Ruling please

[ruff-driver]

Like many courses we have a number of tee mats in play.
On one hole, a par 3 the mat is way right of the usual tee area near a tree
Last week i hit a branch with my tee shot which caused much hilarity with my p.p's
It was a perfectly struck shot toward the pin with a wedge btw
Luckily i never made the water but still had to play over with my second and it cost me a shot,

so what is the ruling, if any?

 

[doublebogey7]

Your tee shot hit a tree, you either can replay the shot from the tee under stroke distance or continue without penalty with your original ball from where it now lies. Or have a missed something?

 

[ruff-driver]

Your tee shot hit a tree, you either can replay the shot from the tee under stroke distance or continue without penalty with your original ball from where it now lies. Or have a missed something?

Sorry maybe not explained it well,
the branches are in your line of shot , to miss them would mean aiming way left of the green
if you go at the flag you risk catching the branches because of the mat position
if you played from the usual grass tee the tree would not be a factor

 

[doublebogey7]

In that case I'll stick with my first answer, though perhaps the club should be looking for a more suitable place for its winter tees.

 

[delc]

Like many courses we have a number of tee mats in play.
On one hole, a par 3 the mat is way right of the usual tee area near a tree
Last week i hit a branch with my tee shot which caused much hilarity with my p.p's
It was a perfectly struck shot toward the pin with a wedge btw
Luckily i never made the water but still had to play over with my second and it cost me a shot,

so what is the ruling, if any?

Tough! You either have to play your ball from where it now lies, or take 3 off the tee.

 

[Slab]

Like many courses we have a number of tee mats in play.
On one hole, a par 3 the mat is way right of the usual tee area near a tree
Last week i hit a branch with my tee shot which caused much hilarity with my p.p's
It was a perfectly struck shot toward the pin with a wedge btw
Luckily i never made the water but still had to play over with my second and it cost me a shot,

so what is the ruling, if any?

How did the rest of the group get on? I'm guessing they either didn't take the pin on or able to play a strong fade

Although completely sensible to have a clear line of sight/flight to the pin on a par 3 I doubt there any requirement to have it

I've a bit of sympathy after experiencing the same on a par 5 tee shot after the tee box was moved to a new position. My shot shape meant firing it right at a tree and hoping for the 'trees are 80% air' rule to come into effect! But not something the rules of golf could help me with



Tree has now been cut down (not be me, honest guv)

 

[rulefan]

so what is the ruling, if any?

It is a true Rub of the Green.

A "rub of the green" occurs when a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency (see Rule 19-1).

 

[ruff-driver]

How did the rest of the group get on? I'm guessing they either didn't take the pin on or able to play a strong fade

Although completely sensible to have a clear line of sight/flight to the pin on a par 3 I doubt there any requirement to have it

I've a bit of sympathy after experiencing the same on a par 5 tee shot after the tee box was moved to a new position. My shot shape meant firing it right at a tree and hoping for the 'trees are 80% air' rule to come into effect! But not something the rules of golf could help me with



Tree has now been cut down (not be me, honest guv)

The others were ok because they were hitting longer irons than me so a lower launch
just me and my towering wedges penalised...grrr
now where's me grappling iron

It is a true Rub of the Green.

A "rub of the green" occurs when a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency (see Rule 19-1).

Thanks, much obliged :thup:

A word to the green keeper may be in order .

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

The others were ok because they were hitting longer irons than me so a lower launch
just me and my towering wedges penalised...grrr
now where's me grappling iron



Thanks, much obliged :thup:

A word to the green keeper may be in order .

Sounds you need to learn to play a wee punched half-swing 7i

 

[pogle]

Tough! You either have to play your ball from where it now lies, or take 3 off the tee.

You can also proceed under the Unplayable Ball rule and use any of its options, i.e.

a) Replay from where the ball was last played (3 off the tee in this instance)
b) Within two club lengths of where the ball comes to rest, not nearer the hole adding a penalty stroke
c) Drop a ball on an extension of the hole to ball line with no limit to how far back adding a penalty stroke

 

[delc]

You can also proceed under the Unplayable Ball rule and use any of its options, i.e.

a) Replay from where the ball was last played (3 off the tee in this instance)
b) Within two club lengths of where the ball comes to rest, not nearer the hole adding a penalty stroke
c) Drop a ball on an extension of the hole to ball line with no limit to how far back adding a penalty stroke

I just knew that some pedant would have to post this! From the original posting it was obvious that the ball was playable, so I didn't bother to mention the unplayable option!

 

[pogle]

I just knew that some pedant would have to post this! From the original posting it was obvious that the ball was playable, so I didn't bother to mention the unplayable option!

If it's so obviously playable, why did you tell the OP that he could either play it as he lies or return to the tee?

He has other options, I gave them.

 

[Foxholer]

If it's so obviously playable, why did you tell the OP that he could either play it as he lies or return to the tee?

He has other options, I gave them.

And if it hits branches of the tree, there's a distinct possibility that it could end up being unplayable!

Nothing pedantic about providing all options that may be relevant. Certainly better than not providing all relevant options imo!

 

[woody69]

I just knew that some pedant would have to post this! From the original posting it was obvious that the ball was playable, so I didn't bother to mention the unplayable option!

So what. You know full well that it's entirely up to the player if they want to declare a ball unplayable whether the ball actually is playable is moot. Giving ALL the options, isn't being "pedant"

 

[delc]

So what. You know full well that it's entirely up to the player if they want to declare a ball unplayable whether the ball actually is playable is moot. Giving ALL the options, isn't being "pedant"

I not quite sure why a player would want to declare a ball unplayable and take a penalty when he didn't have to! That was the only reason I didn't mention that particular option. Essentially you are not entitled to a clear line of play off the tee. If there is a tree or a bush in the way, you have to go over or round it in some way.

 

[UlyssesSky]

I not quite sure why a player would want to declare a ball unplayable and take a penalty when he didn't have to!

Then why did you mention the option to play three off the tee, if it was obvious from the original posting that the ball was playable? Who would want to do that if he didn't have to?

 

[CheltenhamHacker]

I not quite sure why a player would want to declare a ball unplayable and take a penalty when he didn't have to! That was the only reason I didn't mention that particular option. Essentially you are not entitled to a clear line of play off the tee. If there is a tree or a bush in the way, you have to go over or round it in some way.

He may not fancy the shot for any reason, and may fancy dropping it within two club lengths, under the unplayable rule? Or move further back to give himself a fuller shot.

 

[delc]

Then why did you mention the option to play three off the tee, if it was obvious from the original posting that the ball was playable? Who would want to do that if he didn't have to?

If it keeps you happy, the player had the right to declare the ball unplayable and then proceed under any of the options in Rule 28!