Rules query

[Rlburnside]

It would appear to suggest a 'flighted ball' can embed itself by landing in abnormal soft conditions (reason for LR in the 1st place). However a ball 'driven' into the ground by a poor strike doesn't qualify even although this would not happen under normal ground conditions. Does seem harsh.

Thanks for the explanation, I've been trying to look for the rule that Foxholer alluded to 25-2/6 but couldnt find any note on 6.

Agree this does seem harsh and although this doesn't happen very often for me it's been difficult to find a ruling for this.

 

[Foxholer]

Thanks for the explanation, I've been trying to look for the rule that Foxholer alluded to 25-2/6 but couldnt find any note on 6.
...

It's not in the Rules section. It's a 'Decision', so is in that section

Here's the text..

25-2/6 Ball on Steep Bank Driven Straight into Ground
Q.A player's ball lies on a steep bank in the fairway. He plays a stroke and drives the ball straight into the bank, i.e., the ball is never airborne. Is the player entitled to relief without penalty under Rule 25-2?

A.No. Under Rule 25-2, relief is provided if a ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark. The word "pitch-mark" implies that the ball has become airborne.

And here's a reference - to the USGA Rules/decisions, which I find easier to navigate. Though scrolling through Rule 25 (even the 'quick scroller' on the right) can be tedious!

http://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-decisions.html#!decision-25,25-2

 

[Rlburnside]

It's not in the Rules section. It's a 'Decision', so is in that section

Here's the text..

25-2/6 Ball on Steep Bank Driven Straight into Ground
Q.A player's ball lies on a steep bank in the fairway. He plays a stroke and drives the ball straight into the bank, i.e., the ball is never airborne. Is the player entitled to relief without penalty under Rule 25-2?

A.No. Under Rule 25-2, relief is provided if a ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark. The word "pitch-mark" implies that the ball has become airborne.

And here's a reference - to the USGA Rules/decisions, which I find easier to navigate. Though scrolling through Rule 25 (even the 'quick scroller' on the right) can be tedious!

http://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-decisions.html#!decision-25,25-2

Thanks very much for that Foxholer, rules can be somewhat hard to find/ decipher sometimes.

 

[duncan mackie]

Thanks very much for that Foxholer, rules can be somewhat hard to find/ decipher sometimes.

With regard to any harshness, the reason for the difference is that a ball embedded in it's own pitchmark does so as the result of the laws of physics associated with playing the game normally and the conditions at the time - hence relief when it happens on a part of the course you are expected to aim for.
A ball directly buried as a result of an inappropriate and/or poor stroke is 'quiet another thing'.