boundary wall

[blowup]

hello i was just hopeing that somebody could clear up the ruleing on what happens when your ball comes to rest at the side of a boundary wall ( still in bounds ) can you take free relief or do you have to take a penalty drop
thank you

 

[time_vans]

i'm guessing the wall is either the out of bounds limit or integral part of the course so penalty drop is my guess as you are declaring it unplayable same as if you was tight against a tree etc......might be wrong though.i would have thought if you were entitled to free relief it would be stated in your course rules.

 

[birdieman]

You can play it as it lies or declare the ball unplayable and take a penalty drop by either-

1. returning to where you took your last shot from.
2. dropping within 2 clublengths, not nearer the hole.
3. taking a line between your ball and the flag and going back as far as you like on that line.

Chances are option 3 won't be available but the other two probably will be.

 

[viscount17]

Isn't this an Immoveable Obstruction? Unless of course the wall defines the OOB.

Immovable Obstructions and Abnormal Ground Conditions
(Rules 24-2 and 25-1)
An immovable obstruction is an artificial immovable object such as a building or an artificially-surfaced road (but check the Local Rules for the status of roads and paths).

Except when the ball is in a water hazard, free relief is available from immovable obstructions and abnormal ground conditions when the condition physically interferes with the lie of the ball, your stance or your swing.You may lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of the “nearest point of relief ” but not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief.