Linda,
We have on our course a very difficult ravine to cross over on a par five hole. It has been proposed to have a drop area if you go into the ravine. If you dropped on the opposite side you would be closer to the green. However every par three on the course has a drop area closer to the green. Why then is allowing a drop area on this hole causing a problem? Since our ladies group is made up of handicaps from 11 to over 36, allowing a drop area on this hole makes sense. What say you Linda Miller? Thank you for your reply.
Lulu from Green Valley, Arizona
Dear Lulu,
I say put the drop area wherever you want and let the ladies enjoy their round! (Just kidding, but it was fun to say that.)
Dropping zones should generally be established to give players an extra relief option when one or more of the relief options under the Rules is not available or practicable. They should (not must) be located where the player would still have to negotiate the penalty area, which means that they should not be established on the green side of a yellow penalty area [2I-Dropping Zones (2), page 392 in my edition of the Official Guide].
However, since the Official Guidesays “should,” and not “must,” it apparently is not against the Rules to locate a dropping zone on the green side of a yellow penalty area. This dropping zone should be optional, and the individual Committees in charge of different leagues should decide whether to permit their members to use such dropping zones.
The game of golf was not meant to be a simple walk in the park. It saddens me to learn of dropping zones located on the green side of obstacles that were meant to be negotiated. It feels like the architect’s design is being disrespected, and the Rules of Golf are being skirted. Consider implementing Maximum Score or Stableford as the format for your league play. That would keep the challenge of crossing the ravine in place for the better golfers, and allow the less-skilled players to remain in the competition.
Linda
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