Ball on the road.....

[49neil]

Rules Q please folks

Tee shot finishes up on a tarmac road that crosses the hole. I know you can have a drop, but my PP & I had a discussion as to where to drop.

Is it (using the balls finishing position & the flag as a line)
[1] within 1 club length of nearest point of relief (i.e. go back 1 club length from the back edge of the road)
[2] within 2 club lengths of nearest point of relief (i.e. go back 2 club lengths from the back edge of the road)
[3] go back as far as you want....

thanks in advance



(I think it's 3, but ended up doing 2 following the discussion)

 

[TXL]

The answer is within 1 club length of nearest point of relief. See the description on the R&A website

 

[woody69]

The road is an immovable obstruction so the ruling is you can drop within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief, so 1.

 

[49neil]

Lucky it wasn't a comp then!

live & learn!

 

[CliveW]

You are not always entitled to relief from roads and paths. Check the local rules. The Old Course at St Andrews is a one where you don't get relief.

 

[Spuddy]

Lucky it wasn't a comp then!

live & learn!

free drops are one club length and penalised drops are usually 2.

 

[patricks148]

You are not always entitled to relief from roads and paths. Check the local rules. The Old Course at St Andrews is a one where you don't get relief.

Yes we were the same, we have 3 gravel roads crosing the course at different points and they were all intergral prts of the course, until some bright spark brought up the H&S aspect!!!!!you now get a free drop from them all.

 

[rosecott]

Yes we were the same, we have 3 gravel roads crosing the course at different points and they were all intergral prts of the course, until some bright spark brought up the H&S aspect!!!!!you now get a free drop from them all.

Surely the H&S aspect would be a personal rather than universal issue. The player had the choice to either take a penalty drop or take a chance on his personal safety by playing the ball as it lay. If a player is in trees just off the fairway and has the choice of playing it as it lies - and endangering himself in the process - or taking a penalty drop or chipping out sideways, you wouldn't be thinking of a local rule giving free relief for that situation.

 

[patricks148]

Surely the H&S aspect would be a personal rather than universal issue. The player had the choice to either take a penalty drop or take a chance on his personal safety by playing the ball as it lay. If a player is in trees just off the fairway and has the choice of playing it as it lies - and endangering himself in the process - or taking a penalty drop or chipping out sideways, you wouldn't be thinking of a local rule giving free relief for that situation.

I think the isue was there are some access point from the beach ( Right to Roam Scotland act) and it was felt with guys playing from these gravel paths might endanger walkers.......!!!