Hi Linda,
Could I have clarification on the following query please?
We have a Local Rule at our club, as do many others, that
relief may be taken from paths on the course. The path is really a stony dirt
track.
So, the path is at the left hand side of the hole, and
beyond the path on the left is an area of thick brambles, from which play is
impossible. If taking a penalty drop from the brambles under the two clubs
rule, my understanding is that you first have to drop on the path and then take
relief from the path. But for a right-handed golfer the nearest point of relief
would often be back in the brambles, as the right hander has to take full
relief, and can’t be standing on the path for his next shot.
My understanding is that if you opt to take relief from the
path, and the nearest point of relief is back in the brambles, that is your
only option for relief. You don’t have any right to relief from the original
brambles and therefore it would be usually preferable to play from the path.
Secondly, if you drop on the path and again the ball bounces
back in the original brambles, the ball is in play, and if you need to take a
drop you will have to incur another penalty, which seems unfair, but I think
that is the rule.
I’d be grateful for your confirmation. Many thanks
Lou from the U.K.
Dear Lou,
All of your statements are correct. I would be inclined to
suggest that the two-club-length relief option for an unplayable ball might not
be the best choice for a right-handed golfer under these circumstances. He should
consider the flagline and stroke-and-distance options before deciding how best
to take relief.
Linda
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