plugged ball in the rough

[Fyldewhite]

@Fyldewhite I disagree! 'in its own pitch mark' is quite specific wherever it is. And it's not for deep rough so much as the semi or stuff just away from Green. I finally saw an old club had implemented the LR (I tried unsuccessfully years before) a while ago, though it was only after an ex-Captain plugged on a Par 3, that dropped 50ft Tee to Green, in an Inter-club Match!

Understand totally how this seems unfair, and indeed it can be but I don't think it's as straightforward as that. You have already drawn a distinction between semi rough, deep rough and stuff near the green in your reply. It has to be embedded "in the ground". In the rough, depending on it's depth it is harder and harder to establish this....by definition there is more and more grass between the ball and the ground and most probably it gets embedded in the soggy thatch that often covers the "ground" in these sort of areas. Anyway, glad to see your old club making local rules for the right reasons then!

 

[Foxholer]

Understand totally how this seems unfair, and indeed it can be but I don't think it's as straightforward as that. You have already drawn a distinction between semi rough, deep rough and stuff near the green in your reply. It has to be embedded "in the ground". In the rough, depending on it's depth it is harder and harder to establish this....by definition there is more and more grass between the ball and the ground and most probably it gets embedded in the soggy thatch that often covers the "ground" in these sort of areas. Anyway, glad to see your old club making local rules for the right reasons then!

Never been a problem in my experience! The simple test is to check - under supervision - for the presence of a dent/pitch-mark in which the ball is sitting. Obviously, there is the potential for cheating but that's no different from several other conditions allowed for in The Rules!

 

[rulefan]

I understand that all year round use without a referee is thought, in certain quarters, to contribute to longer rounds. (NB not slow play).
More often than not, in longer rough, the ball is found to be sitting down rather than embedded. If it is embedded a drop has to be taken and the new lie in the rough considered.

 

[duncan mackie]

I understand that all year round use without a referee is thought, in certain quarters, to contribute to longer rounds.

indeed, and understandable

however I remain hopeful that the recent decision 25-2/0.5 is intended to help a wider understanding and, ultimately, pave the way for a more universal year round playing field!