Rules question

[funkyfred]

Can you stand outside the course, say on a road, path etc and still play your ball that is still in-bounds?

Had a situation on Sunday where my ball was tight to a raised road (dirt track) which is deemed OOB. I was informed that I couldn't stand on the dirt track to play my ball as it wasn't part of the course. I ended up standing in-bounds and chopping my ball out sideways.

Caused quite a discussion in the clubhouse after the competition, but nobody could actually agree what was the correct rule.

 

[bobmac]

No need to look this one up.
You CAN stand OOB to hit a ball that is in bounds

 

[Imurg]

+1

 

[rosecott]

Can you stand outside the course, say on a road, path etc and still play your ball that is still in-bounds?

Caused quite a discussion in the clubhouse after the competition, but nobody could actually agree what was the correct rule.

Is there no copy of the rule book in your clubhouse?

 

[JezzE]

Yes - covered under 'Definitions' which I think is at the front of the book (don't have one to hand right now)...

“Out of bounds’’ is beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee.
When out of bounds is defined by reference to stakes or a fence or as being beyond stakes or a fence, the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points at ground level of the stakes or fence posts (excluding angled supports). When both stakes and lines are used to indicate out of bounds, the stakes identify out of bounds and the lines define out of bounds.
When out of bounds is defined by a line on the ground, the line itself is out of bounds. The out of bounds line extends vertically upwards and downwards.
A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds. A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds.
Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.
Note 1: Stakes or lines used to define out of bounds should be white.
Note 2: A Committee may make a Local Rule declaring stakes identifying but not defining out of bounds to be movable obstructions.

 

[funkyfred]

Thanks everyone, thats clears that one up.

Rosecott: Yes we do have a rules book in the clubhouse, but a bit like Jezz nobody could put there hands on it at the time.

 

[palindromicbob]

Get one and stick it in your bag better yet if you have an iphone you can get the app for free.

 

[viscount17]

. . . . better yet if you have an iphone you can get the app for free.

then get dq'd for having the compass app

 

[palindromicbob]

. . . . better yet if you have an iphone you can get the app for free.

then get dq'd for having the compass app

Nope. This is a widely misinterpreted rule. The rules apply to what you use the phone to access rather than an all out ban. It stops the use of the iphone as a GPS due to features (compass etc) that render it non-comforing under the rules laid down for distance measuring devices. A laser range finder with compass would be equally banned.

You can use it to access the rules info or advice-related info (such as an electronic stroke saver) that was produced prior to the round.

See Decision 14-3/16 as pointed out in the R&A-USGA joint statement.