OOB positioning

[rksquire]

Not 100% sure this is the right place for this query but think it does fall under rules rather than general query:

Playing 9th hole, dog leg right par 5, plays uphill for 1st 200 yards then turns right and plays downhill parallel with 10th hole for remainder(350 ish). PP tees of, going to far right in direction of 10th green. He shouted fore, it went past the initial rubbish to the right and cleared the thinned out trees that separate the holes so we agree it's probably easy found. I play my shot, not as far right and I see it bounce in the thinned out trees between 9th & 10th fairways.

When we get to the area between 9th fairway and 10th green / fairway we notice a series of white posts that are in the middle of the planting and stretch for about 150 yards of the common boundary. We then debate if the ball has crossed these from either hole if you are OOB. Neither of us have seen this before and agree it would be unusual for a parallel running fairway to be OOB so play out shots.

So, query is would our balls have been OOB? And if so given it's between adjacent holes is this not very unusual/

 

[fundy]

What is and isnt OOB should be clearly detailed in the local rules and usually found on the back of the scorecard, what do they say?

 

[FairwayDodger]

It is perfectly possible to have "internal" out of bounds within a course. Usually the small print on the back of the score card with local rules will detail these.

 

[rksquire]

What is and isnt OOB should be clearly detailed in the local rules and usually found on the back of the scorecard, what do they say?

We checked the card on the day and it covers a few anomalies but not this location; it covers white posts as OOB but just to confuse us these posts were of different height and shape to the other OOB posts. There was nothing at stake on the day but will be playing this course again hopefully in competition so don't want to get it wrong.

We asked the group on the 10th as we passed them after playing our shots (still playing the 9th) and they said it wasn't OOB. In fact 1 of their 4-ball was playing his 2nd on the 10th from the 9th fairway - his ball would only have crossed the posts. And now if I think about it, on the 10th (330, par 4) you could tee off, go straight right and land on the 9th so the path of the ball wouldn't pass directly over the posts but the 2nd shot to the green would.

 

[fundy]

If not stated on the card then Id expect they are not OOB posts but if playing there again Id see if there was a local rules board in the clubhouse and failing that ask for clarification in the pro shop.

 

[rksquire]

If not stated on the card then Id expect they are not OOB posts but if playing there again Id see if there was a local rules board in the clubhouse and failing that ask for clarification in the pro shop.

I'm due to play there again Wednesday evening, so will ask in the shop beforehand.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Could the posts have been for some other reason? Distance markers perhaps?

 

[rksquire]

Could the posts have been for some other reason? Distance markers perhaps?

They are regularly spaced but the distance marker posts are also there along the same line. Have checked the card again and it deals with the 8th Fairway OOB and also white stakes for balls beyond the course boundary - not applicable in this case. I will find out next time I play - might not be tomorrow as weather is stinking for both today and tomorrow!

 

[North Mimms]

Sometimes you see marker posts that are designed to help to locate the line of your ball if it goes offline.
You can note that "it went in at 4th post"

 

[Colin L]

I've not come across that, but whatever colour they are, such markers shouldn't be white, red, yellow or blue.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Sometimes you see marker posts that are designed to help to locate the line of your ball if it goes offline.
You can note that "it went in at 4th post"

Could be - we have a line of 3 (may be 4) white posts in the heather to the right of one of our holes. They are there as reference points when you hit your ball into the heather - it is just a large expanse of heather with no other features, trees or shrubs to help spot a ball. Fairly common to have such on a course I'd have thought,

 

[rulefan]

White posts not defining OOB can be confusing. Why not black or green?

 

[bobmac]

I've seen internal out of bounds, usually on a dog leg to discourage people cutting the corner over another fairway. The OOB markers only count when going one way though.

 

[rksquire]

I've seen internal out of bounds, usually on a dog leg to discourage people cutting the corner over another fairway. The OOB markers only count when going one way though.

This has now been confirmed, OOB is for the 9th tee shot as there's a good chance cutting the corner brings the 10th green into play, but (only verbally confirmed - it's not on the scorecard or posted in the clubhouse with other hole specific issues) doesn't apply for the 10th, either for the long hitters (can easy be crossed by those hitting 250+) or those taking their wayward 2nd.

Trouble is I think it's overly penal, as this isthe most practical way to play the hole ie from tee to the right and let theslope take it down the fairway; centre of fairway, the ball rolls into unkemptrough. Of course, the answer is to actuallyplay to the right rather than the unplanned additional 10 yards right which isOOB!