Linda,
Today during a competition one of our fourball hit a wide sliced drive. It was found by one of our fourball in a rubbish dump where a variety of natural material had been dumped over time. It was clear it was not there to be removed imminently and probably never. It was not marked as GUR. I was aware that the player had retrieved his ball and that he dropped it outside of the dump. The player that found it informed me that a free drop had been taken because it was discarded rubbish. I was not sure that this was correct. The area was not marked as GUR and it seemed clear the rubbish tip was exactly that. We should of course have consulted the rulebook but were aware of a threeball on the tee that had been waiting some time and to let them through would have been futile as we were the last group of the competition. This player made a 6 for one point and won the competition.
Having returned home I have consulted the rulebook. Looking at the definition of GUR it seems clear that ‘other materials left on the course that have been abandoned and are not intended to be removed are not GUR unless so marked’. The question of abnormal ground conditions was muted but I felt this was not appropriate.
In my view the ball should have been deemed unplayable and available options for an unplayable ball taken under penalty.
Regards,
Lou from the UK
Dear Lou,
Your understanding is correct. There is no free relief from natural materials (e.g., leaves, tree branches) that are left on the course that are not intended to be removed unless they have been marked as ground under repair. A player seeking relief from such materials incurs a one-stroke penalty and may choose any of the relief options for an unplayable ball listed under Rule 19.
It is not uncommon for a golf course to dump natural debris at the far reaches of the golf course and leave it there to rot. A player who hits a poor shot that lands in such debris should not expect to escape unpunished.
Linda
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