Should you get relief from a divot on the fairway?

[SVB]

Folks,

Just interested in opinion here (I know the rules are clear no, unless preferred lies are in play) but having recently played a coarse with a number of holes with concentrated divots on some short par 4's before an elevated green, I'd be interested in your opinion.

I think the options are no, place or drop. I'd favour a drop but what do you think?

 

[virtuocity]

One of many silly rules in golf. Seems unfair to split the fairways with a drive to find yourself in a stinky lie.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I understand your sentiments. However, due to people's mass difference in interpretations on all things golf - one persons divot is another persons "slight indentation made by a centipede's limp on its 77th right leg" - (still a divot).

 

[Imurg]

As always its about defining a divot.
Many are obvious but, if you allow relief from a divot, you make it possible to describe any mark or imperfection on the fairway as a divot. The potential for holding up play whilst the ground is scrutinised is mind-knumbing.......

Golf ain't supposed to be fair.

 

[One Planer]

Nope.

I actually hurt myself playing from an unrepaired divot but still would not like it to be common practice for relief to be taken.

If it starts there, where doesn't stop? Would you expect a drop from the base of conifers when the ball lies on the "pine straw" because it's an iffy lie.

 

[SVB]

I understand your sentiments. However, due to people's mass difference in interpretations on all things golf - one persons divot is another persons "slight indentation made by a centipede's limp on its 77th right leg" - (still a divot).

lol :lol::lol::lol:

I know what you mean but it would surely be no tricker that working out what type of animal dug a hole though and we are expected to be up to that level of forensic analysis!

 

[LanDog]

I think you should be allowed to take relief from a divot as you shouldn't be punished for someone else's ignorance when replacing their divot

 

[Deleted member 18588]

Hit it! Find it! Hit it again!

Play it as it lies, after all if you hit a tree and the ball bounces back onto the fairway rather than into deep rough or OOB you accept that so, as they say in football, these things even themselves out.

 

[SaintHacker]

Surely the point of a fairway is you get a decent lie which rewards a good shot. If your in the rough or whatever then tough, play it where you find it but I think you should be allowed relief on the fairway.

 

[stevie_r]

No, as already stated, players would be looking for relief from any imperfection. It's rub of the green, get on with it. It must happen what? about once a season?

 

[Oddsocks]

Simple rule of thumb should apply.

If you ball comes to rest in an unrecovered divot a free drop of 1 club length no nearer the hole should apply, if the ball lands worse off than the original lie, tuff titties aka rub of the green.

Definition of an unrecovered lie, won deemed " fresh " with no growth.

I would like to see above applied to mown grass areas during summer months with first cut being applied during winter rule periods

 

[c1973]

No.

People should stop taking divots and clip the ball off the top of the grass.

 

[Imurg]

Surely the point of a fairway is you get a decent lie which rewards a good shot. If your in the rough or whatever then tough, play it where you find it but I think you should be allowed relief on the fairway.

I've played many courses where even a good shot gets kicked off the fairway into the rough....
Can I get relief from that..??
What if you're on the fairway but the greenkeepers missed a bit of grass during the last cut and your ball is in 2" of"rough"..?
Or you're on the fairway but your swing is hampered by some overhanging tree branches.....???

 

[Imurg]

Simple rule of thumb should apply.

If you ball comes to rest in an unrecovered divot a free drop of 1 club length no nearer the hole should apply, if the ball lands worse off than the original lie, tuff titties aka rub of the green.

Definition of an unrecovered lie, won deemed " fresh " with no growth.

Once again the problem is who deems it "fresh"..?
Too open to interpretation...

 

[User20205]

Absolutely not, play it as it lies is a cornerstone of the game.

 

[Piece]

I see both sides of the argument. Some of the divots I've seen you could lose your trolley in! Common sense should prevail and free drop in obvious circumstances.

 

[Val]

Absolutely not, play it as it lies is a cornerstone of the game.

100% agree, the only lie that I feel is unfairly punished is a plugged ball in the rough which I think should have the same relief as plugged in the fairway.

 

[Birchy]

imo it should be pick and place on any fairway full stop.

 

[lefty56]

although very frustrating to find oneself in this situation, play it as it lies.

 

[Foxholer]

Would prefer to have relief, but can understand the issue of 'what is a divot'. Then again what is a scrape by a burrowing animal!

Right now is one of the 2 really bad times for divots. The turf is soft so lots get taken, but there's very little growth to make seeding worthwhile. A couple of weeks or so and it will all change.