Play the ball as it lies:at all costs

[Balti snr]

My partner at the weekend insisted on playing the ball as it lied despite the fact he was standing in a fairly large animal scrape (bear or Yeti hole). His swing was impeeded by a tree and he felt would give him an unfair advantage. Should we use the rules to our advantage, or is that against the spirit of the game

 

[DaveM]

The rules say if the ball or your stance are in an animal scrape. Free drop 1 club length from the nearest point of relief. So use it. If it was just a tree tough luck. Swings and roundabouts.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I will always use the rules to my advantage if I can and I can see no reason why you wouldn't want take relief you are entitled to

 

[bluetoon]

See this a lot on our links course with the higher handicappers.

Spray the ball off the tee into knee high rough, find the ball, little or no shot but keep swishing away until they get it on the fairway. I find myself dropping hints to take an unplayable and take the penalty. its the difference between 5/6 or 7/8 on the card.

Our course is full of animal scratching and and free relief is a well used rule.

 

[Foxholer]

My partner at the weekend insisted on playing the ball as it lied despite the fact he was standing in a fairly large animal scrape (bear or Yeti hole). His swing was impeeded by a tree and he felt would give him an unfair advantage. Should we use the rules to our advantage, or is that against the spirit of the game

I'm pretty sure that because the Tree was the major impediment, the animal scrape does not come into it. So he was correct. There'll be a decision on it in the Rules Explorer

 

[Brookesy]

Would definitley use the rule to my advantage, there are plenty of rules in golf that screw you over so nice to get one back lol

 

[pbrown7582]

Would definitley use the rule to my advantage, there are plenty of rules in golf that screw you over so nice to get one back lol

My sentiments exactly not very often rule works in your favour so make the most of it while you can.

 

[Val]

Would definitley use the rule to my advantage, there are plenty of rules in golf that screw you over so nice to get one back lol

Couldn't agree more, you don't get a drop if you happen to land in a footprint in a bunker or a plugged lie so take what you can.

 

[Yer Maw]

by animal scrapes do we mean sh*te??

 

[BTatHome]

I'm pretty sure that because the Tree was the major impediment, the animal scrape does not come into it. So he was correct. There'll be a decision on it in the Rules Explorer

I thought so too ....

25-1b/19
Ball Lies on Mound Made by Burrowing Animal; Impracticable to Make Stroke Due to Bush

Q.A player's ball lies under a bush and it is clearly impracticable for the player to make a stroke at it. However, the ball lies on a mound made by a burrowing animal. Is the player entitled to relief without penalty under Rule 25-1b?

A.Under the Exception to Rule 25-1b a player may not obtain relief from an abnormal ground condition if it is clearly impracticable for him to make a stroke due to interference by something other than such a condition. Therefore, in the circumstances described, the player is not entitled to relief. (Revised)

 

[BTatHome]

Btw: I believe it's 'burrowing animals' not 'animals'

If you find the scrapes were made by a dog for example, then there is no relief.

 

[Imurg]

OP says that the swing is impeded - not completely stopped by the tree,
So he has a swing, not much of one but he would be able to advance the ball.
Therefore he gets his drop from the "Yeti" scrape..?

 

[BTatHome]

OP says that the swing is impeded - not completely stopped by the tree,
So he has a swing, not much of one but he would be able to advance the ball.
Therefore he gets his drop from the "Yeti" scrape..?

Difficult to say without seeing what 'impeded' meant from the OP.

Pretty sure he wouldn't have got it, as I don't believe a Yeti would be classed as a burrowing animal

 

[Imurg]

Difficult to say without seeing what 'impeded' meant from the OP.

Pretty sure he wouldn't have got it, as I don't believe a Yeti would be classed as a burrowing animal

Now we're onto a completely different kettle of fish now.....!!

Yeti - burrowing animal or not - where's John Paramore when you need him..!

 

[BTatHome]

Well that's the first question really, if it's not a burrowing animal scraping then there is no further discussion. Hence why the first thing to find is evidence, the search for rabbit s**t begins

But this really is the reason why the decisions book exists, it's provides far more real world examples of rules discussions. Its a big book though, but a fascinating read ( I sound really sad now) to see how the rules are used to determine the correct decisions. In this question the 'impeded' word would be critical to understand .... Is a six inch backswing enough, or it 18 inches that determines a swing, etc etc.

 

[sona]

If the ball was not in the animal scrape I would play the ball as it lies. You saw it not us was his shot impeded by his stance?

 

[thecraw]

Btw: I believe it's 'burrowing animals' not 'animals'

If you find the scrapes were made by a dog for example, then there is no relief.

What would you suggest I do then the next time my ball is in a scrape? Should I speed dial Terry Nutkins to see if its a rabbit scrape or a dog scrape???

 

[StrangelyBrown]

Would definitley use the rule to my advantage, there are plenty of rules in golf that screw you over so nice to get one back lol

Is the correct answer :thup:

 

[Imurg]

What would you suggest I do then the next time my ball is in a scrape? Should I speed dial Terry Nutkins to see if its a rabbit scrape or a dog scrape???

Technically, you have to determine if the scrape was made by a burrowing animal. If you can't be 100% sure then No Drop.
It's one of the reasons Seve didn't get that drop years ago. Although there was an animal scrape it couldn't be guaranteed to have been made by a burrower so he didn't get the drop.

Don't really see the difference between scrapes made by rabbits or those made by dogs - a scrape's a scrape isn't it?

 

[MashieNiblick]

My partner at the weekend insisted on playing the ball as it lied despite the fact he was standing in a fairly large animal scrape (bear or Yeti hole). His swing was impeeded by a tree and he felt would give him an unfair advantage. Should we use the rules to our advantage, or is that against the spirit of the game

The exception to the rule highlighted in BTathome's post is important. That stops you getting free relief if in fact some other factor means you couldn't play a shot anyway (e.g. if the ball is in the middle of a gorse bush).

Esentially, if the scrapes interfere with his stance for a reasonbale shot and there is no other reason why he can't play the ball as intended then he'll be entitled to relief.

If he can't play a shot to the green because of the tree then it might be that the scrape doesn't in any case interfere with the stance for a sideways shot back to the fairway (which is what he would have to play anyway). In that case there would be no relief.

However, if for example the ball is in a rabbit scrape in the same situation and this would prevent a perfectly reasonable escape shot he would be entitled to relief. If that in turn got him out from interference with the tree so he could then play to the green then so be it. He got lucky.

Remember of course that "nearest point of relief" is strictly defined. It isn't simply the place where you'd like to drop or which gives you the nicest lie or best line. It might actually be in a worse place, e.g in thicker rough or behind a bigger tree.

It's a rule that has been debated on here many times and well worth checking the official rules decisions for all the nuances.

All the rules decisions are available online in the R&A's Rules Explorer. The ones for this rule are here.

http://www.randa.org/en/Rules-and-A...ore-2012.aspx#/rules/?ruleNum=25&subRuleNum=1