Rules question

[Canfordhacker]

Played in a comp this morning and this situation came up.

My drive finished on the right side of the fairway, on the right hand side of a path close to overhanging trees. I get free relief under local rule. I tell my partners I am dropping, but because of the overhanging trees I want to drop it on the left hand side, away from the path. I can't do this because it isn't the nearest point of relief. So I say I want to drop about 6 inches off right side of the path (to protect my club) but I will still be standing on the path. Discussion ensued - if I wish to take relief I must take full relief ( ie not be standing on the path either), which will put me in a position where the trees will now interfere big time.

That's what I ended up doing,but I wondered if anybody had a view?

Cheers

 

[DCB]

If your ball was on the path and you were to take relief you have to take full relief from the obstruction.

 

[RGuk]

You win some, you lose some.

DCB is correct (of course) that if you take relief, it has to be full.....you can't move it off the path under a local rule and then leave your feet on the path.....same with standing water.

I had the same down the left of the 10th at my old club. Part of a public r.o.w. 9/10 the drop would have to be left not right of the cinder track. I got p**** off one day when my partners said I could only drop left (I felt there was SOME way to go right) where the trees overhang. I agreed with them (after partially cooling down) and elected to play it off the path. I deliberately bladed a 6 iron 140 yards onto the green.....then told them to shove their drop where the sun don't shine!!!

That's golf rules.....I would happily have gone back miles to not be on the path.

At mine, it's common for players 20 yards from the green (under a bush) to take stroke and distance 80-100 yards up the adjacent fairway....

 

[time_vans]

yes full relief must be taken and basically it was your fault for hitting it there so trying to prosper from this position is usually accounted for in the rules.