Hi Linda,
Our club has a Local Rule that makes some flowerbeds GUR. The boundary of this area is the edge of the bed and runs around to the boundary fence.
If the ball rests against the boundary fence and is in the bed, I assume that you will gain relief, even though the fence would prevent you having a swing.
Relief from the GUR is not mandatory, but there are heaps of plants that make relief the only option.
Am I correct in my thinking?
Regards,
Lou from South Australia
Dear Lou,
No.
The player is not entitled to free relief from ground under repair (GUR) if interference by anything other than the GUR makes the stroke impracticable [Rule 25-1b, Exception; Decisions 25-1b/19 and 25-1b/20]. In this case, the boundary fence interferes with the player’s swing. Since the player is not entitled to free relief from a boundary fence, he will have to declare the ball unplayable if he is unable to hit it as it lies in the flowerbed.
The Committee might want to consider making relief from all flowerbeds that border the boundary fence mandatory. If relief were mandatory, the player would be required to take relief from the flowerbed, and that relief would be free. The Exception to Rule 25-1b is not applicable when relief is mandatory.
Linda
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