Silly Rules

[Mike_j_golf]

Are some rules a bit silly, Hoey got peanilised 2 shots yesterday for not dropping his ball before placing it in the same spot. What happened, there is placing on the fairway Hoey is in casual water on the fairway so finds his nearest point of relief instead of dropping the ball and then picking it up cleaning it and placing it he just placed it, there was no advantage to him just a silly mistake on his part but seen as though there was placing i think it was is a silly rule.
Mike

 

[3offTheTee]

Agree with your comments but does dropping the ball determine where he takes releif from?

 

[Mike_j_golf]

It was on the Fairway so he should have dropped it and then placed it within 6 inches of that he just cut out the drop because he knew he was placing it anyhow..
Mike

 

[chrisd]

He would find the nearest point of relief, mark it, and would have inside one club length from there for the drop, so the area of his ball placement could be quite some 2-4 ft from the water. It is an anomally if the winter placement rules penalised him 2 shots for placing where he could have dropped then placed, and, in equity, I would have thought he couldn't be penalised but I'm probably wrong


Chris

 

[Imurg]

You have to drop the ball back into play when taking relief when not on the green.
That's the problem. Rules say drop then PnP. So he has to be penalised.
It is a bit harsh but the PnP is optional so just placing is wrong.....

 

[CMAC]

surely the ball isnt yet in play if he has placed before dropping? or did he place then hit it? which could be then taken as a practice stroke and incur 2 shot penalty...........silly game

 

[chrisd]

You have to drop the ball back into play when taking relief when not on the green.
That's the problem. Rules say drop then PnP. So he has to be penalised.
It is a bit harsh but the PnP is optional so just placing is wrong.....

I couldn't find that rule on the R and A website at a quick look?


Chris

 

[daymond]

It is even sillier when you end up in a water hazard, march back on the correct line to the fairway, then have to drop, mark and then clean and place within 6".

 

[Imurg]

I always thought that whatever the reason for the relief - free/ penalty/Casual Water etc that you had to drop the ball unless you're on the green in which case you place it.
If you place instead of drop that's an incorrect resumption of the ball in play for want of better words and therefore a penalty.
Pick'n'Place isn't mandatory so that has to be done after the ball is put into play by dropping.

 

[USER1999]

How does he know where to place it? When dropped, it can roll a further two club lengths not nearer the hole. He can then pnp from where the ball stops. If he places it, it can't roll out. Cheating, plain as.

 

[MashieNiblick]

You have to drop the ball back into play when taking relief when not on the green.
That's the problem. Rules say drop then PnP. So he has to be penalised.
It is a bit harsh but the PnP is optional so just placing is wrong.....

I couldn't find that rule on the R and A website at a quick look?


Chris

There isn't a single Rule which states this. It is included in each relevant Rule. So for example Rule 25-1b covering relief from Abnormal ground conditions says

(i) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it...

and

(iii) On the Putting Green: If the ball lies on the putting green, the player must lift the ball and place it...

You'll see this in other Rules too e.g. Rule 24-2b Relief from immovable obstructions.

Rule 20 covers the procedure and requirements for lifting, dropping or placing.

If Hoey had realised he should have dropped rather than placed before he played the ball, Rule 20-6 would have applied

20-6 - Lifting Ball Incorrectly Substituted, Dropped or Placed
A ball incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed in a wrong place or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules but not played may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed correctly.