Waterlogged and very muddy area - what to do (not a competition)

I played nine holes a few days ago. On one hole I go a flier from 110 yards out - I bounced on the green and got a big hop into a very muddy and waterlogged area.

If I played the ball as it lay I would have been covered in mud - my clothing and most likely face too. Very soft ground, very wet, very muddy. I want a proper score - but to be playing as it lies in this scenario is in my opinion stupid unless it's a competition. It's one of those situations whatever you do you have lost - move it and it's not a "real" score - play and get covered in mud. As I played 9 holes it wouldn't have been an official score regardless, but I am thinking this situation through for future reference.

Is there anything in the rules that allows me to drop here for free? Or would the course have to specifically mark the area as ground under repair? Had I played 18 I wouldn't have counted the round as I gave myself a free drop. It just seems unfair for my round to effectively get voided in that situation due to the course not marking the ground as unplayable. Thoughts?

1) I don't think a course should mark a soggy area in the rough for a free drop.

2) If you want to keep a legit score, two choices come to mind -- a stroke and distance penalty, or an unplayable ball penalty, either of which can get you back to where you were (or perhaps with the unplayable, on to dryer ground).

3) there is no free drop for temporary water unless you can see the accumulated water before or after taking your stance.

4) you should be posting 9-hole scores. They are "official."

You can take an unplayable at any time for whatever reason. Be sure to count the stroke. If you were playing alone you shouldn't post the round.

Nobody said golf is fair. Take an unplayable or just move your ball and play for fun. Personally, I play for fun most of the time these days and my golfing life is better for it.

> @KyGolf said:

> You can take an unplayable at any time for whatever reason. Be sure to count the stroke. If you were playing alone you shouldn't post the round.

You can’t take an unplayable in a penalty area.

> @HonestPlayer said:

> I played nine holes a few days ago. On one hole I go a flier from 110 yards out - I bounced on the green and got a big hop into a very muddy and **waterlogged** area.

>

> If I played the ball as it lay I would have been covered in mud - my clothing and most likely face too. Very soft ground, **very wet,** very muddy.

> Is there anything in the rules that allows me to drop here for free?

Was it not wet enough to qualify as Temporary Water

_Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:

Is not in a penalty area, and

Can be seen before or after the player takes a stance (without pressing down excessively with his or her feet).

It is not enough for the ground to be merely wet, muddy or soft or for the water to be momentarily visible as the player steps on the ground; an accumulation of water must remain present either before or after the stance is taken._

> @HonestPlayer said:

> I played nine holes a few days ago. On one hole I go a flier from 110 yards out - I bounced on the green and got a big hop into a very muddy and waterlogged area.

>

> If I played the ball as it lay I would have been covered in mud - my clothing and most likely face too. Very soft ground, very wet, very muddy. I want a proper score - but to be playing as it lies in this scenario is in my opinion stupid unless it's a competition. It's one of those situations whatever you do you have lost - move it and it's not a "real" score - play and get covered in mud. As I played 9 holes it wouldn't have been an official score regardless, but I am thinking this situation through for future reference.

>

> Is there anything in the rules that allows me to drop here for free? Or would the course have to specifically mark the area as ground under repair? Had I played 18 I wouldn't have counted the round as I gave myself a free drop. It just seems unfair for my round to effectively get voided in that situation due to the course not marking the ground as unplayable. Thoughts?

>

>

Good advice so far but also remember you don't have to even finish a hole to post a 'real' score.

_4-1. Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes

_A player who starts, but does not complete a hole. The most likely score may not exceed the player's Equitable Stroke Control limit, defined in Section 4-3. This most likely score should be preceded by an "X." (See Decision 4-1/1.)

There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation._

or

4-2. Holes Not Played or Not Played Under The Rules of Golf

If a player does not play a hole or plays it other than under the Rules of Golf (except for preferred lies), the score recorded for that hole for handicap purposes must be par plus any handicap strokes the player is entitled to receive on that hole. This hole score, when recorded, should be preceded by an "X."

Example: A player with a Course Handicap of 10 receives a handicap stroke on the first 10 allocated handicap-stroke holes. If the player does not play the sixth allocated handicap-stroke hole, which is a par 4, because of construction on the green, the player must record a score of par plus one for handicap purposes, or X-5. (See Decision 4-2/1 and Section 5-2b.)_

> @Sawgrass said:

> > @KyGolf said:

> > You can take an unplayable at any time for whatever reason. Be sure to count the stroke. If you were playing alone you shouldn't post the round.

>

> You can’t take an unplayable in a penalty area.

Of course you are correct. But you can take penalty relief which is similar.

> @KyGolf said:

> > @Sawgrass said:

> > > @KyGolf said:

> > > You can take an unplayable at any time for whatever reason. Be sure to count the stroke. If you were playing alone you shouldn't post the round.

> >

> > You can’t take an unplayable in a penalty area.

>

> Of course you are correct. But you can take penalty relief which is similar.

As you say, it's as easy as ABC, for red penalty areas and unplayables:

A=again

B=back-on-the-line

C=2 club-lengths

> @Sawgrass said:

> 1) I don't think a course should mark a soggy area in the rough for a free drop.

