Relief from footpath

[Shaunmg]

In last Saturdays non qualifying comp at my club, one of the four ball had a word in my ear about taking relief from a footpath.

I dropped the ball as close as I possibly could to the path, at the nearest point of relief and further from the hole.

My stance put my front foot on the path and back foot off the path. Had I taken full relief with both feet off the path, my back swing would have been impeded by branches of a shrub. My fellow competitor suggested I should have taken full relief and I was in breach of the rules in not doing so. Was he right? I was under the impression that taking relief from a path was optional and not compulsory

 

[DCB]

You either take full relief at the nearest point of relief, or, you can choose to play it as it lies without taking relief. In this case, your feet should have been clear of the path as that's what you were taking relief from. The fact there was something that could have affected your swing does not come into the process of taking relief from the path.

That is assuming you can take relief from the path under the rules in the first instance. If the path is an integral part of the course, then no relief.

 

[Foxholer]

In last Saturdays non qualifying comp at my club, one of the four ball had a word in my ear about taking relief from a footpath.

I dropped the ball as close as I possibly could to the path, at the nearest point of relief and further from the hole.

My stance put my front foot on the path and back foot off the path. Had I taken full relief with both feet off the path, my back swing would have been impeded by branches of a shrub. My fellow competitor suggested I should have taken full relief and I was in breach of the rules in not doing so. Was he right? I was under the impression that taking relief from a path was optional and not compulsory

He was indeed right.

Generally optional (sometimes compulsory, others paths are integral part of course).

But if you do take relief, you must do it correctly!

NPOR means 'Full' relief - ball, stance and, (only) where appropriate, swing - then drop within 1 Club Length NNTH.

Any consideration regarding whether swing would be impeded where relief is from a path (no relief for swing in this case) should be made before the decision to take relief.

 

[AmandaJR]

I think that in deciding to take relief and drop then yes you have to take full relief so your stance is off the path. If full relief brings another obstruction into play that you don't get relief from then I think it's tough and probably best to play the ball as it originally lay.

So yes it may be optional but as you took a drop you took the option of taking (full) relief.

But I'm no expert so the rules guys will clarify

Edit - Need to type faster!

 

[fundy]

In last Saturdays non qualifying comp at my club, one of the four ball had a word in my ear about taking relief from a footpath.

I dropped the ball as close as I possibly could to the path, at the nearest point of relief and further from the hole.

My stance put my front foot on the path and back foot off the path. Had I taken full relief with both feet off the path, my back swing would have been impeded by branches of a shrub. My fellow competitor suggested I should have taken full relief and I was in breach of the rules in not doing so. Was he right? I was under the impression that taking relief from a path was optional and not compulsory

He is right

Yes taking the relief is optional but once you take it you have to take full relief

 

[Duckster]

In last Saturdays non qualifying comp at my club, one of the four ball had a word in my ear about taking relief from a footpath.

I dropped the ball as close as I possibly could to the path, at the nearest point of relief and further from the hole.

My stance put my front foot on the path and back foot off the path. Had I taken full relief with both feet off the path, my back swing would have been impeded by branches of a shrub. My fellow competitor suggested I should have taken full relief and I was in breach of the rules in not doing so. Was he right? I was under the impression that taking relief from a path was optional and not compulsory

Yes you must take full relief, so your feet can't be touching the path. Just remember that "Nearest point of relief" doesn't mean "Nicest point of relief". The nearest point of relief may well be in the middle of an oak tree....

This is pretty good for explaining it:

http://www.usga-rules.com/NPR/

 

[guest100718]

i have seen this happen a few times, its not the easiest thing to bring up to the offender.

 

[rulefan]

Had I taken full relief with both feet off the path, my back swing would have been impeded by branches of a shrub.

