What to do ?

Midnight

Midnight

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On one of our holes today , I hit a shot that cleared the green and ended up in a hedge row just short of out of bounds.

I could not play a shot unless I got on both knees and tried to hook the ball out. What is the score with declaring the ball unplayable ? If I did this where would i drop? I am assuming I can go no nearer the hole ? If I went backwards I would be OB, the hedgerow runs all along the back so can not drop there.

Is it just tough luck and get on with it or is there a rule to cover this ?

Cheers

Midnight...
 
Just the usual unplayable options I'm afraid.

So you're really looking at two club lengths sideways & very slightly forward (so as to be not nearer) which may give you enough room for a sideways shot. Else back to where last shot played. Or just a sideways swipe at it as it lies & hope for the best.
 
backwoodsman said:
Just the usual unplayable options I'm afraid.

So you're really looking at two club lengths sideways & very slightly forward (so as to be not nearer) which may give you enough room for a sideways shot. Else back to where last shot played. Or just a sideways swipe at it as it lies & hope for the best.
Click to expand...


Cheers for that. I had forgotten that I could walk back to where last played. The problem with the 2 club length sideways is that I would still be in the hedgerow and could not play a shot .

Thanks again.
 
Midnight said:
Cheers for that. I had forgotten that I could walk back to where last played. The problem with the 2 club length sideways is that I would still be in the hedgerow and could not play a shot .
Click to expand...

Remember you aren't limited to how many 2 club length drops you take so long as you measure each one from the ball after it is dropped and add a shot each time. As you can move the ball along an arc which is not nearer the hole you may find that a couple of drops gets you to a point where you can drop in a place where you can get a club to the ball. Might be expensive shot wise but would save a long walk back.
 
MashieNiblick said:
Remember you aren't limited to how many 2 club length drops you take so long as you measure each one from the ball after it is dropped and add a shot each time. As you can move the ball along an arc which is not nearer the hole you may find that a couple of drops gets you to a point where you can drop in a place where you can get a club to the ball. Might be expensive shot wise but would save a long walk back.
Click to expand...

Cheers did not know that.
 
MashieNiblick said:
Remember you aren't limited to how many 2 club length drops you take so long as you measure each one from the ball after it is dropped and add a shot each time. As you can move the ball along an arc which is not nearer the hole you may find that a couple of drops gets you to a point where you can drop in a place where you can get a club to the ball. Might be expensive shot wise but would save a long walk back.
Click to expand...

That's good to know. :thup:
 
Colin L said:
A drop zone? Not for an unplayable ball.
Click to expand...

The Committee may establish dropping zones on which balls may or must be dropped when the Committee considers that it is not feasible or practicable to proceed exactly in conformity with Rule 24-2b or Rule 24-3 (Immovable Obstruction), Rule 25-1b or 25-1c (Abnormal Ground Conditions), 25-3 (Wrong Putting Green), Rule 26-1 (Water Hazards and Lateral Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).
 
cliveb said:
Sorry - just to make sure I understand, are you saying that you have drop zones for balls that have gone OOB? That doesn't sound right to me.

Or perhaps these drop zones are for balls that are not quite OOB, just hard up against the fence?
Click to expand...

We had some for this reason at a previous club of mine
 
We used to have a hedge at the back of our 18th, beyond the hedge was the practice putting green and around that a path that was OOB. There was already a drop zone for relief from the putting green and we added an additional clause so that a ball declared unplayable due to the hedge could be taken to the drop zone under penalty. It effectively meant players didn't have to take their penalty drop on the putting green and then go to the drop zone anyway. This was an additional option, not a "must" but covered 99% of situations when this happened. It did cause a lot of confusion though and thankfully the hedge has now been removed.
 
rulefan said:
The Committee may establish dropping zones on which balls may or must be dropped when the Committee considers that it is not feasible or practicable to proceed exactly in conformity with Rule 24-2b or Rule 24-3 (Immovable Obstruction), Rule 25-1b or 25-1c (Abnormal Ground Conditions), 25-3 (Wrong Putting Green), Rule 26-1 (Water Hazards and Lateral Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).
Click to expand...
.
Oops. Thanks for the reminder
 
Only problem with a "permanent" drop zone is they get hammered to death if it's a popular spot to get into trouble.

Think stroke and distance is the best option in most cases.
 
cliveb said:
Sorry - just to make sure I understand, are you saying that you have drop zones for balls that have gone OOB? That doesn't sound right to me.

Or perhaps these drop zones are for balls that are not quite OOB, just hard up against the fence?
Click to expand...

Yes, the latter.

There is a notice on the fence spelling out the details.
 
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