Unplayable lie. Is it acceptable or frowned upon?

[Jay Gee]

I played yesterday to try and get my 3rd card in for handicap before playing my 1st medal tomorrow. I've not been playing long, broke 100 for the first time (just) and will likely just get a 28 handicap. My playing partners were off 8 and scratch.

I found myself in some very long, deep rough, with some debris and twigs around the ball. I asked if I could take an unplayable lie and the 8 handicapper said sure, whilst the scratch player grimaced. I didn't dwell on it too much and took the penalty and relief.

Later in the round, I found myself in a similar if not worse position. Bearing in mind the scratch players reaction earlier, I asked him whether declaring an unplayable lie was bad form and he said it was. So I played the ball as it lay and just managed to get it out, but my stroke was bordering on an illegal scoop due to a very limited backswing.

My question is, if I find myself in similar circumstances tomorrow and bearing in mind my ability, would it be acceptable to declare an unplayable lie?

 

[fundy]

Perfectly acceptable and actually a very sensible option sometimes. Dont know why the scratch player is turning his nose up, if its the best option within the rules then go ahead without worrying what narrow minded people like him think. If anything he should be commending you for knowing that you can drop for an unplayable lie and having decent course management to do so

 

[FairwayDodger]

It's entirely your call to take an unplayable or not. You could do it with your ball sitting nicely in the middle of a fairway, if you so chose.

 

[hovis]

You can take an unplayable ball in the middle of the green if you want. Dont know what his problem was. its not like its for free, it cost's you a shot

 

[blackpuddinmonster]

Absolutley, the scratch player is talking out his jacksy.

 

[chrisd]

I played yesterday to try and get my 3rd card in for handicap before playing my 1st medal tomorrow. I've not been playing long, broke 100 for the first time (just) and will likely just get a 28 handicap. My playing partners were off 8 and scratch.

I found myself in some very long, deep rough, with some debris and twigs around the ball. I asked if I could take an unplayable lie and the 8 handicapper said sure, whilst the scratch player grimaced. I didn't dwell on it too much and took the penalty and relief.

Later in the round, I found myself in a similar if not worse position. Bearing in mind the scratch players reaction earlier, I asked him whether declaring an unplayable lie was bad form and he said it was. So I played the ball as it lay and just managed to get it out, but my stroke was bordering on an illegal scoop due to a very limited backswing.

My question is, if I find myself in similar circumstances tomorrow and bearing in mind my ability, would it be acceptable to declare an unplayable lie?

You are entitled to declare your ball unplayable whenever you like, it isn't any business of anyone else and is definitely not bad form. You could even do it on the putting green if you choose (I can't see why you would though)

So you don't play an unplayable, duff it trying to move the ball and now your stuffed as you can't use the option of playing from your last place? Some low handicappers can be knobs!

 

[CMAC]

as above- did the scratch player know an unplayable lie is a 1 shot penalty? maybe he doesnt and maybe he might not be off scratch if he knew the rules properly- just sayin!

 

[Jay Gee]

Thanks everyone, I wasn't sure it would be that clear cut hence the poll. I must admit that I thought it a bit odd. Even if it's considered bad form in his circle of players, I'm a high handicapper playing within the rules.

I also remember a thread where someone took a putter to demonstrate that his stance was impeded to get free relief even though they would never select that club otherwise. Different circumstances altogether, but it's hard enough for us beginners to learn all the rules and decisions sometimes.

At least I know it's a fair option for the medal tomorrow. Thanks forum.

 

[philly169]

theres a number of times i can remember that i should have called an unplayable.... lol

as others have said, a very sensible option.. you'll find as you play more and get better those kinds of shots will be easier and not as daunting, remember its your own game and if someone frowns upon it thats their problem, so dont worry about it.

 

[Val]

You can call an unplayable lie wherever you like, people can frown all they like, the rules are the rules

 

[bobmac]

I suspect the guy off scratch probably has more shots available to him than your good self so what may look unplayable to you my be perfectly playable to him.
If you dont think you can play it as it lies, call it unplayable

 

[ScienceBoy]

My first rule when unsure is always play the ball as it lies, however if your just going to get yourself in a dreadful mess trying to get out of somewhere then just pop a tee in the ground to mark your old spot before going after the first.

I used this in an medal once, pushed a second shot into deep rough behind a row of trees. Chances were if I found it I was not getting out unless I played backwards. I just dropped another in the middle, found the green and walked off only the one shot penalty worse.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

If its good enough for the pro's to take the odd unplayable then why not a club golfer. It is about getting it round in as few as possible and a drop and penalty as opposed to taking three of four to chop it out makes total sense

 

[rickg]

Scratch player was an absolute cock......even more so that it influenced your decision later on.....he should be ashamed of himself...

 

[Iaing]

The scratch player was probably just a handicap snob who was pissed about having to play with a high 'capper.

 

[rosecott]

The key questions are:

What is the best result I can achieve if I play the ball as it lies?

What is the worst result if I play the ball as it lies?

If the answer to the first question is not moving the ball very far and the answer to the second is hardly moving at all, there is only one course of action. - declare it unplayable and take a drop.

 

[FairwayDodger]

Well done on uniting the forum JG..... Never seen such a one-sided poll. Try something about Westwood next......

 

[rickg]

Well done on uniting the forum JG..... Never seen such a one-sided poll.

Bomber hasn't vote yet!! :rofl:

 

[Andy808]

I had two that I could have called unplayable today but the line back would have had me OOB before I found anything better so I was forced to play them as they were.
On a similar note we had a discussion at the club house about calling a ball "lost".
It all came about when one of our senior members said that someone got DQ'ed from a comp for not playing a provisional ball. I said you can't be DQ'ed for not playing a provisional and that he had to have played the wrong ball afterwards and not corrected his mistake before the next tee. To say a heated discussion ensued is an understatement to the point the secretary, who was listening, said I had to be wrong as the other member had been playing for years so MUST know the rules better than me.
I tried, to no avail, that if he had declared the first ball "lost" then played a second then his first ball, whether found or not, is no longer in play. IF he had declared the second ball a provisional then the first ball would have been back in play when found without penalty. I also said that a ball can be declared "lost" at any time, even if it's in the middle of the fairway. This again was disputed by the senior member and the secretary.

Sometimes it's not how long you've been playing but how well you have read and understand the rules that is important. I spend a lot of time reading the rule book, it's very therapeutic for helping me get off to sleep, and I think it's important to know the rules as well as you can for what ever game you play.

 

[SocketRocket]

You can call a ball unplayable at any time and it is your decision. You then have three options with a one shot penalty:

Replay the ball from where it was last hit with a one shot penalty.

Play the ball from two clubs lengths from the point it lies. No nearer the pin.

Play the ball on a line between where it lies an the pin, at any distance back, no nearer the pin.

I am not clear if you play the ball back at the teeing area if you can re-tee the ball. Maybe someone can clarify this point.