[h=2]24-2b/3[/h][h=4]Player Determines Nearest Point of Relief But Physically Unable to Play Intended Stroke[/h]Q.In proceeding under Rule 24-2b(i) or Rule 25-1b(i), the Definition of "Nearest Point of Relief" provides that to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club, address position, direction of play and swing (right or left-handed) that he would have used to make his next stroke had the obstruction or condition not been there. What is the procedure if, having determined the stroke he would have used, he is unable physically to make such a stroke from, what would appear to be, the nearest point of relief because either (a) the direction of play is blocked by a tree, or (b) he is unable to take the backswing for the intended stroke due to a bush?
A.The point identified is the nearest point of relief. The fact that at this point the player cannot make the intended stroke due to something other than the obstruction or condition from which relief is being taken does not alter this result. The player must drop the ball within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole. Once the ball is in play, the player must then decide what type of stroke he will make. This stroke may be different from the one he would have made from the ball's original position had the obstruction or condition not been there.

 

[Shaunmg]

Okay, Thanks you all for putting me straight, but the answer now begs another question. What if the nearest point of full relief is in a hazard.

The path in question runs alongside a pond, I guess about 5ft from the pond in fact. Maybe the ball would not be dropped in the hazard, but it is likely my back foot would have been in the hazard, not wet but just past the hazard markers

 

[SammmeBee]

Nearest not Nicest......

 

[Deleted member 15344]

Okay, Thanks you all for putting me straight, but the answer now begs another question. What if the nearest point of full relief is in a hazard.

The path in question runs alongside a pond, I guess about 5ft from the pond in fact. Maybe the ball would not be dropped in the hazard, but it is likely my back foot would have been in the hazard, not wet but just past the hazard markers

I reckon your feet will be ok in the hazard as long as you have taken full relief from the path

 

[hovis]

I think relief is the most misunderstood rule in golf. Durring a recent comp i was trying to explain to a fc that taking relief from the cart path was not really an option as the npr was in the middle of a hedge row. He thought you could find the nearest open spot and have no swing obstructions!!!!! He plays off 5 too! No wonder

 

[Colin L]

Okay, Thanks you all for putting me straight, but the answer now begs another question. What if the nearest point of full relief is in a hazard.

The path in question runs alongside a pond, I guess about 5ft from the pond in fact. Maybe the ball would not be dropped in the hazard, but it is likely my back foot would have been in the hazard, not wet but just past the hazard markers

Not maybe, but definitely. The Nearest Point of Relief cannot be in a hazard, and the ball must not be dropped in a hazard (Rule 24-2b(i)), And if it were dropped correctly but rolled into the hazard it would have to be re-dropped. (Rule 20-2c)

Yes, you can stand in a hazard to play a ball outside the hazard.

 

[palindromicbob]

Okay, Thanks you all for putting me straight, but the answer now begs another question. What if the nearest point of full relief is in a hazard.

The path in question runs alongside a pond, I guess about 5ft from the pond in fact. Maybe the ball would not be dropped in the hazard, but it is likely my back foot would have been in the hazard, not wet but just past the hazard markers

If the NPR you determine is in the hazard then it isn't actually the NPR The NPR doesn't include the stance. It is possible that the NPR could be beside a tree or in a bush where a stance isn't impossible!

NPR is probably one of the most poorly applied and understood rules in golf and to be honest it is no wonder. Hard to get round the thought that taking relief could place you in a worse position but then that is why it is free You gotta pay if you want to be picky about your relief.

 

[Region3]

A lesson I learned the hard way a while ago is ALWAYS figure out where your NPR is before you pick your ball up. You might be better off where it is.

 

[G1BB0]

Gary I hit a blinder off a footpath at Melton Mowbray (I think) as had no decent point of relief from my 10yd tee shot

 

[chrisd]

my 10yd tee shot

You're just bragging now! :whoo:

 

[North Mimms]

A lesson I learned the hard way a while ago is ALWAYS figure out where your NPR is before you pick your ball up. You might be better off where it is.

Yep. Me too.
Leave the ball where it is, use tees to mark NPR and where the ball might be once dropped, and try waggling a club first.
Then play it as it lies!

 

[CMAC]

or if allowed you can smash your new shiny soft forged metal Mizuno SW into the back of it and gouge out a chunk in the cause of trying to get that birdie at 17 to get back to level par, and then 3 putt it and double the last..........:angry:

that's just a hypothetical situation you understand............

 

[Smiffy]

Gary I hit a blinder off a footpath at Melton Mowbray (I think) as had no decent point of relief from my 10yd tee shot

You must have used one of those crap wedges.
I'd sell them if I were you