Ball landing in divots on fairway

[Kurt92]

Surely this should be free relief? A great shot rewarded with what can be a hole-ruining divot under your ball.

The commentators always say 'watch for the divots' when a ball's been hit off the tee.


Enlighten me, why can't this rule be changed? :mmm:

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Rub of the green. No one said golf was fair

 

[tyke]

Just unlucky i'm afraid.

 

[louise_a]

It is a pain when it happens, but you have to play it where it lies. Can't see why they cant by GUR though.

 

[Imurg]

The biggest issue is defining what is and what isn't a divot
Every time a ball finishes on a blemish there is a chance it could be a divot so every time it would be questioned raising round times to eye-watering levels.
How do you define a divot?
How big, how deep...?
The possibilities are endless
Simpler to just play it as it lies and remove any confusion

 

[pbrown7582]

To save endless debate about wether your ball is in an old divot or just a poor lie.
It is harsh when it happens but unfortunately as things stand its just rub of the green.

 

[kid2]

Best thing to do when you land in a divot is remember the rule.... Take a Divot when in a Divot..
Always works and makes you commit to the shot too.

 

[williamalex1]

Why did the R.A. stop golf clubs from giving local rules allowing relief from seeded divots.

 

[Pin-seeker]

Man up & hit the ball from the divot:funk:

 

[williamalex1]

What the point of the green staff seeding divots if we just dig them up before they grow in , a waste of time and money.

 

[ScienceBoy]

1st rule of golf everyone should be taught..

Play the ball as it lies unless told otherwise by the rules.

 

[Foxholer]

What the point of the green staff seeding divots if we just dig them up before they grow in , a waste of time and money.

Can't find the reference that I'd seen a while ago, but the essence was that it was/is less damaging overall to have a single piece of damage than 2 damaged areas pretty much side by side.

Assuming that both strikes take a divot (not inevitable imo) then there will be 1 repair required after both shots as opposed to 1 repair and a partially repaired ared.

The 'play it as it lies' argument probably held sway.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

One of the fundamentals of golf: play it as it lies.

It's annoying, but how often does it actually happen? I could probably count the number of times it's happened to me on one hand and I don't remember the last time it did.

I also don't recall seeing it happen on TV very often.

 

[Doon frae Troon]

Man up & hit the ball from the divot:funk:

Hear hear....what next free drop from a sloping lie, free drop from a tough lie in the rough.

Jings is the game not becoming sterile enough.

 

[mcbroon]

One of the fundamentals of golf: play it as it lies.

It's annoying, but how often does it actually happen? I could probably count the number of times it's happened to me on one hand and I don't remember the last time it did.

I also don't recall seeing it happen on TV very often.

Happened to me on Wednesday. I'd laid up to just under 100yds and thought I was in the perfect position to keep the approach below the hole (big green, sloping hard from back to front with the pin cut near the front). As others have said above, you have to make sure you commit to a shot out of a divot, so I hit it harder than I would have done from a clean lie and of course it finished above the hole. 3-putted for double bogey.

A bit unlucky but just one of those things you have to suck up. I couldn't tell you the last time it happened before that, though.

 

[williamalex1]

Hear hear....what next free drop from a sloping lie, free drop from a tough lie in the rough.

Jings is the game not becoming sterile enough.[/QUOTE
Rules are rules , if your ball is on the wrong green 25.3 you must not play the ball as it lies , if your ball lands in a burrowing animal hole or scrapping , casual water ect. would you play it as it lies. common sense please.:rant:

 

[williamalex1]

It's one of the disadvantages of hitting a decent tee shot. Being in the "landing zone" substantially increases the risk of being in a divot.
It's annoying but I'm afraid you've just got to obey the rules and play it as it lies!

The rule was only changed in 2011.ish stopping a local rules being applied, about free drops from seeded divots.
BTW is that you Rolf.:smirk:

 

[Foxholer]

What the point of the green staff seeding divots if we just dig them up before they grow in , a waste of time and money.

Can't find the reference that I'd seen a while ago, but the essence was that it was/is less damaging overall to have a single piece of damage than 2 damaged areas pretty much side by side.

Assuming that both strikes take a divot (not inevitable imo) then there will be 1 repair required after both shots as opposed to 1 repair and a partially repaired ared.

The 'play it as it lies' argument probably held sway.

The rule was only changed in 2011.ish stopping a local rules being applied, about free drops from seeded divots.

Ha. I knew I''d find it eventually!
From 1 Jan 2010. Doesn't time fly!
http://www.scottishgolfview.com/2009/12/changes-to-decisions-on-rules-of-golf.html