Rules Question

[AmandaJR]

Ok so our course is a right mess at the moment and Wyboston Lakes was never a truer word as many new ones have formed and the ducks are having a fine time.

What happens if your ball goes into casual water but you can't find it? Some of the puddles are very dirty water and with all manner of flotsam and jetsam on the surface.

If you all agree it went in the water is it a free drop? If so where from? Bear in mind this could be a drive resulting in a huge splash down...

At times like this I hear the phrase "abnormal ground conditions" and what is the definition of this and who decides what's normal and not??

Thanks, Amanda

 

[duncan mackie]

casual water is an Abnormal Ground Condition, as it GUR

so it's all covered by Rule 25

the situation regarding a ball lost in GUR, or casual water, through the green is covered by 25-1 c

"c. Ball in Abnormal Ground Condition Not Found
It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found after having been struck toward an abnormal ground condition is in such a condition. In order to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the abnormal ground condition. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.
If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been found is in an abnormal ground condition, the player may take relief under this Rule. If he elects to do so, the spot where the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground condition must be determined and, for the purpose of applying this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player must proceed as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground condition at a spot through the green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(i)."

 

[Colin L]

Just to break down what Duncan has pointed to into easy steps, Amanda.

You recognise casual water because the ground is wet enough for water to be visible on the surface before or after you take your stance - so if water visibly oozes up when you take your stance, that's casual water as well as the visible puddles and mini-lakes you describe .

If you see your ball in the water, you find the nearest point of relief from where it lies and drop within one club length of that point. You don't have to retrieve your ball if that would be problematic so you don't have to carry waders: you are allowed to substitute another ball.

If you can't see your ball but know or are virtually certain it is in the casual water (and that's the situation you describe) then you determine where your ball last crossed the edge of the water and that is where for the purposes of the next step you take it to be.

Next step is, as above, to find the nearest point of relief but this time from where the ball is imagined to be at the edge of the water and drop within one club length.

You'll find how abnormal ground conditions are defined in the Definitions section at the beginning of the Rules. There are 3 types - casual water, ground under repair and holes made by burrowing beasties
:
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Definitions/

 

[AmandaJR]

Perfect - thanks very much guys.

 

[daymond]

The big problem arises when the course is so waterlogged that, whilst you are virtually certain that the ball is in casual water say 120 yards away there is no relief at that point but only a few yards in front of you. If so the course really should be closed.
No doubt someone will agree or advise an alternative solution.

 

[AmandaJR]

Actually - another one on the same theme. Ground Under Repair - is that always as marked by the course and not open to interpretation? Also, what if you hit the fairway and your ball is plugged but you can't find it?? A player yesterday finally located theirs about an inch in and under the ground...

 

[pbrown7582]

GUR should be clearly marked and no room for interpretation.

If a ball is lost because its plugged on the fairway proceed as lost ball back to the tee, but if it's found relief can be taken.

 

[duncan mackie]

Ground Under Repair - is that always as marked by the course and not open to interpretation?

It's not open to interpretation by the player, but it's not limited to those areas specifically marked on the course either.

Definition -

“Ground under repair” is any part of the course so marked by order of the Committee or so declared by its authorised representative. All ground and any grass, bush, tree or other growing thing within the ground under repair are part of the ground under repair. Ground under repair includes material piled for removal and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked. Grass cuttings and other material left on the course that have been abandoned and are not intended to be removed are not ground under repair unless so marked.

Regarding the second part of your question - if the ground where the ball is known, or virtually certain, to be plugged and lost falls into the definition of abnormal ground conditions you are back with the initial responses.....if there is a lot of soft ground that could result in a plugged ball that is not casual water then the ball simply becomes lost as indicated in another response.

It is interesting to note that the existence of such ground that's not casual water reduces significantly the 'argument' that a ball is lost in nearby areas that are casual water - if you see what I mean!

In such situations courses should be closed - again as suggested above. If course commercials keep it open then competition play shouldn't take place.

 

[AmandaJR]

Thanks Duncan and agree the course should not have been open on Sunday as it was crazy golf...