Gravel path

[DAVEYBOY]

Here is a gravel path (Immovable obstruction) that runs down the right side of a par 3... The white ball shows where the ball lay and the red ball shows where relief was taken... Going backwards is not an option as there is no where to drop the ball except in a hedge.

Is this correct?

P.S sorry for all of the rules questions, I've had a few stored in the memory bank ready to post up.

 

[fundy]

looks like the nearest point anyway?

 

[DAVEYBOY]

The ball was closer to the back edge of the path... Would you normally then drop behind the path? Or still do the string from the hole method and drop in front of the path?

 

[IanG]

My take on this would be you get free relief from the path and if the NPR is in the hedge that is tough - you are entitled to relief from the path not from the hedge. Probably you'd end up thereafter taking an unplayable from the hedge under usual penalty and rules.

Someone more qualified will be along soon to tell if I'm right or not !

 

[DAVEYBOY]

My take on this would be you get free relief from the path and if the NPR is in the hedge that is tough - you are entitled to relief from the path not from the hedge. Probably you'd end up thereafter taking an unplayable from the hedge under usual penalty and rules.

Someone more qualified will be along soon to tell if I'm right or not !

But you would then end up taking an unplayable in the road behind the hedge and that may be OOB I think.

 

[fundy]

you have to drop on the nearest point that offers full relief from the path, if that is in the hedge then if you still want relief then thats where you have to drop it. In reality, if the nearest point of relief is in the hedge then you would probably choose to play it as it lies from the path

 

[DAVEYBOY]

So the small line would be the nearest point but wouldn't be an option, would the longer line then be wrong?

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Do you not get relief to somewhere a full swing can be made?

 

[fundy]

So the small line would be the nearest point but wouldn't be an option, would the longer line then be wrong?

If the small line is the nearest point of relief then the long line is incorrect. (its not the nearest point of relief that you like)

Do you not get relief to somewhere a full swing can be made?

No

 

[DAVEYBOY]

So if the ball was nearer the front of the path then you can drop on the good side of the path?

 

[IanG]

Do you not get relief to somewhere a full swing can be made?

Only to somewhere that you are no longer impeded by the gravel path from a full stance and swing.

 

[Spuddy]

This is a good guide about where to find NPR. The last paragraph seems particularly relevant.

http://www.usga.org/rulesfaq/NPR.html

 

[IanG]

So if the ball was nearer the front of the path then you can drop on the good side of the path?

Yes, but not nearer the hole.

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Only to somewhere that you are no longer impeded by the gravel path from a full stance and swing.

If you where to drop on the hedge side of the path then the path would still be under your feet.

 

[fundy]

So if the ball was nearer the front of the path then you can drop on the good side of the path?

Not necessarily. You should mark the nearest point of relief on both sides (where you are fully clear of the path both for the ball and your stance) and then assess which is nearest to the hole

 

[fundy]

If you where to drop on the hedge side of the path then the path would still be under your feet.

Then thats not the nearest point of relief (as you arent taking full relief)

 

[Spuddy]

Not necessarily. You should mark the nearest point of relief on both sides (where you are fully clear of the path both for the ball and your stance) and then assess which is nearest to the hole

Is it not the case that you assess which is nearer the original ball location?

 

[DAVEYBOY]

Then thats not the nearest point of relief (as you arent taking full relief)

So the longer line would then be right?

 

[fundy]

Is it not the case that you assess which is nearer the original ball location?

sorry yes, losing the plot lol

 

[atticusfinch]

If you where to drop on the hedge side of the path then the path would still be under your feet.

You do not drop on the npr. you drop within one club length from the npr. It looks like the npr is on the hedge side of the path. One cl would be farther from the path.That's the drop. If you don't like it or can't swing because of the hedge, you have to do something else.

The spot on the far side of the path is not the npr as best i can tell with that graphic.