In or Out?

[i*windows]

playing my first comp of the year yesterday. On the 18th my ball landed here which is at the corner of a dogleg. 50m beyond the ball is a white post and 30m behind the ball is another white post. If a line is drawn between the two posts then the ball is out, but so is quite a bit of the end of the dogleg. My playing partner called the ball out, as there is no white line or clear defined boundary I took the penalty, but would be interest to hear your feedback.

 

[Foxholer]

Where out of bounds is defined by white stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is the nearest inside points at ground level of the stakes or fence posts.

So your PP was correct.

 

[Swango1980]

It is one of those situations where the Committee should probably think of a better way to define Out of Bounds. If they had a line, I'm pretty sure it would not be a straight line between the 2 current white posts, but a curved line along the edge of the cut grass. My last club burnt a line to mark one of the OB, and it seemed to be a better solution than painting a white line. Or, the Committee could just add more white posts to make things a little better.

Given how the course is set up in that picture, I would not be surprised in the slightest if many golfers assumed their ball was in bounds at any point on the cut grass and play on, whilst others would find themselves in your position and have to assume it is out of bounds, as it technically is.

 

[Orikoru]

It is one of those situations where the Committee should probably think of a better way to define Out of Bounds. If they had a line, I'm pretty sure it would not be a straight line between the 2 current white posts, but a curved line along the edge of the cut grass. My last club burnt a line to mark one of the OB, and it seemed to be a better solution than painting a white line. Or, the Committee could just add more white posts to make things a little better.

Given how the course is set up in that picture, I would not be surprised in the slightest if many golfers assumed their ball was in bounds at any point on the cut grass and play on, whilst others would find themselves in your position and have to assume it is out of bounds, as it technically is.

Exactly what I was thinking. I'd assume the intention was for the OOB line to be where the grass meets the rocks or whatever it is. Ball looks just inside to me so I'd play it. It would make no sense to assume a straight line between the white posts that cuts off 2 feet of perfectly playable grass.

 

[wjemather]

playing my first comp of the year yesterday. On the 18th my ball landed here which is at the corner of a dogleg. 50m beyond the ball is a white post and 30m behind the ball is another white post. If a line is drawn between the two posts then the ball is out, but so is quite a bit of the end of the dogleg. My playing partner called the ball out, as there is no white line or clear defined boundary I took the penalty, but would be interest to hear your feedback.

Unless there is something in the local rules that defines exactly where the out-of-bounds is, making it so that it is not a direct line between the posts, that's out. Seems like a situation that could occur frequently, so I suggest contacting the committee to request clarification and/or clear course markings.

 

[Crow]

80 metres between posts seems ridiculous, a club on a budget obviously.

 

[rulie]

What do the club's local Rules say about oob? The Rules of golf are pretty clear - that ball is out of bounds according to the Rules of golf.

 

[Foxholer]

80 metres between posts seems ridiculous, a club on a budget obviously.

Or near certain housing!

 

[i*windows]

What do the club's local Rules say about oob? The Rules of golf are pretty clear - that ball is out of bounds according to the Rules of golf.

it was an away fixture at German club, the only thing about oob is on the first hole, other than that there is nothing. 80m in this instance is too far in my opinion. No houses anywhere close, but hey ho.

 

[rosecott]

Exactly what I was thinking. I'd assume the intention was for the OOB line to be where the grass meets the rocks or whatever it is. Ball looks just inside to me so I'd play it. It would make no sense to assume a straight line between the white posts that cuts off 2 feet of perfectly playable grass.

That sounds a bit like some of our Seniors who think they have the right to declare their own areas of GUR.

 

[SaintHacker]

Exactly what I was thinking. I'd assume the intention was for the OOB line to be where the grass meets the rocks or whatever it is. Ball looks just inside to me so I'd play it. It would make no sense to assume a straight line between the white posts that cuts off 2 feet of perfectly playable grass.

Apart from the rule being quite clear that its out?

 

[Orikoru]

Apart from the rule being quite clear that its out?

I think it's clear what the intention is as to what's out of bounds. They're not going to put 100 stakes out all 6 inches apart are they? Some common sense is required.

 

[Deleted member 15344]

I think it's clear what the intention is as to what's out of bounds. They're not going to put 100 stakes out all 6 inches apart are they? Some common sense is required.

It’s quite simple - it’s either post to post in a direct line ,or a white line is painted between posts or the card/rules board highlights that the edge is the boundary line

If no white line and no defining local rule then it’s post to post only

 

[SaintHacker]

I think it's clear what the intention is as to what's out of bounds. They're not going to put 100 stakes out all 6 inches apart are they? Some common sense is required.

Intention doesn't come into it. The ball is outside a straight line between the two posts, and there is no marking on the ground to define the oob, therefore it is out. Whats hard about that??‍

 

[Deleted member 23270]

I think it's clear what the intention is as to what's out of bounds. They're not going to put 100 stakes out all 6 inches apart are they? Some common sense is required.

Yes common sense is required and that common sense is follow the rules of golf NOT do what you think makes more sense.

 

[chrisd]

Exactly what I was thinking. I'd assume the intention was for the OOB line to be where the grass meets the rocks or whatever it is. Ball looks just inside to me so I'd play it. It would make no sense to assume a straight line between the white posts that cuts off 2 feet of perfectly playable grass.

If I were at your club in a competition, and you decide to make the rules up as you go along, would you take the trophy and cash should you win the comp?

 

[Orikoru]

Intention doesn't come into it. The ball is outside a straight line between the two posts, and there is no marking on the ground to define the oob, therefore it is out. Whats hard about that??‍

I think it's stupid to assume they actually meant it to be a straight line across the grass, but whatever. There often seems to be no room for common sense in golf rules. As LiverpoolPhil said, they need to pull their fingers out and get busy with the white paint.

 

[Steve Wilkes]

I would have played two balls, one as in and one as out and then checked if possible with the course management/organiser and then accept their decision. Who knows if a post is missing for some reason

 

[Orikoru]

If I were at your club in a competition, and you decide to make the rules up as you go along, would you take the trophy and cash should you win the comp?

I don't think this would happen at ours, they wouldn't be this stingy with the white posts. ?

 

[Jimaroid]

Surely the most common local rule written on the back of scorecards is defining the boundary of the course for problem holes like this one?