relief from an immovable obstruction

[Kennysarmy]

I was actually in the practice net at the back of our 9th hole when a guy tried to take free relief from his ball which came and rested up against the net.

He started to measure one (maybe two, who knows) club lengths from the corner of the net before I pointed out that he needed to first determine the nearest point of relief! He had no idea what I was talking about so I came out the net and demonstrated where I thought he could play a swing from - the closest to where his ball still lay - unfortunately that put a rather large bush between him and the flag and I could see the look on his face as he realised that! He started to argue something about how he had a better swing or something where he was going to drop it - so I just walked off and said he could do what he wanted but it was obvious that where I took a practice swing from was a lot closer than where his driver lay on the floor. His playing partner who was just a young kid had come over but did n't say anything.

This was in a medal round.

Was I right to intervene - what would you have done?

 

[Colin L]

I was actually in the practice net at the back of our 9th hole when a guy tried to take free relief from his ball which came and rested up against the net.

He started to measure one (maybe two, who knows) club lengths from the corner of the net before I pointed out that he needed to first determine the nearest point of relief! and so I went over and asked him if I could help as I was familiar with the rule that he needed ......

It's just like the old joke about the Irishman who said when asked directions to Dublin, "Now if I was going to Dublin, I wouldn't start from here." Don't start by immediately telling the guy what he has to do. Start from somewhere else, llike offering to help.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I was actually in the practice net at the back of our 9th hole when a guy tried to take free relief from his ball which came and rested up against the net.

He started to measure one (maybe two, who knows) club lengths from the corner of the net before I pointed out that he needed to first determine the nearest point of relief! He had no idea what I was talking about so I came out the net and demonstrated where I thought he could play a swing from - the closest to where his ball still lay - unfortunately that put a rather large bush between him and the flag and I could see the look on his face as he realised that! He started to argue something about how he had a better swing or something where he was going to drop it - so I just walked off and said he could do what he wanted but it was obvious that where I took a practice swing from was a lot closer than where his driver lay on the floor. His playing partner who was just a young kid had come over but did n't say anything.

This was in a medal round.

Was I right to intervene - what would you have done?

erm- I would have told him that if he played his ball from where he was intending to; then he was deliberately breaking a rule; was therefore cheating - and that I'd report him to the committee.

Actually - I don't think that I would have said all of the above given the medal mess I am embroiled in (see 3min thread) at my own club.

 

[Pin-seeker]

I would’ve got my stopwatch out.
Not sure why,I just would 🤷‍♂️😆