Unplayable Ball

[roccokj]

I hit my ball into a bunch of (stinging!) nettles about a week ago and yet it was still in bounds. Am I entitled to take relief from this as this is a dangerous situation? I saw something like this at Scottsdale when pro's had issues with the stinging cacti.

 

[Atticus_Finch]

Found this on th USGA site.

http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/decisions/dec01.html

1-4/11 Meaning of “Dangerous Situation”

Q. According to Decision 1-4/10, a ball lying near a live rattlesnake or bees’ nest is a “dangerous situation” and relief should be granted in equity.

If a player’s ball comes to rest in or near an area of plants such as poison ivy, cacti or stinging nettles, should the provisions of Decision 1-4/10 apply?

A. No. The player must either play the ball as it lies or, if applicable, proceed under Rule 26 (Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).

Decision 1-4/10 contemplates a situation which is unrelated to conditions normally encountered on the course. Unpleasant lies are a common occurrence which players must accept.

 

[roccokj]

Thanks. Fortunately I did just the and it went miles!
Wasn't in a very good spot after that but I scrambled bogey!

 

[mono217]

I hit a shot the other day into the water and played it i was butting stuck it to inside 3 foot.

 

[Herbie]

I hit my ball into a bunch of (stinging!) nettles about a week ago and yet it was still in bounds. Am I entitled to take relief from this as this is a dangerous situation? I saw something like this at Scottsdale when pro's had issues with the stinging cacti.

I think if you go in the nettles you should be made to wear shorts the next time you play the course

 

[Atticus_Finch]

I hit a shot the other day into the water and played it i was butting stuck it to inside 3 foot.

I don't even know what this means.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Another tale from the Mono catalogue of great shots. How deep was the water and how far was the shot.

I've hit balls into nettles before and on most occasions take one look at the height of them and carried on walking towards my provisional and declared it lost

 

[mono217]

Another tale from the Mono catalogue of great shots. How deep was the water and how far was the shot.

I've hit balls into nettles before and on most occasions take one look at the height of them and carried on walking towards my provisional and declared it lost

The ball was just about in the water and it was around 30 yards away oh do you want to know what i shot a great 97 NOT i played absolutley awful.

 

[KeefG]

Another tale from the Mono catalogue of great shots.

 

[Timberbonce]

"...i was butting stuck it to...." What does this mean Mono. Sorry if its just me being thick.

 

[Robobum]

Another tale from the Mono catalogue of great shots. How deep was the water and how far was the shot.

I've hit balls into nettles before and on most occasions take one look at the height of them and carried on walking towards my provisional and declared it lost

You can't declare a ball as lost Homer.

If you saw your ball in the nettles and then went to play the provisional then it was against the rules.

However, if you baulked at the site of the nettles and beat a hasty retreat to continue with the provisional then that is fine.

Declaring a ball as lost means absolutely nothing.

 

[centuryg5]

Another tale from the Mono catalogue of great shots.

Mono,if you bring 100's of these catalogues of great shots,to the NW/N.E. Yorkshire game, sell em for a fiver each mate ,you're onto a winner.Homer wants one signed

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I'm aware you can't declare a ball lost but you can tell your partners not to search for it and walk on to play your provisional so that it in front of where the former ball was perceived to be thus making it the ball in play.

 

[golf_bug]

If its in the nettles you can deem it unplayable and take a drop can't you?

 

[HomerJSimpson]

But you have to be able to positively confirm its your ball first. Would you really wade into a thick pile of nettles, and then look for a lie to drop it which may only be in the same or another clump of nettles. I'd take my chances and leave it as a lost ball and carry on with my provisional (or now ball in play)

 

[golf_bug]

good point...well made!

 

[bobmac]

Your playing partner/opponent would have to be pretty mean to wade into the nettles in full waterproof gear, find your ball and make you play it.
Homer, dont answer this.
Can they make you play it if they find it, even if you have declared it lost?

 

[Robobum]

......and declared it lost

Sorry Homer I must have been confused by this bit??!!

 

[backwoodsman]

Can they make you play it if they find it, even if you have declared it lost?

Nope. For two reasons.

1. If it's lost, its lost and there's no ball hit. What we have to get our head round is the difference between lost -ie ball goes off somewhere, is looked for, & isn't found within 5 mins and "not found" ie ball goes off somewhere & one can't be cheesed to look for it. A world of difference between them under the rules. Ok, pedantry over, so.....

2. It's up to you and you alone if you want to play it. Ok, so technically you've declared it unplayable rather than anything to do with lost, but the point is still the same - it's your choice as to play or not.

 

[Robobum]

Can they make you play it if they find it, even if you have declared it lost?

Nope. For two reasons.

1. If it's lost, its lost and there's no ball hit. What we have to get our head round is the difference between lost -ie ball goes off somewhere, is looked for, & isn't found within 5 mins and "not found" ie ball goes off somewhere & one can't be cheesed to look for it. A world of difference between them under the rules. Ok, pedantry over, so.....

2. It's up to you and you alone if you want to play it. Ok, so technically you've declared it unplayable rather than anything to do with lost, but the point is still the same - it's your choice as to play or not.

Just erase "declare it lost" from your mind because it means nothing. A ball CANNOT be declared lost.

You are not obliged to play the ball if it is found for you but you do have to take your next action using that ball. Play it as it lies, take the appropriate drop under penalty or go back to the original spot and play another (or pick up in stableford/ NR in stroke play!! ).

Don't forget that as soon as the original ball has been found the provisional is no longer able to be played.