Do you realize how many situations allow free relief?

[Roadking2003]

We should be more aware of this huge list (and I'm sure there are others). Some of these are in local rules.

 

This list tramples all over the "Play it as it lies" principle. Maybe the USGA will change it to the "Play it as it lies except for a huge list of exceptions" principle.

 

1. Embedded ball Free relief

2. Ball on cart path Free relief

3. Ball on sprinkler head Free relief

4. Ball in casual water Free relief

5. Pitch mark on green Free relief

6. Shoe mark on green Free relief

7. Mud on ball on green Free relief

8. Ball by penalty area stake Free relief

9. Sprinkler head in your line within 2 clubs of the green and your ball Free relief

10. Ball on wrong putting green Free relief

11. Ball on tree roots in fairway Free relief

12. Your ball is struck and moved by another ball Free relief

13. A stick is laying in front of your ball Free relief

14. Ball is in a No Play Zone Free relief

15. Your swing is restricted by a fence (other than OB) Free relief

16. Ball in a gopher hole Free relief

17. Ball near an ant pile Free relief

18. Ball in ground under repair Free relief

19. Sand in your line on the green Free relief

20. Ball in your line on the green Free relief

21. Ball is damaged Free relief

22. Ball lost in movable obstruction Free relief

23. Ball lost in abnormal course condition Free relief

24. Ball resting in a punched aeration hole Free relief

25. Ball resting on a seam of new sod Free relief

26. Ball resting on a crack in the ground Free relief

27. Ball resting on an area damaged by armadillos Free relief

28. Ball on animal turd Free relief

29. Ball in a deer footprint Free relief

30. Mushrooms growing on your line on the green Free relief

31. Ball is behind edging grooves near the green Free relief

32. Ball is on painted lines defining the green Free relief

33. Ball is on a grass covered cable trench Free relief

34. An outhouse is between you and the green Free relief

35. Ball in a divot on the green Free relief

 

[Mr. Bean]

Many of those are incorrect and no free relief is granted according to the Rules of Golf but what can we expect from a RoadKing..?

[Roadking2003]

> @"Mr. Bean" said:

> Many of those are incorrect and no free relief is granted according to the Rules of Golf but what can we expect from a RoadKing..?

 

But you didn't list any that are incorrect so I assume you can't. But what can we expect from a Mr Bean?

[sui generis]

You're the king of something . . . on that we all can agree.

[Roadking2003]

> @"sui generis" said:

> You're the king of something . . . on that we all can agree.

 

Thank you. And your ability to insult people has no equal. On that, we all can agree.

 

And since you didn't refute anything on my list, I assume you agree with the list.

[SNIPERBBB]

Everything on the green is not free relief except for GUR on the green. Anytime your required to move the ball is not relief (wrong green, no play zones, ball at rest moved, etc) can come off.

[Roadking2003]

> @SNIPERBBB said:

> Everything on the green is not free relief except for GUR on the green. Anytime your required to move the ball is not relief (wrong green, no play zones, ball at rest moved, etc) can come off.

 

If I am allowed or required to fix something or to move my ball without penalty, it's free relief. Free, meaning no penalty to take the needed or required action.

[SNIPERBBB]

Moving loose impediments aren't relief either.

[DavePelz4]

Is the free relief from a tree root in a fairway an accurate one? Haven't heard that one before.

[Roadking2003]

> @SNIPERBBB said:

> Moving loose impediments aren't relief either.

 

Oh, so you can't move loose impediments?

[Roadking2003]

> @DavePelz4 said:

> Is the free relief from a tree root in a fairway an accurate one? Haven't heard that one before.

 

Local Rule F-9

[SNIPERBBB]

> @Roadking2003 said:

> > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > Moving loose impediments aren't relief either.

>

> Oh, so you can't move loose impediments?

 

Relief is moving of the ball. Not other objects.

[DavePelz4]

> @Roadking2003 said:

> > @DavePelz4 said:

> > Is the free relief from a tree root in a fairway an accurate one? Haven't heard that one before.

>

> Local Rule F-9

 

Gotcha...we don't have that here. Are most of those local rules to a specific course?

[SNIPERBBB]

> @Roadking2003 said:

> > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > Everything on the green is not free relief except for GUR on the green. Anytime your required to move the ball is not relief (wrong green, no play zones, ball at rest moved, etc) can come off.

>

> If I am allowed or required to fix something or to move my ball without penalty, it's free relief. Free, meaning no penalty to take the needed or required action.

 

Free relief means that you have the option to move your ball to another spot. In the instances such as wrong green, ball at rest moved, no play zones, if you play from those you'll get a penalty or thrown off the course and face a lawsuit.

[Roadking2003]

> @SNIPERBBB said:

> > @Roadking2003 said:

> > > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > > Moving loose impediments aren't relief either.

