In or Out?

[Foxholer]

One thing I'd very likely do is examine the area between the 2 stakes. If there was a hole that indicated a stake was missing, I'd stick a club in it and reassess the state of 'my ball'. If not OB, I'd take a pic or 2, play a 2nd ball and get a ruling after the round.

Certainly seems that the line should be painted and/or the OB defined on the card.

 

[chrisd]

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

There aren't many courses I've played. where they use only white posts to define the OOB. that wouldn't have similar areas of grass that falls in OOB as its difficult to have enough white post to wend it's way round all the curves of a water hazard.

 

[chrisd]

One thing I'd very likely do is examine the area between the 2 stakes. If there was a hole that indicated a stake was missing, I'd stick a club in it and reassess the state of 'my ball'. If not OB, I'd take a pic or 2, play a 2nd ball and get a ruling after the round.

Certainly seems that the line should be painted and/or the OB defined on the card.

I seem to recall that the committee have a responsibility to ensure that missing stakes are replaced, and if its clear that stakes are missing the player can take lines from where they should be - I may be wrong !

 

[Foxholer]

I seem to recall that the committee have a responsibility to ensure that missing stakes are replaced, and if its clear that stakes are missing the player can take lines from where they should be - I may be wrong !

I'm also unsure, which is why I'd play 2 balls. Responsibility doesn't guarantee action either. In this case, either paint should be used or a Local Rule AND notes on the card would be advisable.

 

[KenL]

Any idea why that area is OoB.

It doesn't look like a boundary to the course.

 

[rulefan]

I seem to recall that the committee have a responsibility to ensure that missing stakes are replaced, and if its clear that stakes are missing the player can take lines from where they should be - I may be wrong !

It would seem that Decision 33-2a/19 no longer exists

 

[rosecott]

Any idea why that area is OoB.

It doesn't look like a boundary to the course.

I think the OP mentioned some houses and 80 metres so could be a safety issue.

 

[clubchamp98]

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

Yes I agree there looks like at least one maybe two posts missing.
But you must play by the rules so two balls makes perfect sense.

 

[rulie]

Any idea why that area is OoB.

It doesn't look like a boundary to the course.

Course "boundaries" are where the Committee in charge decides to put them, ie, out of bounds lines do not need to follow legal boundaries.
The course is defined by the Committee in charge.

 

[bobmac]

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.

In an ideal world, this is what it would be



But it's not.
But anyone who thinks Ball A is in bounds and ball B is out of bounds is wrong IMO

 

[PhilTheFragger]

Throwing another thought into the mix

There is a large gap between the posts, some 80 yards or so.

Could it be argued that there are 2 areas of OOB as defined by the posts, with the gap in between not being OOB as there are no posts to mark that area.

It’s not just 1 post missing, but 2 or 3

If that ball was mine, I’d be mightily cheesed off, but would have to accept that it was OOB and a rather stern letter would follow

 

[Foxholer]

In an ideal world, this is what it would be

View attachment 42018

But it's not.
But anyone who thinks Ball A is in bounds and ball B is out of bounds is wrong IMO

View attachment 42019

1. The ideal world version would be a white line painted in the long grass - as, unlike Tennis, on the (OOB) line is 'Out'.
2. Until confirmed, by an approriate authority, that stakes as per pic A have somehow disappeared, ball B IS OOB - according to The Rules of Golf! A '2nd ball' can be played if confimation can not be obtained immediately.

 

[Foxholer]

Throwing another thought into the mix

There is a large gap between the posts, some 80 yards or so.

Could it be argued that there are 2 areas of OOB as defined by the posts, with the gap in between not being OOB as there are no posts to mark that area.

It’s not just 1 post missing, but 2 or 3

If that ball was mine, I’d be mightily cheesed off, but would have to accept that it was OOB and a rather stern letter would follow

That would mean that a ball IN the long grass between the 2 (sets of) posts would be in bounds. I very much doubt that long grass is actully part of the course.
All the more reason to use white paint to define OOB! Especially where curves/corners are involved. Stakes, alone, should only be used where the boundary is straight.

 

[chrisd]

Throwing another thought into the mix

There is a large gap between the posts, some 80 yards or so.

Could it be argued that there are 2 areas of OOB as defined by the posts, with the gap in between not being OOB as there are no posts to mark that area.

It’s not just 1 post missing, but 2 or 3

If that ball was mine, I’d be mightily cheesed off, but would have to accept that it was OOB and a rather stern letter would follow

If there was a post mid way between the two outer posts surely the oob would be quite different measured from post to post?

 

[phillarrow]

I'm ambivalent about the rules of golf. I have a vague knowledge of the basics but, for me, golf is a hobby and I'll just abide by whatever my PPs tell me is right or wrong. However, this thread pretty well sums up why I take this approach. Swango has totally nailed it in post 3 and yet 2 pages later it is still being discussed.
Regardless of any views that using common sense can be used to a person's advantage and, therefore, is cheating, it is the lack of application of common sense that makes the rules of golf end up being so daft and stuffy.

 

[Jimaroid]

Swango has totally nailed it in post 3 and yet 2 pages later it is still being discussed.

Not at all, welcome to situation normal, post 2 is correct on the information available. Until the OP posts the local rule set by the committee (very likely on the back of the scorecard) then the only rule is the straight line between posts. Until then people will invent and conclude all sorts of hypothetical arguments in the vacuum that exists.

 

[Tashyboy]

Me I would of said that’s in before the rule stated it’s obviously out. But there’s several things that bog me off about that situation.
1, as stated already, lack of posts.
2, To cut the course like that and not a straight line, it adds to confusion. Hence the question is it in or out.
Both those scenarios point to lazy course work.
hypothetically what if the curve goes in the opposite direction and the point in which the ball has landed between two posts is in a foot of grass, again I would assume that is out but it’s not.

 

[phillarrow]

Not at all, welcome to situation normal, post 2 is correct on the information available. Until the OP posts the local rule set by the committee (very likely on the back of the scorecard) then the only rule is the straight line between posts. Until then people will invent and conclude all sorts of hypothetical arguments in the vacuum that exists.

I refer the honourable gentleman to the last line of my previous post!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Poor upkeep to have such a gap or no defining lines. I would be asking the club to look at it if I was a member. Given the lack of posts/line it is OOB

 

[bobmac]

2. Until confirmed, by an approriate authority, that stakes as per pic A have somehow disappeared, ball B IS OOB - according to The Rules of Golf! A '2nd ball' can be played if confimation can not be obtained immediately.

Really? I had no idea
Just to avoid any confusion....I know the rule, I just think it's wrong.