Ken3over

[Ken3over]

During a recent 4 ball better ball, playing the par 5 15th. I played my second shot [from the fairway], about 160 yards - again down the middle. On arrival at my ball I was more than disappointed to find that during it's last few rolls it had gone through a large, somewhat soft, pile of animal dropping, [our course is "shared" with numerous dog walkers] and had come to rest still in the front edge of same! The ball was covered in you know what so there was no way I was going to touch the ball and certainly not hit it with a club. I offered to drop another ball but a playing partner said as my ball wasn't lost dropping another ball would constitute changing my ball mid hole resulting in disqualification. Was that true? Thanks

 

[rulie]

During a recent 4 ball better ball, playing the par 5 15th. I played my second shot [from the fairway], about 160 yards - again down the middle. On arrival at my ball I was more than disappointed to find that during it's last few rolls it had gone through a large, somewhat soft, pile of animal dropping, [our course is "shared" with numerous dog walkers] and had come to rest still in the front edge of same! The ball was covered in you know what so there was no way I was going to touch the ball and certainly not hit it with a club. I offered to drop another ball but a playing partner said as my ball wasn't lost dropping another ball would constitute changing my ball mid hole resulting in disqualification. Was that true? Thanks

That's crappy!
The Committee in charge of your course or your competition has authority to implement a local Rule covering animal dung (see below).
Without such a local Rule having been implemented, there is no free relief. You can play the ball as it lies or deem it unplayable and choose one of the options under that Rule (Rule 28). All options of Rule 28 permit another ball to be substituted for the original.

33-8/32.7 Local Rule Providing Relief from Excessive Bird or Animal Dung
Q. Bird or animal dung is a loose impediment, but if a course suffers from an excess of dung that is difficult to remove and interferes with the proper playing of the game, may a Committee make a Local Rule providing relief from the excessive dung?
A. Yes. The Committee may declare dung that is prevalent on the course to be ground under repair and provide relief under Rule 25-1b.
In addition, if treating the dung as ground under repair and taking relief under Rule 25-1b(iii) when a ball lies on the putting green is unlikely to provide complete relief, the Committee may authorize players to use equipment, such as a greens switch/whip, to remove the dung from the line of putt without any penalty applying under Rule 16-1a for incidentally pressing something down in the process of the removal. (New)

 

[duncan mackie]

He was correct - you would be in breach of rule 15-2 and disqualified from the hole ie you partners score would count.

 

[rulie]

Unless of course the player had deemed his ball unplayable and proceeded under 28c. Then it's only one stroke and no DQ.

 

[KenL]

The rules should allow the committee to shoot the dog owners! I detest this ignorance and do not blame the dogs themselves.

 

[user2010]

The Rules should allow common sense to prevail in these circumstances surely?
A free drop must be allowed without the need for a local Rule.
We are talking about dog crap here ffs.:mmm:
Personally I would have let him put another ball in play with no penalty.:thup:

 

[duncan mackie]

The Rules should allow common sense to prevail in these circumstances surely?
A free drop must be allowed without the need for a local Rule.
We are talking about dog crap here ffs.:mmm:
Personally I would have let him put another ball in play with no penalty.:thup:

How much, from what animal (or other definition) would your common sense ruling require?

 

[Old Skier]

The Rules should allow common sense to prevail in these circumstances surely?
A free drop must be allowed without the need for a local Rule.
We are talking about dog crap here ffs.:mmm:
Personally I would have let him put another ball in play with no penalty.:thup:

Common sence answer but unfortunately some decent people would adopt your attitude and some wouldn't so a rule is required.

 

[duncan mackie]

Unless of course the player had deemed his ball unplayable and proceeded under 28c. Then it's only one stroke and no DQ.

Agreed

 

[rulefan]

Unless of course the player had deemed his ball unplayable and proceeded under 28c. Then it's only one stroke and no DQ.

Or any option under 28

 

[rulie]

Or any option under 28

Yes, as per reply #2.

 

[rulefan]

Yes, as per reply #2.

I only spotted the reference in#4

 

[Bunkermagnet]

Going on the time frame indicated, isn’t it just a case of winter rules applying, so mark lift clean and replace apply?

 

[rulefan]

Going on the time frame indicated, isn’t it just a case of winter rules applying, so mark lift clean and replace apply?

I don't think lifting was a choice he wished to make. I think is was substituting another ball.

 

[Bunkermagnet]

I don't think lifting was a choice he wished to make. I think is was substituting another ball.

So what would he have done with the ball? Left it for the mowers?
**** happens, and sometimes it’s dogs.....(or badgers/fox or anything big)

 

[duncan mackie]

So what would he have done with the ball? Left it for the mowers?
**** happens, and sometimes it’s dogs.....(or badgers/fox or anything big)

Exactly - in his case he could see it but it's always there from something for any ball that's been in contact with the ground.

 

[Ken3over]

Exactly - in his case he could see it but it's always there from something for any ball that's been in contact with the ground.

Thanks for all the good advice, it's much appreciated. I now know how to proceed in the unlikely event of it happening again. :fore:
[Though personally I prefer KenL's suggestion]!

Regarding the ball, yes, I did just leave it - I didn't want a ball that much [however, it wasn't there two days later, presumably the heavy rain had some bearing]!

I'm sure you agree there's a difference between wiping a bit of "mud" from a golf ball and one literally covered in [presumably], dog crap.
What the eye doesn't see the heart doesn't grieve over

Thanks again

Share with friends:

Powered by Po.st

 

[Lord Tyrion]

Can't answer relating to the rule but I would not be playing with that bloke again. There are times when common sense should win out.

 

[user2010]

Can't answer relating to the rule but I would not be playing with that bloke again. There are times when common sense should win out.

Exactly!! Let him/her, clean/drop a ball, no penalty and carry on. So simple, but if common sense was applied to the Rule(in this case), it could end the World/Anarchy in the streets.:thup:

 

[duncan mackie]

Exactly!! Let him/her, clean/drop a ball, no penalty and carry on. So simple, but if common sense was applied to the Rule(in this case), it could end the World/Anarchy in the streets.:thup:

Then again you never did respond to post #7 regarding parameters for your common sense ruling.