Relief from immovable object - why?

[drdel]

I see in April's GM comments on the free relief from an immovable construction like TV towers and Grandstands.

I don't see why. Surely the TV towers, Grandstands etc. are actually part of the Course from the duration of the event. They impact all players to the same degree and, in my opinion can, make the playing of an hole easier than when the designer laid out the green.

I can see that for small signs etc that often litter the courses during competitions its fine but for these semi-permanent buildings that occupy a considerable area around Greens there should be no 'free' relief. If you consider a U-shaped grandstand around a given green it effectively prevents a competitor experiencing a difficult or lengthy 'run-off !

Make 'em play it as it lies.

 

[duncan mackie]

I see in April's GM comments on the free relief from an immovable construction like TV towers and Grandstands.

I don't see why. Surely the TV towers, Grandstands etc. are actually part of the Course from the duration of the event. They impact all players to the same degree and, in my opinion can, make the playing of an hole easier than when the designer laid out the green.

I can see that for small signs etc that often litter the courses during competitions its fine but for these semi-permanent buildings that occupy a considerable area around Greens there should be no 'free' relief. If you consider a U-shaped grandstand around a given green it effectively prevents a competitor experiencing a difficult or lengthy 'run-off !

Make 'em play it as it lies.

completely disagree

relief from TIOs (which is very different from IOs) is a function of their addition to the course.

If you wish the players to play it as it lies then don't permit someone to put up a TV tower or grandstands!!!!!

btw most of the small signs are not designated TIOs - they are MOs

 

[Fyldewhite]

Really don't know where you are coming from on this. They are temporary, they are not "part of the course", I'd argue that they would make play a lot harder rather than easier most of the time. The only "additional" relief to standard rules would be line of sight I suppose.....so you want players hitting directly at or over a stand with a thousand people sat in it? Don't see how that could be allowed under H&S for starters......even if it was a good idea (which IMO it isn't).

 

[rulefan]

Make 'em play it as it lies.

So a ball finishing in the 4th row of a grandstand should be played from under the spectators' feet?

 

[Foxholer]

Free relief is available from (permanent) Immovable Obstructions, so I see no reason why the same shouldn't apply to Temporary ones!

There are certainly cases where the possibility of ending up in a TIO has influenced a player's decision-making. I've certainly heard a Caddy advise a player accordingly. And there's a possibility that was what Jean VdV was playing for at Carnoustie in his infamous trip to the burn! But it's 'equitable', so fine!

 

[delc]

TV towers etc are not a normal part of a course, so in my opinion players should get free relief from them!