Animal hole

[berniethebolt]

We have a badger sett adjacent to the course and they often cavort in bunkers leaving a horrible mess which is not always dealt with first thing by the green staff. The question arose as to whether such damage caused probably by badger joie de vivre rather than digging for worms could be described as an animal hole from which free relief (in bunker of course) could be claimed. We felt not. Comments?

 

[robinthehood]

I'd say yes. If created by a burrowing animal then take relief.

 

[duncan mackie]

I'd say yes. If created by a burrowing animal then take relief.

Then again the definition of animal hole suggests otherwise.

What are you basing your view on?

 

[Swango1980]

Yes, relief is allowed from a hole by a digging animal (the burrowing animal term appears to have been removed), except for holes dug by animals that are also classed as loose impediments (e.g. worms, insects). This is allowed for anywhere on course except for a penalty area.

 

[Swango1980]

However, having not actually heard the term "joie de vivre" before, and now having looked it up, I now am picturing not a hole in the bunker, but just a load of footprints. Therefore, no relief (as Duncan points out, this is mentioned in the definition of "Animal Hole".

 

[robinthehood]

Then again the definition of animal hole suggests otherwise.

What are you basing your view on?

Damage, suggests holes rather than just footprints. Without seeing I can't really say what the badgers intentions were 😉

 

[duncan mackie]

Yes, relief is allowed from a hole dug in the ground by a digging animal (the burrowing animal term appears to have been removed), except for holes dug by animals that are also classed as loose impediments (e.g. worms, insects). This is allowed for anywhere on course except for a penalty area.

For clarity

 

[duncan mackie]

Damage, suggests holes rather than just footprints.

The question posed by the OP rules out that damage being holes dug by the badgers, and asks whether because it was created by badgers (who are digging animals) it would still constitute an abnormal ground condition.

The answer to the question posed lies in the wording of the definition of 'animal hole'.

 

[robinthehood]

The question posed by the OP rules out that damage being holes dug by the badgers, and asks whether because it was created by badgers (who are digging animals) it would still constitute an abnormal ground condition.

The answer to the question posed lies in the wording of the definition of 'animal hole'.

Probably 😉

 

[Swango1980]

Damage, suggests holes rather than just footprints. Without seeing I can't really say what the badgers intentions were 😉

Given the wording by the OP, I suspect damage does not mean a hole, otherwise I reckon they'd have taken relief. I think damage just meant a general unsettling of the sand rather than any dug out holes. However, only the OP knows what they saw.

 

[robinthehood]

Given the wording by the OP, I suspect damage does not mean a hole, otherwise I reckon they'd have taken relief. I think damage just meant a general unsettling of the sand rather than any dug out holes. However, only the OP knows what they saw.

If it's footprints and messed up sand, I'd say the question doesn't need asking. On the other hand if his fun included a bit of digging then surely that's different.
As i said you can't really know without seeing

 

[berniethebolt]

Badgers are large animals and if you can imagine several jumping around, rolling, fighting or whatever then there were depressions several inches deep, sand piled up - a real mess not just footprints and not dug out holes. As DM suggests this would seem to be a matter of the definition of 'animal hole' which is why I asked the question.

 

[USER1999]

Hmm, relief from badger sex damage, I don't think so.