Ball rolls into tunnel - where to drop?

[Newby]

[quote name='Mr. Bean' timestamp='1397677648' post='9105989']
[quote name='Newby' timestamp='1397497452' post='9088779']
The reference point for determining the npr is on the ground immediately above the ball.
[/quote]

Maybe in this case but not in general. See last chapter of [url="http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Rules-of-Golf/Decision-24/#d24-2b-11"]http://www.usga.org/...n-24/#d24-2b-11[/url]
[/quote]

A good point.

[HitEmTrue]

This sounds like a situation for a local rule and a drop zone for relief. Would that be appropriate?

[BlackDiamondPar5]

[quote name='Sawgrass' timestamp='1397673951' post='9105557']
[quote name='Andy L' timestamp='1397666424' post='9104721']
Thanks--- You've answered my original question-- the ball rolled far enough into the tunnel such that it crossed the OB plane as defined by the stakes above the tunnel. So now that I know that, the ball would be replayed back at original location of the previous shot. Thanks for the helpful answers!

What I'm not exactly clear on is if the ball had [b][u]not[/u][/b] rolled far enough into the tunnel to be OB. If I could figure out how to post a picture, you’d see the area around the tunnel where one might determine as the Nearest Point of Relief is not really accessible given the tiered rock wall and landscaping. Even if you can climb to the top side of the tunnel what do you do? The drop from the top side would end up on the rocks or landscaping-- which really can't be played. Even dropping left or right of the green not nearer the pin doesn't leave you much either as you’d either be on the cart path or in the landscaping or rock wall. If I understand the rule correctly the NPR need not be playable, right? So what's a person to do? Keep dropping and hoping the ball will roll to a location where it can be played? Can the golfer go back to the location of the original shot and replay as stroke and distance just like they would for an OB shot? If the NPR is on the front side of green in the fairway can it be played from there?

I’d love to post the picture, but can’t figure out how. When I paste the image into the browser window I get an error saying message is too short.

As an FYI we told our friend to just take it out of the tunnel, drop it on some grass that was just off the cart path at the tunnel entrance, take a stroke and play it from there. No money was on the line, we were just out enjoying golf with friends in the sun and warmth, but it left us all wondering what the proper way is to handle?
[/quote]


So, if you're in the tunnel but this position is technically in bounds, I'd leave the ball where it is, and next look at the area on top of the tunnel to see if I'd really want to take a shot from there. Once I pick up my ball, I can no longer drop it or place it back where it is. If I like my chances up above, off I go. If I don't like my chances up above at all (thick bushes let's say) I'd have to decide whether I wanted to hit my ball out of the tunnel, even if I'm on a paved path, or go back to the spot from where I had hit into the tunnel. Often, for me, hitting off a cart path or even putting off it is better than going way back.

The most important thing in all of the above analysis is to make sure you still blame yourself for hitting into the tunnel in the first place. If you start blaming the rules for not giving you a decent drop area -- you lose your soul. (That's real bad.)
[/quote]

Thanks Sawgrass--- Based on what I've learned from all the helpful responses, I think the best option in this particular scenario facing my friend would have been to go back to the location of the previous shot even if he'd not have been OB. But it's good to know of other options that you've provided. Certainly putting out of the tunnel may be a great option in some situations, just not in this one.

Also as HitEm True asked if whether there were any local rules about the tunnel, there are not. The only rule I could find which may help was "ball in landscaped area's, play as it lies." So based on that we may be able to go above the tunnel and drop in the landscaping--- although to me thats like wearing muddy shoes on someones carpet even if they say "its okay"

Thanks again to you and the others that provided input. I'll share this info with my buddies so we all can learn, because we all wondered what the proper way is to handle.