New Local Rule at Our Club - Bit Baffled

[3PuttCharlie]

We currently have a few issues with small animals digging little holes in some of our greens, which is not good for anyone wanting to putt. The club have introduced a new local rule, but the second part seems a little strange to me....

The following local rule will be in force for all competitions and matches until further notice


Due to the damage to some of the greens by vermin (rabbits) where a player is putting onto or on a green where damage from vermin is on their line of putt they may take relief in the following way.
On The Green – The ball may be lifted, cleaned if necessary and placed in a position whereby the damage is not on the intended line of putt, not nearer the hole.


Off the Green Putting only – The ball may be lifted, cleaned (if necessary) and dropped in a position whereby the damage is not on the intended line of putt, not nearer the hole. If the player elects to chip the ball, the above relief is not permitted.


Why would you get relief off the green with a putter but not with any other club...

can any one shed any light as to the thinking?



Thanks

 

[louise_a]

it seems oddly selective, what if you intend your chip to land where the damage is?

 

[Imurg]

I would be surprised if they were allowed to make that LR for a ball off the green.
It doesn't interfere with stance or swing like anything else you'd get relief from.
And how can they only apply the "Off the Green LR" to specific clubs?

On the green is a different matter entirely and sounds sensible to me.

 

[williamalex1]

I'd have thought lift and drop to npr if not on the green , but not allowed to clean the ball ??.

 

[duncan mackie]

We currently have a few issues with small animals digging little holes in some of our greens, which is not good for anyone wanting to putt. The club have introduced a new local rule, but the second part seems a little strange to me....

The following local rule will be in force for all competitions and matches until further notice


Due to the damage to some of the greens by vermin (rabbits) where a player is putting onto or on a green where damage from vermin is on their line of putt they may take relief in the following way.
On The Green – The ball may be lifted, cleaned if necessary and placed in a position whereby the damage is not on the intended line of putt, not nearer the hole.


Off the Green Putting only – The ball may be lifted, cleaned (if necessary) and dropped in a position whereby the damage is not on the intended line of putt, not nearer the hole. If the player elects to chip the ball, the above relief is not permitted.


Why would you get relief off the green with a putter but not with any other club...

can any one shed any light as to the thinking?



Thanks

it's not the thinking that needs light!

they can cover an area, by distance or defintion (with 1 CL of the putting green, or on the fringe, as appropriate) in addition to on the putting green, but they can't define the clubs used at all.

here's an example of why it all goes (.)(.) up very easily with such 'rules' - player elects to putt, area of damage in his way, drops the ball in accordance with the rule and it rolls into a divot........he decides to use a wedge for obvious reasons. When he drops he intends to putt, now he can't!

get them to sort it out quickly before a serious issue occurs. the LR is not a standard wording from the Appendix and the club should therefore have got Authority for the LR from the R&A - bet they didn't.

there is a standard around IO's in the appendix, that explains how to deal with such issues arround the green (by analogy).

 

[Ethan]

So what happens if you decide to putt from off the green, clear the rubbish, then change your mind. The rules allow you to change your club selection. Do you have to replace the rubbish?

Bad rule, however good intentioned.

 

[Foxholer]

Nice idea; bad execution!

Like much of my golf really!