the hole were surrounded by casual water, the player could place his ball at a
spot where the water on his line of putt would be the most shallow.) The
nearest point of relief –or maximum available relief– may turn out to be off
the putting green. The player is not entitled to place his ball on the putting
green unless the nearest point of relief is a spot on the putting green [Rule
25-1b (iii)].
The
spot you want to use –19 feet on the opposite side of the hole– is 38 feet from
the spot where your ball lies. That spot is not the nearest point of relief,
and you may not place your ball there. Your NPR will be on an arc to the west
or east (depending on the exact location of your ball), off the green.
Please read Decision 25-1b/10.5. I believe you will find the accompanying diagrams very helpful.
Linda
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© 2018 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
