Large Rocks on the course

[Val]

A bit of an ongoing debate with a few friends of mine, some say you get free relief from a rock embedded in the ground as its not part of the course. I said no relief as its not a loose impediment.

Can anyone offer advice and/or correct ruling?

 

[Slab]

Never heard of relief from this. Plenty of lava rocks of all sizes here & many embedded, wouldn't even cross my mind to seek relief

(might it apply if the embedded rock was sculpted or shaped though?)

 

[backwoodsman]

See decision 23/2. If the rock is partially embedded and movable with ease, then it is a loose impediment and may be moved. (Remember Tiger Woods when he got a bunch of people to shift a sizeable rock?) But if it is embedded and not movable with ease, then it is not a loose impediment and can't be moved, so no relief.

Nor is it an obstruction (see definitions) so no relief under that rule either.

If it is just a rock, even if it has been deliberately placed in position, it is just a rock so it hinges on whether it is movable enough to be considered a loose impediment. But as Slab says, if it had been modified or altered to a sufficient extent that it might be regarded as "artificial" then it could possibly be regarded as an obstruction. In which circumstance, the Committee really ought to be considering clarifying its status by declaring whether or not it is an integral part of the course.

 

[Colin L]

Rock not being part of a course is an interesting concept. You might wonder what is holding the course up.

Anyway, if a course generally has a lot of exposed rocks, you might find a local rule declaring these as GUR. I've come across this particularly on hilly, moorland courses where there is not a lot of soil.

 

[Val]

Thanks for your replies, they generally back up my thoughts.