Local rule during drainage works

[Deleted member 25172]

Hi,

We're doing quite extensive drainage works at our course currently, and there are plenty of trenches on the course, both on as well as off the fairway. Members can already take relief from these trenches, but some of them are now rather wide and deep and it can easily happen that a ball played down the fairway simply disappears and for it not to be found again. This happened to a playing partner of mine the past weekend. He found no less than 6 trenches during the round, and on one of those occassions, we couldn't find the ball again.

I see 16.e covers this, ish (or does it?), but the trenches, in general, are about 10-15 yards apart going horizontal across the fairway, so it would be virtually impossible to know in which of the trenches the ball has been lost.

So, what do we do here for our upcoming comps?

 

[rulefan]

That covers it perfectly. Note the word 'estimated, just use best judgement.

 

[Deleted member 25172]

That covers it perfectly. Note the word 'estimated, just use best judgement.

Does it really? Where you have semi-blind tee shots in the sense that you can see the ball some way off the tee, but then it goes down a slope (as an example), and there are trenches every 10-15 yards?

Seem rather loose, but given your knowledge I'm happy to take that!

 

[rulefan]

Sorry not to be more helpful but I can't really see any alternative. At least if you can make a reasonable estimate of which AGC area it is in you are not faced with S&D.
You can always take a provisional but that could lead to more rulings complexity.

 

[Deleted member 25172]

Sorry not to be more helpful but I can't really see any alternative. At least if you can make a reasonable estimate of which AGC area it is in you are not faced with S&D.
You can always take a provisional but that could lead to more rulings complexity.

Always helpful. I'm just a bit surprised that the rules would allow to make such interpretation in this instance.

 

[Colin L]

Always helpful. I'm just a bit surprised that the rules would allow to make such interpretation in this instance.

The important thing when a course is undergoing substantial and disruptive maintenance is, to my mind, making arrangements that firstly allow golf to continue and secondly maximise the enjoyment of that golf. There is a rule about a ball not found in an abnormal course condition and there is a rule [1.3b2) about a player's reasonable judgment being accepted which includes

So long as the player does what can be reasonably expected under the circumstances to make an accurate determination, the player’s reasonable judgment will be accepted even if, after the stroke is made, the determination is shown to be wrong by video evidence or other informing ation.

I suggest you go with that with a clear conscience as rulefan says and help everyone get on with their game in difficult circumstances.