Ball Stuck in a Tree - Rule

[peteward15]

Hi EVeryone

This is a strange one and it caused some friction in our Sunday morning 4 ball!

Playing the 17th on the Dukes at Woburn and my approach to the green went high into a fir tree next the left hand trap. I didn't see the ball go anywhere and was positive it was still up there.

We get to the green and sure enough if you stood in the trap and looked up you could see the little brute, only 12 feet up. I wasn't going to leave it so I chucked a little stick up and it fell out of the tree and plugged in the trap. Anyway I got up and down from the trap.

Nobody could decide what action should be taken. In the end I ducked out of the hole, but should I have done?

I think if we'd have waited the wind would've blown it down.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Yes you should have ducked out of the hole.

My understanding is this....
If it can be identified then it can be declared unplayable and the normal options apply. If not then it's lost. If you wait for the wind to blow it down you would be unduly delaying play, another penalty. If you move it yourself (ie by throwing stick) you would be penalised and should replace the ball. Of course you could have played it as it lies like Bernhard Langer famously did many years ago in a tournament. All in all being in a tree is not a good place to be and it will probably cost you shots!