Unplayable lie. Is it acceptable or frowned upon?

[North Mimms]

For all the discussion of the subject , declaring an unplayable lie that isn't in the middle of a bush, or taking stroke and distance when not forced to, that's something I very rarely do.
I think if I used my brain more, it is an option that I should consider more.

 

[jason6r]

Well, I just read this thread from start to finish whilst cross-referencing rule applications on my Rules of Golf app. A really interesting debate and one from which I have learned a lot, the most important learning point being that I need to familiarise myself with the Rules a lot more.

I've felt hard done by the rigid application of the rules in the past but never thought that they could be used to one's legitimate advantage.

Great thread (so far) and thanks to all who contributed knowledge and opinion as I've got a lot out of it.

 

[Wessex]

So if you thought that I had "unfairly" deemed my ball unplayable in a competition, you wouldn't enter another competition if you knew I had entered it? That's a very noble self-sacrifice for the sake of being morally troubled by the legitimate application of the rules of golf.

I didn't say I wouldn't enter a competition etc, and I didn't say others wouldn't; they just might not want to.

As far as I am concerned, Rule 28 was written to enable a person to take relief from a position which would make a shot either impossible or unplayable not to have another go as others have said.

Don't they call those instances the Rub of the Green?

Just a fellow golfer's opinion you understand.

 

[Foxholer]

As far as I am concerned, Rule 28 was written to enable a person to take relief from a position which would make a shot either impossible or unplayable not to have another go as others have said.

And 27-1a was written to allow a person to go back to the last position 'At any time'!

 

[Wessex]

Rule 27 was thrown into the mix later on.

It is Rule 28 is the Rule that I thought was being discussed and the one that started the thread.

 

[Wessex]

And 27-1a was written to allow a person to go back to the last position 'At any time'!

Rule 27
Ball Lost or Out of Bounds;
Provisional Ball.

27-1. Stroke and Distance; Ball out of bounds;
Ball not found within five minutes


The way I read this as that a player may proceed with a penalty of stroke & distance after the ball is played OOB or is lost.

I don't see it as a way of retaking a shot if the original ball can clearly be seen on the fairway some 30 yards away.

 

[Foxholer]

Rule 27 was thrown into the mix later on.

It is Rule 28 is the Rule that I thought was being discussed and the one that started the thread.

The 'controversial' bit was the ability to use the 27-1 option of 28 to replay, under penalty, a ball that is certainly not unplayable.
By invoking 27-1a directly, this potential 'breach of the spirit....' disappears!

In other words, there is no need to 'declare it unplayable'(R28). Simply use the 'Stroke and Distance' clause 27-1a!

 

[bobmac]

And 27-1a was written to allow a person to go back to the last position 'At any time'!

......back, not forward.

 

[USER1999]

......back, not forward.

Perhaps the rule should use the word return, not go back?

 

[bobmac]

Perhaps the rule should use the word return, not go back?

Spoil sport

 

[North Mimms]

......back, not forward.

Back in time...

 

[Foxholer]

......back, not forward.

Bob,

You are interpreting those two words (that non-explicitly, but abbreviatively paraphrase the wording of the Rule) in a way I hadn't intended. 'Return' would have been better. We are 1-1 on that sort of thing now.

Actually, the wording is ...

'play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played'

If they had intended to restrict it in any way, I am certain they would have. As in how all the Rules are (very deliberately) written, nothing more or less should be added or taken away as an interpretation. The should simply be applied literally.

The absence of words in Rules is just as important as their presence!

BTW. Using 'go back, not forward' would be unworkable/unfair - as would 'provided the original place was not nearer the hole'.

 

[Colin L]

I don't see it as a way of retaking a shot if the original ball can clearly be seen on the fairway some 30 yards away.

But it is - quite legitimately - a way of doing just that. But it's fine if you don't see it that way and have scruples about using it: I don't mind at all.

 

[North Mimms]

But it is - quite legitimately - a way of doing just that. But it's fine if you don't see it that way and have scruples about using it: I don't mind at all.

Retaking a shot is fine using stroke and distance- it comes at a cost of a penalty shot and having to make up the distance.

 

[Colin L]

Retaking a shot is fine using stroke and distance- it comes at a cost of a penalty shot and having to make up the distance.

Don't say that. You'll have Bobmac after you about replaying putts that have gone into bunkers/ponds :temper:

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I'm not trying to start an argument with anybody, but I'm just enjoying the debate.

Me too

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

As far as I am concerned, Rule 28 was written to enable a person to take relief from a position which would make a shot either impossible or unplayable not to have another go as others have said.

...and indeed how many times have you found yourself in a position where you have thought to yourself - 'this is impossible - I've got absolutely no chance of ...' even although the ball is sitting there perfectly - in the clear - lovely lie - no swing impediments.

And so what do you often do? You'll apply course management and do something like chip the ball into a position where you do have a reasonable chance of making a shot. And what have you just done? - effectively you have just taken a penalty shot to put your ball into a position where you have a shot you are confident of executing with a positive outcome.

Nobody questions you doing that do they - in fact they congratulate you on good course management - especially if you then get up and down in two?

 

[Region3]

Don't say that. You'll have Bobmac after you about replaying putts that have gone into bunkers/ponds :temper:

The pond one could be interesting!

Putt off the green into a 50yd wide pond and have to go all the way round the other side of it to drop.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

...and indeed how many times have you found yourself in a position where you have thought to yourself - 'this is impossible - I've got absolutely no chance of ...' even although the ball is sitting there perfectly - in the clear - lovely lie - no swing impediments.

And so what do you often do? You'll apply course management and do something like chip the ball into a position where you do have a reasonable chance of making a shot. And what have you just done? - effectively you have just taken a penalty shot to put your ball into a position where you have a shot you are confident of executing with a positive outcome.

Nobody questions you doing that do they - in fact they congratulate you on good course management - especially if you then get up and down in two?

But you still have to hit that shot, you could still duff it and leave it in a bad position so it still requires an element of skill to get yourself back in position. Just picking it up and going back to where you last played is a cop out and shouldn't be allowed IMHO.

 

[Imurg]

You also need to be confident enough that you're not going to put yourself back in the same situation again.
How to look stoopid in one easy lesson.