Nearest point of relief

[Neilds]

Played last week and one of the group hit a wild shot and ended up with his ball wedged under a tree. He declared it unplayable and asked me where he could drop it. I saw a place nearby (npr?) but still in the clump of trees. He then marked 2 club lengths and dropped his ball, still in the trees but with a full swing - not that it helped as he could only punt it out into the fairway.

was this correct, or should the npr have been out of the trees?

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Played last week and one of the group hit a wild shot and ended up with his ball wedged under a tree. He declared it unplayable and asked me where he could drop it. I saw a place nearby (npr?) but still in the clump of trees. He then marked 2 club lengths and dropped his ball, still in the trees but with a full swing - not that it helped as he could only punt it out into the fairway.

was this correct, or should the npr have been out of the trees?

It was correct in regard NPR can still be in trees but believe if declaring it unplayable it's two club lengths from the ball in its current position ? But I might be wrong

Obviously there are other options - going back stroke and distance and also think you can go back as far as you want as long as you keep the place you are taking relief from in line with the flag ?

 

[Spuddy]

It was correct in regard NPR can still be in trees but believe if declaring it unplayable it's two club lengths from the ball in its current position ? But I might be wrong

Obviously there are other options - going back stroke and distance and also think you can go back as far as you want as long as you keep the place you are taking relief from in line with the flag ?

Indeed. There is no nearest point of relief for an unplayable ball

 

[MashieNiblick]

The applicable Rule is Rule 28 - Ball Unplayable.

The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:

a. Proceed under the stroke and*distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing*a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.​

If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.
When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.​

He was correct so long as he measured the 2 club lengths from where his ball lay (option c).

Nearest point of relief is not relevant to the Rule. It is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3).

 

[Duckster]

It was correct in regard NPR can still be in trees but believe if declaring it unplayable it's two club lengths from the ball in its current position ? But I might be wrong

Obviously there are other options - going back stroke and distance and also think you can go back as far as you want as long as you keep the place you are taking relief from in line with the flag ?

Spot on as far as I'm aware

 

[Neilds]

Cheers for the replies, got it nearly right with the 2 club lengths- just need to learn the full rule not half of it

 

[Tarkus1212]

Twice this weekend I've had to clarify to fellow golfers the procedure for taking a drop (first one a free drop from a path, the second a penalty drop from an unplayable lie). Both of the gents in question have been playing the game for fifty years yet neither of them knew the correct procedure.

A very general rule of thumb is: if it's a free drop find the nearest point of relief + a club length; if it's a penalty drop then measure two club lengths from where the ball lies (I know this ignores the other options available but I think it's a pretty good place to start).

 

[Kellfire]

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped

Sadly I forgot this option and took SIX shots to hack out of thick rough yesterday.

Sigh.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Sadly I forgot this option and took SIX shots to hack out of thick rough yesterday.

Sigh.

Doh!

Yes it's a handy option especially if it means, for example, you can drop back onto an adjacent fairway.

 

[Kellfire]

Which is exactly what I could have done...