Nearest point of relief

[hovis]

I played with with a random the other day and asked me a good question. Ball finishes on a cart path npr is blocked by a massively wide tree that terminates at the cart path. The npr would be inside the tree and one club length would still leave you inside the tree. He said therefore npr is not achievable in this instance?

 

[Crow]

I'd say in the tree is still the nearest point of relief, if your man is unable to hit a shot then has to take an unplayable and proceed from there.

 

[backwoodsman]

If the nearest point of relief - for a ball lying on the path - is "within the tree" then it's tough. It is still the nearest point of relief. If it is not physically possible to drop the ball in the prescribed relief area (in this case, because of the tree stem) then you are not allowed free relief under rule 16.1. (See interpretation 5 under the definition of NPoR). You will either either have to play the ball as it lies, or use your other (penalty) options such as unplayable or stroke & distance.

 

[jim8flog]

I played with with a random the other day and asked me a good question. Ball finishes on a cart path npr is blocked by a massively wide tree that terminates at the cart path. The npr would be inside the tree and one club length would still leave you inside the tree. He said therefore npr is not achievable in this instance?

That would be a pretty massive tree. If the NPR was bang in the middle that would mean the base of the tree would have to to be around 8ft in diameter.

Mind given that taking relief would probably mean that tree blocks stance, area of intended swing or direction of play. One would question if a player would want to take relief in the first place.