Dear Linda,
While playing golf with another player yesterday, our tee shots landed on the fringe of the Par 3 green. My fellow golfer wanted to use his putter but there was casual water in line of his play. On being asked whether he can place his ball without penalty where there is no interference from casual water, I said it is not permitted, as his ball is not in casual water. He agreed but was not happy with my interpretation of rule. Can you please clarify?
Regards,
Lou from Pune, India
Dear Lou,
Your ruling was correct.
The player is not entitled to relief from temporary water on his line of play when his ball lies off the green.
The player is only entitled to free relief from an abnormal course condition (such as temporary water) that intervenes on his line of play when his ball lies on the green. The interfering abnormal condition may be on or off the green [Rule 16.1a].
Vocabulary tip: The pre-2019 term “casual water” has been replaced by “temporary water.”
Linda
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