Rules Question

[Steve79]

Playing with my mate on Wednesday we had this little disagreement, Here goes…I played a shot and the ball bounced and rolled into the edge of a red hazard, the ball had plugged a little on top of thick mud & pond gunk but there was over three quarters of it showing above the mud.
I was about to take a penalty and pick the ball up, measure two club lengths as it had bounced and rolled into the hazard – is this correct?? Or..my mates interpretation..
He is adamant that I can’t pick it up and I have to play it as I can see over three quarters of the ball. He says he’s seen it happen to someone else at the same place on another round and that they had to play the ball.

were both still quite new to the rules so apologies.

I think I’m correct, but have known to be wrong…sometimes.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere on the course if you so wish and accept the appropriate penalty.

For a lateral water hazard, you can drop within 2 club lengths to the point where the ball crossed the line of the hazard, no nearer the hole.

Of course, you could have played it if you wanted but that would have been messy by the sounds of things

At least that's my understanding.

 

[Steve79]

Thanks Hawkeye

Messy = played the shot as I’d just come off a bogie, par, birdie and had been playing great. i thought that if i could get it onto the green then I would be putting for birdie. And then he could do what he wanted with his rule!
Anyway the mud was a lot softer than I thought as I hadnt obviously grounded the club, It dug in like a bunker shot and the next thing I know I’m covered in slimy mud and gunk its in my eyes, hair, clothes everywhere !! My mate is falling about laughing, players on nearby hole are cracking up. I’m actually laughing at myself and one fella even called over he wished he had he’s camera!! Ended up with a double bogie 7 and still beat him by a shot.

 

[jammydodger]

.

For a lateral water hazard, you can drop within 2 club lengths to the point where the ball crossed the line of the hazard, no nearer the hole.

This would be my take on it. Your mate is wrong and as Hawkeye also said its up to you whether you want to take a penalty at any time you want

 

[sfby]

You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere on the course if you so wish and accept the appropriate penalty.

Not in a water hazard - rule 28

 

[HawkeyeMS]

You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere on the course if you so wish and accept the appropriate penalty.

Not in a water hazard - rule 28

Yeah I just read that only I don't understand it. You can't declare it unplayable but you can take a drop with the same penalty? Am I missing something?

 

[backwoodsman]

You can declare a ball unplayable anywhere on the course if you so wish and accept the appropriate penalty.

Not in a water hazard - rule 28

Yeah I just read that only I don't understand it. You can't declare it unplayable but you can take a drop with the same penalty? Am I missing something?

There's a slight technical difference.

Mainly relates to the fact that for ball unplayable the relief is taken from where the ball actually lies, whereas for a water hazard, it's from where it last crossed the hazard's margin (and not related to its "resting place"). Hence you can't declare "unplayable" in a hazard as you'd bring in confusion as to where to take relief from.

But since penalty for relief is same in both cases, for the most part, I can't see much practical difference. (except for yellow hazards where you don't get the within two club lengths option)

 

[Tommo21]

Red is a lateral water hazard, but you can also, under one shot penalty, go back to where you played the last shot. You can also go as far back as you want keeping the point where the ball entered between you and the flag…..the guys sometimes do it at the masters.

If it’s a par three and you hit your ball into the hazard……you cannot hit a provisional, but you can hit another ball and that will be your ball in play, whatever happens to it.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

Thanks backwoodsman, that makes sense.

 

[AliB]

Having a good laugh picturing you in the mudbath, but pleased to hear you still beat him after he made you do that!

AliB

 

[bobmac]

He is adamant that I can’t pick it up and I have to play it as I can see over three quarters of the ball.

Always Always Always carry a rule book.
If someone is adamant about a ruling, hand him/her the book and ask them to show you the rule.
It really bugs me when "experienced players" give the wrong ruling but sound so sure, you end up agreeing.

 

[Fyldewhite]

Just imagine if the rule was that you had to see 3/4 of the ball. Can just see a player asking for a measure like in bowls to see if it's 1.25 or 1.26 of an inch visible !! Although the rules are somewhat quirky in parts they all have a fairly logical explanation and if a ruling from a mate sounds rediculous it usually is.

 

[pcowgill]

If the ball had entered the lateral hazard, there is no problem. Because it is a lateral hazard, you can drop to the side of the red marker within 2 club lengths but no nearer the hole.

 

[Steve79]

Always Always Always carry a rule book.

Ive got a PDF version of the rules that i downloaded off the R&A website but can only access it when im at work or Home. Can anyone recomend a rules of golf book that will easily fit in a golf bag or am i just imagining the rules of golf being thick encyclopedia type of book. which will be extra weight on top of the silly amounts of balls i have to carry.

 

[bobmac]

Always Always Always carry a rule book.

Ive got a PDF version of the rules that i downloaded off the R&A website but can only access it when im at work or Home. Can anyone recomend a rules of golf book that will easily fit in a golf bag or am i just imagining the rules of golf being thick encyclopedia type of book. which will be extra weight on top of the silly amounts of balls i have to carry.

You can get one from the R and A web site or from your local club

 

[backwoodsman]

Always Always Always carry a rule book.

Ive got a PDF version of the rules that i downloaded off the R&A website but can only access it when im at work or Home. Can anyone recomend a rules of golf book that will easily fit in a golf bag or am i just imagining the rules of golf being thick encyclopedia type of book. which will be extra weight on top of the silly amounts of balls i have to carry.

Should be able to pick one up at your club - or if not a member anywhere, then the R&A. Its not big - from memory (it's in my locker) it's about 4inch by 5 and a bit over 1/4 inch thick .

 

[FourPutt]

They had a free one with one of the golf magazines. I think it was this month. Might still be able to get hold of a copy. I can't remember if it was GM or TG?

 

[viscount17]

the rule book is less than 1/2 in. thick - the R&A will only charge you postage
the encyclopaedia you're thinking about is the Decisions.