Have you met anyone who think they knows all the rules?

[bobmac]

Ok, the first thing you do is tell your playing partner that you think youre entitled to a free drop. When he has agreed, mark the original spot where the ball lies.(1) Then you select the club you would reasonably expect to use for the shot and movaway until the club misses the staked tree with your swing but must be the nearest point. You dont have a choice. When you have established where that point is, you mark it(2). THEN you may take out your driver OR long putter and measure 1 club length not nearer the hole and mark that spot.(3)You then drop the ball in between marks 2 and 3 and as long as the ball doesn't roll nearer the hole than mark 1, the ball is in play. If it does roll nearer the hole, you drop again paying particular attention to where the ball fist strikes the ground. If it stays, the ball is in play. If it rolls forward again, it must be placed on the spot it landed on the second drop.
So, next time you think you are entitled to a free drop get your playing partner to verify you are entiltled to a drop and have 3 tees in your pocket.
I hope thats cleared up any confusion about which club to use and when.

 

[USER1999]

It does to an extent. The nearest point is still the issue though. If I am right handed, and as I walk up to a staked tree, I find my ball against the right side of the tree, I would get nearer relief on the left side of the tree, but I bet most players would automatically move it further to the right to get relief.

After that, they would then apply the wrong dropping procedure.

 

[Robobum]

Murph, as I understand you, you've got it spot on.

If the nearest point of relief is in a bush next to the staked tree then that is where it must be dropped. Not a situation you want to find yourself in but one that an awful lot of golfers would drop incorrectly if in this scenario.

I'm sure it's been discussed on here but a basic knowedge of the rules should be a pre requisite of joining any golf club and, along with general etiquette, should be tested prior to acceptance.

 

[Twire]

It does to an extent. The nearest point is still the issue though. If I am right handed, and as I walk up to a staked tree, I find my ball against the right side of the tree, I would get nearer relief on the left side of the tree, but I bet most players would automatically move it further to the right to get relief.

After that, they would then apply the wrong dropping procedure.

I had a simular problem with a buggy path at my old club. The fella I was playing landed on the right side of the buggy path, and asked me if he could have relief I agreed. He then proceded to take relief to the left side of the path, the reason he came to the left was because their were woods to the right of it. I told him he had to take relief to the right in the woods, as that was the nearest point of relief and then all hell broke loose. He accused me of cheating and trying to gain advantage...lucky it was at the 16th hole, as we didn't speak much after that.

 

[Canfordhacker]

If the nearest point of relief is in a bush next to the staked tree then that is where it must be dropped.

Picky I know, but the local rule regarding staked trees needs to be read in this case. It may be better to punch out to the fairway than drop in the bush and have to take an unplayable. The rule is to protect the tree, not to punish you necessarily - but if you can use it to your advantage then you should. If the local rule makes reference to 24.2, this states relief may be taken.

 

[USER1999]

Often there is an over riding local rule which states relief must be taken. You need to read the back of the score card and the club noticeboard first, to check.

 

[Leftie]

The nearest point is still the issue though. If I am right handed, and as I walk up to a staked tree, I find my ball against the right side of the tree, I would get nearer relief on the left side of the tree,

You are so right Murph. The number of "discussions" I have had on course over this one. For a leftie, often the nearest point of relief from staked trees, buggie paths etc is on the opposite side to that of a rightie.

 

[USER1999]

But Leftie, you chose to play left handed, so that's all your fault.

 

[Leftie]

Then you select the club you would reasonably expect to use for the shot and movaway until the club misses the staked tree with your swing but must be the nearest point.

OK Bob, that's quite clear but... Having taken the drop, do you HAVE to use the club that you originally expected to use if no relief were possible or the one you would expect to use from the ew dropped position? e.g. where the ball lay near the obstruction the only shot possible if no relief were possible would be a sand wedge out over bushes but having taken the drop there was a clear shot with a rescue club to the green. Do you use the sand wedge to determine the NPR then use the rescue for the shot or use the rescue for determining based on where the ball might finish up, and then end up using a wedge because ithe ball rolled into heather ?


Seems a grey area to me.

 

[USER1999]

But if you take relief using the club you expected to hit, within reason, then you can surely change to another as the situation dictates. Only you know if it was reasonable to expect to be able to hit your driver out of knee deep rough, even if you then have to play a wedge, given that you had expected to drop the ball onto one of your carefully positioned tee pegs that you marked your drop zone with. Once you missed, then the wedge becomes more practical.

 

[slugger]

"Have you met anyone who think they knows all the rules? "

well... he was 6'5" and built like a brick **** house, so yeah, as far as i was concerned, he knew ALL the rules ;o)

 

[viscount17]

Aren't a lot of the arguments over proper relief and where it is taken generated from the pro's seeming to strain the rules to the point of lunacy?

Wasn't it Ernie who got a drop, measured with his driver (out of rough), then had to get relief from that drop (stance?). Where does it stop?

 

[Herbie]

I have played long enough to have met many golfers who boldly quote their knowledge of the rules when you can clearly see the big holes in there , I have even met one who would not accept penalty even after his complaint was dealt with by the committee, who looked it all up! .

Yep! Ive met people like that and they are annoying .

 

[DCB]

Viscount,

Each instance of relief has to be taken seperately, so Els was quite entitled to do it that way.

Just like guys taking a drop from one obstruction, which will put them onto a cart path (or their stance) and another whole scenario starts for relief from that obstruction.

Must have been easier in the days when you hit it, found it, played it as it lay and then found it again!

 

[TonyN]

Question Bob, if the first drop lands within the club lentgh but you are un happy with the lie, can you drop again or must you play it?

 

[Robobum]

The only way to do it is to get rid of all trees, hazards, water, humps, hollows and anything else on the course. So basically a big field with 18 holes in it..........come to think of it I've played a few new courses like that already

 

[bobmac]

The rules state quite clearly that you should determine the nearest point of relief by simulating the swing with the club you would use if the staked tree wasnt there.
Scenario
If you were 100yds from the green in a bad lie near a staked tree and your sandwedge wouldnt quite reach the tree, its not allowed to take out the driver and swing and claim relief because the driver hits the tree.
Scenario,
If you are 200 yards from the green and your lying badly, you can claim relief if your 9 iron hits the tree. If you then drop it and you can then hit your 3 iron off the new better lie, then that is allowed.
If you can convince your opponent that the club you would normally use if the obstruction wasn't there, then you can use that club to determine the NPR

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I know a few that like to think they know them all. Our old handicap secretary was probably the only guy I know who came anywhere close and even then I think there were times and scenarios where he had to refer to the decisions book or contact the R&A for a definitve decision. I seem to recall that had an impact on one of our major trophys one year and the winner couldn't be declared for several days until the R&A confirmed the guy had indeed acted within the rules (I can't for the life remember the incident).

I have a reasonable understanding of the main ones but I always carry a rule book in competitive play and always ask my players. I normally say I think I'm entitled to a dropetc because...... do you agree? If they say no I asky why and if I am not happy or we aren't sure we will refer to the rulebook. It may take a few minutes and we'll probably let a group through but I'd rather get my 0.1 back on my handicap with a clear conscience than by just guessing. Also if my partner doesn't agree and we check the rule book it saves any bad feeling for the rest of the round.

 

[DCB]

Thats why you should practice your dropping technique

 

[bobmac]

Question Bob, if the first drop lands within the club lentgh but you are un happy with the lie, can you drop again or must you play it?

Sorry Tony. If the first drop lands within the one clublength not nearer the hole, that ball is then in play, so no you cant drop it again.
Does anyone remember having to drop the ball over your shoulder? How many times did it bounce and hit you?