Golf Rule Question

[malibu368]

Ok - first to admit that I generally play with folks who are not 100percent by the book but I had a scenario I wonder about. A buddy hits tee shot right and instead of landing right behind a tee the ball falls into a hole in the stump that was there following the course cutting it down. Since the course cut the tree down that caused the stump to be there is that a man made obstacle? Free drop?

 

Thanks!

[lesterclim]

No free drop unless the area was clearly marked as GUR.

[rogolf]

Cutting a tree down to a stump (a short tree) does not make the stump a "man-made" object. It's still natural. Absolutely no free drop unless marked as GUR by the Committee.

[Stuart_G]

Yes, no relief from the tree stump, but the OP mentioned something about the ball going in a 'hole'. It would be good to double check, and make sure it's a hole in the stump itself (wood), not a hole in the ground near the stump that might have been made while the tree was being cut down? If the latter, there could be the possibility of getting relief.

[SNIPERBBB]

Or if it was a groundhog hole , woodchuck, you could get free relief.

[Sawgrass]

Was the tree stump taken out of the ground? If you don't know the answer to that, you might be stumped:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25/7

 

Fallen Tree in Process of Being Removed

 

Q.A greenkeeper is in the process of sawing up a fallen tree and stacking the wood. What is the status of such a tree?

 

A.The tree in its entirety is ground under repair as it constitutes "material piled for removal" - see Definition of "Ground Under Repair."

 

25/8

 

Tree Stump

 

Q.Do the Rules provide relief without penalty from a tree stump?

 

A.No, not unless it has been marked as ground under repair or it is in the process of being unearthed or cut up for removal, in which case it is "material piled for removal" and thus automatically ground under repair - see Definition of "Ground Under Repair."

 

A tree stump which the Committee intends to remove, but which is not in the process of being removed, is not automatically ground under repair.

<a name="25/9" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">

25/9

 

Fallen Tree Attached to Stump

 

 

Q.A tree has fallen onto a fairway due to a windstorm and is still attached to the stump. Does it constitute ground under repair?

 

A.No. However, a player could request relief from the Committee and the Committee would be justified in declaring the area covered by the tree to be ground under repair.

[BlackDiamondPar5]

Was the tree stump taken out of the ground? If you don't know the answer to that, you might be stumped:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25/7

 

Fallen Tree in Process of Being Removed

 

Q.A greenkeeper is in the process of sawing up a fallen tree and stacking the wood. What is the status of such a tree?

 

A.The tree in its entirety is ground under repair as it constitutes "material piled for removal" - see Definition of "Ground Under Repair."

 

25/8

 

Tree Stump

 

Q.Do the Rules provide relief without penalty from a tree stump?

 

A.No, not unless it has been marked as ground under repair or it is in the process of being unearthed or cut up for removal, in which case it is "material piled for removal" and thus automatically ground under repair - see Definition of "Ground Under Repair."

 

A tree stump which the Committee intends to remove, but which is not in the process of being removed, is not automatically ground under repair.

<a name="25/9" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">

25/9

 

Fallen Tree Attached to Stump

 

 

Q.A tree has fallen onto a fairway due to a windstorm and is still attached to the stump. Does it constitute ground under repair?

 

A.No. However, a player could request relief from the Committee and the Committee would be justified in declaring the area covered by the tree to be ground under repair.

 

Cutting a tree down to a stump (a short tree) does not make the stump a "man-made" object. It's still natural. Absolutely no free drop unless marked as GUR by the Committee.

 

Hypothetically speaking, could the committee say "that was supposed to be marked as gur" and grant relief if queried?

 

Thinking yes based on what Sawgrass wrote.

[Stuart_G]

Hypothetically speaking, could the committee say "that was supposed to be marked as gur" and grant relief if queried?

 

Thinking yes based on what Sawgrass wrote.

 

If any additional work is planned for the stump or around it, it's possible. If not and it's in its 'final' state and all work complete, it's unlikely.

[Sawgrass]

Was the tree stump taken out of the ground? If you don't know the answer to that, you might be stumped:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

25/7

 

Fallen Tree in Process of Being Removed

 

Q.A greenkeeper is in the process of sawing up a fallen tree and stacking the wood. What is the status of such a tree?

 

A.The tree in its entirety is ground under repair as it constitutes "material piled for removal" - see Definition of "Ground Under Repair."

 

25/8

 

Tree Stump

 

Q.Do the Rules provide relief without penalty from a tree stump?

 

A.No, not unless it has been marked as ground under repair or it is in the process of being unearthed or cut up for removal, in which case it is "material piled for removal" and thus automatically ground under repair - see Definition of "Ground Under Repair."

 

A tree stump which the Committee intends to remove, but which is not in the process of being removed, is not automatically ground under repair.

<a name="25/9" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">

25/9

 

Fallen Tree Attached to Stump

 

 

Q.A tree has fallen onto a fairway due to a windstorm and is still attached to the stump. Does it constitute ground under repair?

 

A.No. However, a player could request relief from the Committee and the Committee would be justified in declaring the area covered by the tree to be ground under repair.

 

Cutting a tree down to a stump (a short tree) does not make the stump a "man-made" object. It's still natural. Absolutely no free drop unless marked as GUR by the Committee.

 

Hypothetically speaking, could the committee say "that was supposed to be marked as gur" and grant relief if queried?

 

Thinking yes based on what Sawgrass wrote.

 

The Commitee may legally mark any part of the course it wishes as GUR (though there's no free relief from GUR that's in a water hazard).

[Augster]

If you were playing stroke play, and didn't have a committee member there and available, you could play two balls under 3-3 and ask for a ruling after the round.

 

Of course, there are very strict rules to invoking 3-3, and if not followed to the letter, could result in DQ.