Broad agreement from me here, but there can be exceptions (as I'm sure Saw will agree with). Even though rough may be involved ("rough" may be very diverse), a Committee may have good reason to mark a soggy area that would not qualify for relief under the temporary water provisions, such as to keep the area from getting damaged by players, carts etc.

First, if it was that wet you likely get free relief as per Temporary Water. If the area doesn’t qualify, then put on your rain gear and hit it.

Also, if you’re playing alone, you can’t post a score. Period. I am lost on all the “official score” stuff. For posting purposes, if you are playing with someone else as that is the only legal way to post, you post a 9 hole score if 7/9 are played by the ROG and an 18 hole score if 13/18 are played. There are a lot more rules involved in what to post that can be found in the handicap manual. But again, they all only apply if you aren’t playing by yourself.

Your round doesn’t “effectively get voided” because you took a drop you weren’t entitled to. When you play a hole outside the ROG, you post par plus handicap strokes for that hole. It’s all in the manual.

> @"sui generis" said:

> > @KyGolf said:

> > > @Sawgrass said:

> > > > @KyGolf said:

> > > > You can take an unplayable at any time for whatever reason. Be sure to count the stroke. If you were playing alone you shouldn't post the round.

> > >

> > > You can’t take an unplayable in a penalty area.

> >

> > Of course you are correct. But you can take penalty relief which is similar.

>

> As you say, it's as easy as ABC, for red penalty areas and unplayables:

> A=again

> B=back-on-the-line

> C=2 club-lengths

The only but significant difference being different reference point for PA and unplayable in B and C.

> @Newby said:

> > @HonestPlayer said:

> > I played nine holes a few days ago. On one hole I go a flier from 110 yards out - I bounced on the green and got a big hop into a very muddy and **waterlogged** area.

> >

> > If I played the ball as it lay I would have been covered in mud - my clothing and most likely face too. Very soft ground, **very wet,** very muddy.

>

> > Is there anything in the rules that allows me to drop here for free?

>

> Was it not wet enough to qualify as Temporary Water

> _Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:

> Is not in a penalty area, and

> Can be seen before or after the player takes a stance (without pressing down excessively with his or her feet).

> It is not enough for the ground to be merely wet, muddy or soft or for the water to be momentarily visible as the player steps on the ground; an accumulation of water must remain present either before or after the stance is taken._

Yes. Small amount of lying water I had to stand in to be honest most of the area had visible lying water. In which case I'll read up on the rule for temporary water - thanks

> @Augster said:

> First, if it was that wet you likely get free relief as per Temporary Water. If the area doesn’t qualify, then put on your rain gear and hit it.

>

> Also, if you’re playing alone, you can’t post a score. Period. I am lost on all the “official score” stuff. For posting purposes, if you are playing with someone else as that is the only legal way to post, you post a 9 hole score if 7/9 are played by the ROG and an 18 hole score if 13/18 are played. There are a lot more rules involved in what to post that can be found in the handicap manual. But again, they all only apply if you aren’t playing by yourself.

>

> Your round doesn’t “effectively get voided” because you took a drop you weren’t entitled to. When you play a hole outside the ROG, you post par plus handicap strokes for that hole. It’s all in the manual.

>

An official score to me is playing 18 holes to the rules and putting everything out - that's golf. Neither of my playing partners have a handicap which is a big problem at my course - I can’t get an official handicap unless I’m being marked by someone that has one. As a result I’m tracking my own score and want to do it right.

Anyhow - Looks like I get free relief under temporary water rule. It did seem a nonsense to play it as it lay in that scenario - looking at the rule book I did the right thing.

Are you in the USA? If so, that isn’t true either. You don’t need anyone to attest your score. Currently all you have to do is be playing with anyone else and you are required to post.

In the 2020 WHS I’m guessing this is going to change to some form of attestation. But currently, all you have to do is not be playing as a single to be required to post your score.

> @Augster said:

> Are you in the USA? If so, that isn’t true either. You don’t need anyone to attest your score. Currently all you have to do is be playing with anyone else and you are required to post.

>

> In the 2020 WHS I’m guessing this is going to change to some form of attestation. But currently, all you have to do is not be playing as a single to be required to post your score.

I'm not in USA currently. My club told me I need to go around with someone that has an official handicap to get one myself.

> @HonestPlayer said:

> > @Augster said:

> > Are you in the USA? If so, that isn’t true either. You don’t need anyone to attest your score. Currently all you have to do is be playing with anyone else and you are required to post.

> >

> > In the 2020 WHS I’m guessing this is going to change to some form of attestation. But currently, all you have to do is not be playing as a single to be required to post your score.

>

> I'm not in USA currently. My club told me I need to go around with someone that has an official handicap to get one myself.

That is how it is done in the EGA handicap system.

> @HonestPlayer said:

> I'm not in USA currently. My club told me I need to go around with someone that has an official handicap to get one myself.

In GB & Ireland the Committee specify who is acceptable to act as a marker. eg club member, player with a handicap, player who has held a cap for x years or below y.