Free drop from gur

[Huwey12]

In a recent match a high handicapper hit is ball into a gur area which is about 120 yards straight from the first tee
His nearest point of relief would have placed him behind an oob fence , his playing partners let him drop the ball the other way
A committee member spotted this and said he was wrong but as it wouldn't make any difference to him coming last he didn't want to ruin his day
Anybody know the exact ruling on this

 

[Maninblack4612]

Definition 1. "It is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies......." So behind an OOB fence is not the NPR. The committee member was talking out of his trousers.

 

[Huwey12]

Thanks MiB for that, the poor fellow was a bit upset thinking he'd be branded a cheat. I'll let him know

one edit I should have mentioned was that the oob fence would have been directly in front of him, that's what I meant by a dropped ball would have been behind
Also there would have been such a tight area to swing about 5 feet. Any difference?

 

[chrisd]

Unless it's a compulsory drop under a local rule he did have the option of playing the ball as it lay.

 

[Huwey12]

Unless it's a compulsory drop under a local rule he did have the option of playing the ball as it lay.

yes def a no no to play as it lay

 

[Maninblack4612]

Thanks MiB for that, the poor fellow was a bit upset thinking he'd be branded a cheat. I'll let him know

one edit I should have mentioned was that the oob fence would have been directly in front of him, that's what I meant by a dropped ball would have been behind
Also there would have been such a tight area to swing about 5 feet. Any difference?

Yes, big difference. I thought you meant the NPR would have been out of bounds. If this was not the case then it means your options are: 1. Play from NPR, 2. Play it as it lies or 3. Play again from where previous shot was played. If the NPR puts you in an unplayable lie that's just hard luck.

 

[Huwey12]

Cheers, he's a newbie so he won't feel that bad. We all seem to turn to a few rule gurus for advice on the course. I for one don't go into the depths but should brush up a bit more on on the obvious rules

 

[delc]

The relevant rule is 25-1, which states that the ball must first strike a part of the course that avoids interference by the condition when dropped, with a couple of other caveats about hazards etc. OOB is NOT part of the course, so you can't drop there.

 

[lukeysafc100]

Yes, big difference. I thought you meant the NPR would have been out of bounds. If this was not the case then it means your options are: 1. Play from NPR, 2. Play it as it lies or 3. Play again from where previous shot was played. If the NPR puts you in an unplayable lie that's just hard luck.

Question - As GUR is a Free relief situation - If he went back to where he had previously played could he discount the previous stroke? Because it isn't the golfers fault that's GUR is it?
Also could he not - go in a line straight back from the flag and where the ball lay?

 

[rulefan]

Question - As GUR is a Free relief situation - If he went back to where he had previously played could he discount the previous stroke? Because it isn't the golfers fault that's GUR is it?
Also could he not - go in a line straight back from the flag and where the ball lay?

No. Those are penalty relief options for an unplayable ball.
The only free relief is to drop within 1 clublength of the nearest point of relief.
Of course the player should have hit it somewhere else but he is getting free relief.

 

[Foxholer]

In a situation like this, where it's compulsory 'relief' from GUR, I believe that the guys marking the boundary of the GUR should ensure that the player is not unduly punished for having to take relief! Of course, those guys are often not golfers! And they should know to cater for both left and right-handed players too!

 

[duncan mackie]

Yes, big difference. I thought you meant the NPR would have been out of bounds. If this was not the case then it means your options are: 1. Play from NPR, 2. Play it as it lies or 3. Play again from where previous shot was played. If the NPR puts you in an unplayable lie that's just hard luck.

For completeness, and those reading this later, this isn't really the case.

Whilst your primary options are indeed to play it as it lies (unless the LR prohibits this) or to take free relief as permitted under 25-1 (the NPR option under discussion) you also have all the options available to you under rule 28, at the cost of a stroke. This would include dropping back in line and 2cl. Used in conjunction with the relief available you have a huge potential set of combination options if bringing rule 28 options into the equation.

I do agree with Foxholer that a player shouldn't be (effectively) penalised when having to take relief like this. It's not hard to predict and provide appropriate solutions.

 

[Colin L]

......... a player shouldn't be (effectively) penalised when having to take relief like this. It's not hard to predict and provide appropriate solutions.

It is indeed not difficult. I was, for example marking a couple of DZs this morning because an NPR from parts of an area of GUR would be in a copse of trees.

 

[Huwey12]

[FONT=&quot]'' It would be inequitable to make a player take relief from an area that would normally be reasonable for play when the player’s nearest point of relief is in bushes, trees or some other unplayable position.''

[/FONT]A clip from rule 25.1. Bit of a grey area by the sounds of it
[FONT=&quot] [/FONT]

 

[rulefan]

''
A clip from rule 25.1.

Where?

 

[Huwey12]

Where?

You're right, I've been going through my history but can't find the page. Well spotted. Apologies for quoting the wrong rule number

 

[rulefan]

It sounds remarkably like something from the R&A Guide on Running a Competition re marking GUR or Water Hazards.