Free relief from gur on the green

[golflife]

We are doing some work on the edges of several greens. Some areas will be returfed, and will therefore be marked as gur. If a ball comes to rest in one of those areas, the player must take free relief, in the closest area of relief, no nearer the hole. This may mean off the green. But do they still have to play over the gur, or by taking full relief are they required to drop to the side of the gur so that it does not interfere with the ball on their next shot? ie, if the closest area leaves the gur between them and the hole, they would have to chip, as putting would not be possible across the turf seams...

 

[jim8flog]

The nearest point of full relief is exactly that.

The is no line of play relief for GUR so yes you have to play over it.

 

[rulefan]

We are doing some work on the edges of several greens. Some areas will be returfed, and will therefore be marked as gur. If a ball comes to rest in one of those areas, the player must take free relief, in the closest area of relief, no nearer the hole. This may mean off the green. But do they still have to play over the gur, or by taking full relief are they required to drop to the side of the gur so that it does not interfere with the ball on their next shot? ie, if the closest area leaves the gur between them and the hole, they would have to chip, as putting would not be possible across the turf seams...

As the player must take relief, presumably they have been designated as No Play Zones.
Normally there would be no further relief for line of play. There could be some difficulty in chipping over if the hole has been cut too close to the GUR.
As an option the committee could provide one or two Dropping Zones for each area giving line of play relief.

 

[rulie]

If the ball is on the putting green, interference also exists if the ACC is on the line of play. When taking relief for this interference, the player must take complete relief, meaning that the ACC cannot remain on the line of play, even if the NPCR is off the putting green.
Also, if relief is off the putting green, the ball is to be placed, not dropped.

 

[golflife]

If the ball is on the putting green, interference also exists if the ACC is on the line of play. When taking relief for this interference, the player must take complete relief, meaning that the ACC cannot remain on the line of play, even if the NPCR is off the putting green.
Also, if relief is off the putting green, the ball is to be placed, not dropped.

Rulie, does that mean we have to adopt a local rule E-8.1, and institute a No Play Zone for the duration of the work, ensuring that players MUST take relief, not choose whether or not they want to take relief? Obviously we do not want them playing from this area?

 

[jim8flog]

Rulie, does that mean we have to adopt a local rule E-8.1, and institute a No Play Zone for the duration of the work, ensuring that players MUST take relief, not choose whether or not they want to take relief? Obviously we do not want them playing from this area?

Our green staff make this clear by marking up the areas as NPZ (no play zone) rather than GUR

 

[rulie]

Rulie, does that mean we have to adopt a local rule E-8.1, and institute a No Play Zone for the duration of the work, ensuring that players MUST take relief, not choose whether or not they want to take relief? Obviously we do not want them playing from this area?

Essentially, yes. A No Play Zone must be defined as part of an abnormal course condition (such as GUR) or a penalty area as per the definition of NPZ. So, in this situation, it must first be marked as GUR and then identified as a NPZ.

 

[salfordlad]

If the ball is on the putting green, interference also exists if the ACC is on the line of play. When taking relief for this interference, the player must take complete relief, meaning that the ACC cannot remain on the line of play, even if the NPCR is off the putting green.
Also, if relief is off the putting green, the ball is to be placed, not dropped.

Precisely, whether the ball lies on or off the green is critical. If it is off, NPCR does not consider line of play. If it is on and relief is being taken, line of play relief is a requirement.

 

[golflife]

Precisely, whether the ball lies on or off the green is critical. If it is off, NPCR does not consider line of play. If it is on and relief is being taken, line of play relief is a requirement.

OK, that makes sense to me. Thank you. I wanted to find the answer in the Rules of Golf, but it seemed a bit ambiguous....

 

[rulie]

OK, that makes sense to me. Thank you. I wanted to find the answer in the Rules of Golf, but it seemed a bit ambiguous....

It's in Rule 16.1a(1), see third bullet.