Dung - Rules Question

[HRC99]

At my home course, it is on common land and cows are grazed there during the summer. There is a local rule which allows for a free drop under rule 25 if your ball is in dung or your stance means you have to stand in it.

I heard that someone had hit their ball into the gorse and, having found it, claimed a free drop as it was in dung in the gorse.

This provoked a lively debate with people split into two camps. The "It may be legal, but I wouldn't claim relief" group and the "It's in the rules, so why shouldn't I claim it" camp.

So I thought I'd check, was it a legal claim for relief?

 

[Dodger]

I am sure I have heard of this re a rabbit scrape too.....while in a gorse bush!

 

[Ken_A]

So I thought I'd check, was it a legal claim for relief?

Its legal if there is dung in teh bush - now if the local rule specafied thet it only applied to fairways and light rough then you would have a different case.

Tho I do hate the exploitation of the rules - to me you take a drop - the local rule should state thet players in bushes or hazards etc must take a penalty drop.

 

[Fyldewhite]

It will depend on the wording of the local rule. It says relief is through the green then unless there is a rider saying something like "if ball is clearly unplayable then relief cannot be taken...." etc then there's no problem in using the rule to your advantage.

 

[Region3]

With an obstruction this applies, not sure if it applies to other free relief situations too.

You can only take free relief if you could be reasonably expected to make the stroke from where the ball lies if the situation you're taking relief from were not there.

No free drop imo.

 

[HRC99]

Apparently, there's quite a lot of dung in the gorse and bushes as the greenkeeping staff will throw it in there if there is dung in the middle of the fairway or on or around the green.

 

[chrisd]

If it's a local rule at your club, properly decided and displayed then it's a rule. Why would anyone not abide by it, afetr all, the rules hurt you enough so you might as well use them when you can in your favour!

One tip though, never lick your ball clean!


Chris

 

[HRC99]

It will depend on the wording of the local rule. It says relief is through the green then unless there is a rider saying something like "if ball is clearly unplayable then relief cannot be taken...." etc then there's no problem in using the rule to your advantage.

There's no wording to indicate anything like that.

 

[Robobum]

Similar thing happened to me in this year's club champ 1st round. Hit ball into big bush on a long par 3. When i got in there to id my ball, it was in a little scrape with rabbit poop everywhere. I had a "shot" of sorts by bumbling it with my putter back towards the front of the green.

Got my playing partners in and they agreed to my drop which saw me able to get free of the bush with a clear pitch to the green. Wedged it on and three whacked it!!

 

[CrapHacker]

Apparently, there's quite a lot of dung in the gorse and bushes as the greenkeeping staff will throw it in there if there is dung in the middle of the fairway or on or around the green.

Presumably the rule was made to give 'reasonable' relief.

If the ground staff are doing what you say, and the rule is open to interpretation, maybe you should suggest to the committee that they look to rephrase the rule.


However, if the rule allows a free drop, then no problem.

Golf is one game where it's totally legit to play to the letter of the law - it works both ways. Ask Robert Rock.

 

[Fyldewhite]

With an obstruction this applies, not sure if it applies to other free relief situations too.

You can only take free relief if you could be reasonably expected to make the stroke from where the ball lies if the situation you're taking relief from were not there.

No free drop imo.

Only if the local rule says so. The suggested wording for plugged ball relief through the green is an example of the way such rules should be worded but I've a feeling a lot of clubs don't go to such lengths. As a player I play to the rules and if I get an advantage great, it doesn't happen often. It's also a good reason to know the rules pretty well.

 

[Dodger]

The rules are there to be brok.....sorry used to your advantage!

Robobum,great use of the rules there...I would and will do the same!

 

[Screwback]

The rules are there to be brok.....sorry used to your advantage!

Robobum,great use of the rules there...I would and will do the same!

aye 3 stab

 

[viscount17]

this sounds wrong.

I don't argue with taking relief from the dung but surely that would be place within 6 inches - not a drop.

if that leaves you in the gorse, then take the unplayable - and if that still leaves you in the gorse, take another one.

isn't the rule that you get relief from the condition, it doesn't say you get a clear shot at the green.

it all depends on the wording of the local rule.

 

[TheSliceMaster]

I agree, if the rule is nearest point of relief from the dung, then this would still be in the gorse bush and you would have to take a drop under penalty - surely if your ball is 10 feet into a gorse bush and in a cow pat 6 inches in diameter, you can't drop it outside the gorse bush?

My thoughts anyway - although I agree you can take a drop from the dung in the bush, just that the drop would have to be in the bush.

 

[Robobum]

The rules are there to be brok.....sorry used to your advantage!

Robobum,great use of the rules there...I would and will do the same!

aye 3 stab

Spot on, was thanking my lucky stars, dropped in great lie, wedged to 12 ft then jammed it 5 ft past and left the comeback in the jaws ........felt like Jim Bowen "look what you could have won!"

 

[medwayjon]

As a side, I know a member at Knowle Park, and there is no relief from deer droppings, it has to be played as it sits. Messy!

 

[Twire]

this sounds wrong.

I don't argue with taking relief from the dung but surely that would be place within 6 inches - not a drop.

You find the nearest point of relief....then you get 1 club length from there. It's the same for all free relief drops.

 

[Oddsocks]

there is using the rules to your advantage and theirs in my opinion cheating. unless the bush was completely full of dung and the surrounding area, he should have had a drop at the nearest clean point of releif then a penulty shot for any further drops.

 

[Losttheplot]

I agree with oddsocks,

Nearest point of relief then one club length. If it ends up your still in the bush then you act upon it as you would do normally. The relief is from the dung and not the bush so if one club length is still in the bush then tough s**t! (see what I did there...!!! )