Bird Droppings on a Green

[mikejohnchapman]

Had a large dollop of bird mess on my line of putt and wondered if it counter as a loose impediment?

It most certainly wasn't loose and would require it to be scraped off the line.

 

[Old Skier]

I think you answered your own question, if it's not loose how can it be loose impediments.

Goose poo on the other hand.

 

[rulefan]

To get relief from goose (or any other widespread) poo would need a Local Rule to be in force.

 

[atticusfinch]

I played a course in Denver that was a popular rest stop for migrating geese. During the 2 weeks of migration, 2 X each year, most greens were totally covered in poo. So the protocol (don't think there was a LR) was to pick up after your ball was on the green and add two strokes.

(Most players carded their best rounds during those periods.

 

[backwoodsman]

Not sure why anyone thinks it wouldn't be a loose impediment? Definition of LIs is ".. natural objects including... dung ... provided they are not ...solidly embedded..."

In OPs case, the bird may have had a night on the town and therefore done a smeary one, which nicely adhered to the green, but l still don't think one could regard it as "solidly" embedded". Which to me means it still fits the definition.

 

[jusme]

Agree...I would see this as a loose impediment regardless of the ....structure shall we say

 

[rulefan]

[h=2]33-8/32.7[/h] [h=4]Local Rule Providing Relief from Excessive Bird or Animal Dung[/h]Q.Bird or animal dung is a loose impediment, but if a course suffers from an excess of dung that is difficult to remove and interferes with the proper playing of the game, may a Committee make a Local Rule providing relief from the excessive dung?

A.Yes. The Committee may declare dung that is prevalent on the course to be ground under repair and provide relief under Rule 25-1b.

In addition, if treating the dung as ground under repair and taking relief under Rule 25-1b(iii) when a ball lies on the putting green is unlikely to provide complete relief, the Committee may authorize players to use equipment, such as a greens switch/whip, to remove the dung from the line of putt without any penalty applying under Rule 16-1a for incidentally pressing something down in the process of the removal.

 

[rulefan]

Agree...I would see this as a loose impediment regardless of the ....structure shall we say

So how would you remove it?
The local rule deals with it.

 

[Deleted Member 1156]

So how would you remove it?
The local rule deals with it.

Pick it up with your fingers 😂

 

[backwoodsman]

[h=2]33-8/32.7[/h] [h=4]Local Rule Providing Relief from Excessive Bird or Animal Dung[/h]Q.Bird or animal dung is a loose impediment, but if a course suffers from an excess of dung that is difficult to remove and interferes with the proper playing of the game, may a Committee make a Local Rule providing relief from the excessive dung?

A.Yes. The Committee may declare dung that is prevalent on the course to be ground under repair and provide relief under Rule 25-1b.

In addition, if treating the dung as ground under repair and taking relief under Rule 25-1b(iii) when a ball lies on the putting green is unlikely to provide complete relief, the Committee may authorize players to use equipment, such as a greens switch/whip, to remove the dung from the line of putt without any penalty applying under Rule 16-1a for incidentally pressing something down in the process of the removal.

All noted & acknowledged - but original question was, is it a loose impediment? Simple answer, yes.