> >

> > Oh, so you can't move loose impediments?

>

> Relief is moving of the ball. Not other objects.

 

That's your definition. Relief is getting relief from a situation that impairs your ability to play. That includes moving a stick to get relief FROM THE STICK.

[HitEmTrue]

>@DavePelz4 said: Is the free relief from a tree root in a fairway an accurate one? Haven't heard that one before.

I didn't know about local rules F7 through F15, either. So at least I learned something from this thread.

 

 

[Roadking2003]

> @DavePelz4 said:

> > @Roadking2003 said:

> > > @DavePelz4 said:

> > > Is the free relief from a tree root in a fairway an accurate one? Haven't heard that one before.

> >

> > Local Rule F-9

>

> Gotcha...we don't have that here. Are most of those local rules to a specific course?

 

I think most courses have adopted some local rules. Most of the time they are posted on the scorecard or in the pro shop.

[SNIPERBBB]

Moving objects come more under the semantics heading of Allowed Actions. Which would bring a bit more consistency in rule book phraseology. Especially when it comes to this discussion as I could list millions of possible detritus to fall on a course that you'd be able to move.

[Sawgrass]

With all the opportunities Roadking has identified for free relief, you'd think he'd stop begging for more.

[golfortennis]

> @Sawgrass said:

> With all the opportunities Roadking has identified for free relief, you'd think he'd stop begging for more.

 

Maybe he just really needs to relieve himself....

[LeoLeo99]

> @Sawgrass said:

> With all the opportunities Roadking has identified for free relief, you'd think he'd stop begging for more.

 

It's a slippery slope once they allowed LCR on the greens.

[w6racing]

Sprinkler head in your line within 2 clubs of the green and your ball Free relief

 

is this true?

 

 

nevermind, i guess these are posters local rules.

[SNIPERBBB]

> @w6racing said:

> Sprinkler head in your line within 2 clubs of the green and your ball Free relief

>

> is this true?

 

Local Rule F-5

[Colin L]

I was reminded today of the most absurd notion in this absurdly elongated thread when motoring around our beautiful course today checking it out before our Championships Week begins this evening. What would this lovely green place look like if every divot hole were surrounded by white paint? What dreaded turf disease would it presage? It was such a monstrously ridiculous idea that I nearly laughed out loud. Well, what came out was more of a snort of derision than a laugh, to be honest.

 

 

[larrybud]

> @Roadking2003 said:

> > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > > @Roadking2003 said:

> > > > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > > > Moving loose impediments aren't relief either.

> > >

> > > Oh, so you can't move loose impediments?

> >

> > Relief is moving of the ball. Not other objects.

>

> That's your definition. Relief is getting relief from a situation that impairs your ability to play. That includes moving a stick to get relief FROM THE STICK.

No, that's the USGA definition per their glossary.

Relief Area

The area where you must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. Each relief Rule requires you to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors....

 

 

[Roadking2003]

> @w6racing said:

> Sprinkler head in your line within 2 clubs of the green and your ball Free relief

>

> is this true?

>

>

> nevermind, i guess these are posters local rules.

 

No, USGA Local Rules. Read about them;

 

https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/rules/rules-2019/committee-procedures/rule-8.html

[Roadking2003]

> @larrybud said:

> > @Roadking2003 said:

> > > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > > > @Roadking2003 said:

> > > > > @SNIPERBBB said:

> > > > > Moving loose impediments aren't relief either.

> > > >

> > > > Oh, so you can't move loose impediments?

> > >

> > > Relief is moving of the ball. Not other objects.

> >

> > That's your definition. Relief is getting relief from a situation that impairs your ability to play. That includes moving a stick to get relief FROM THE STICK.

> No, that's the USGA definition per their glossary.

> Relief Area

> The area where you must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. Each relief Rule requires you to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors....

>

>

 

I didn't try to define "relief area". I have no issues with the definition of "relief area". I'm just listing circumstances when you get relief from something which adversely impacts your swing.

 

If I can remove a stick from my swing path, that is quite clearly relief from having to hit the stick. If I can repair a pitch mark, that is quite clearly relief from having to putt over a pitch mark.

[Shilgy]

RK- as you have so well noted a vast majority of those are "allowable" Local Rules. To tell folks you get relief from them is incorrect and disingenuous at best.

[Newby]

_14. Ball is in a No Play Zone Free relief_

Unless the NPZ is in a Penalty Area

Of course many of the others are simply the same relief rule ie Abnormal Course Condition.

[KyGolf]

Moving a loose impediment or a movable obstruction is not free relief, no matter how you try to twist it to back up your weak attempts to argue free relief from divot holes. We get it, you don't like the rules, play however you like. And go away.