Roads and Paths

[rulie]

Many thanks to all who replied. I am glad that most agree that paths should no need to be in play.

The paths are hardcore with a nasty sharp black gravel on the surface. That is until it washes away.

We even have parts of pathway with that rubber stuff with holes in that is in play.

Just be aware that, in order to be classed as an immovable obstruction, the roads/paths must be artificially surfaced. Packed down dirt or native soil does not qualify.

 

[KenL]

Thanks.

They all have something put down on top so believe that they are all clearly immovable obstructions.

 

[CliveW]

This was my instant thought too! TOC @ St Andrews has a LR that roads are an integral part of the course, so no relief. The Road Hole (and maybe the 18th with Granny Clark's wynd) wouldn't be the same without the LR!

The Local Rule at St Andrews states "All roads and paths (with the exception of tarmac roads) are integral parts of the course. The ball must be played as it lies or declared unplayable."

 

[rulefan]

The definition of 'Obstruction' goes into some detail as to what is a movable or immovable obstruction!

That was the point of ColinL's post that you responded to.

 

[rulie]

The Local Rule at St Andrews states "All roads and paths (with the exception of tarmac roads) are integral parts of the course. The ball must be played as it lies or declared unplayable."

That doesn't seem correct since the tarmac road behind the 17th green and across 1 and 18 fairways are integral parts of the course.
Certainly when The Open was on the Old Course, the local Rules stated that all roads and paths were integral parts of the course.

 

[rulefan]

Of course St Andrews Old Course has its own local rules. The R&A has its own depending on which course it is using for whatever event. The R&A hard card does not mention paths.

 

[patricks148]

ours used to be, you could only take a drop under penalty or play as it lies, then someone on the committee though it might be a H&S issue as there are a few holes where the green keepers paths have gravel on them. They are in play on 3,4 and 5, you get people walking along these though they are not strictly ROW. So those are now compulsory drops.

 

[Robobum]

We had a Tarmac road behind our 18th that was in play. Very few people did play off it, preferring to take a drop (under penalty if they knew/ followed the rules).

It was a crazy difficult shot if played off the road, the green is a good 15ft above the ball, over a bunker to a flat green.

It finally got change to a free drop as over time the road deteriorated due to standing water (low point of the whole course) which ended up causing a load of potholes which were a good few inches deep in places.........an outbreak of common sense, surprisingly, occurred

 

[Smiffy]

The 5th at Crowborough has a road that crosses the fairway, well within range for the "bigger" hitters and it is, (or always was), an integral part of the course.
If I ever found myself on it, (which wasn't very often), I just used to swallow the pill and putt from it, not wanting to damage a club.
A friend of mine who was a member there was insistent that if he landed on it he was going to take free relief.
He was a stubborn old git, and I think I had more rucks with him over that than anything else.