Unplayable - Can you drop on a cart path?

[angler99]

We had a incident a week ago regarding a drop for an unplayable lie. Player hit tee ball right of the fairway a few yards from OB but still inbounds, but under a tree with thick, low branches.  Ball is on the right hand side of the cart path, but just barely left of OB. Player wanted to take an unplayable lie. Player didn't want to re-tee. Player could not take it back on a line from the ball and flag as it would still have been unplayable or OB. Player decides to drop within 2 club lengths. However, this puts him on the cart path. Can he drop on the cart path and then get relief from the drop if the ball stays on the cart path or lands where his feet would be touching the cart path?  If so, can he take his next drop from the cart path to the LEFT of the cart path?

 

I hope I'm describing that in a clear manner, but this brought a huge debate in our 4some that day.

[TerpFangolfer]

Yes, the way you describe it is correct. As long as the path is in the relief area. He drops on the path - most likely the ball rolls out of the relief area. Drop again, if same then place on path...then yes, as long as NPCR is too the left, he will get to the left. Very important to check NPCR or you could get where the path relief is right back near his UP! (But it doesn't sound like it in this case). Also have to be careful of a level path...the ball coming to rest on the path but closer to the right v. left side. Same NPCR potential issue.

[Newby]

11 minutes ago, angler99 said:

1) Can he drop on the cart path and then get relief from the drop if the ball stays on the cart path or lands where his feet would be touching the cart path? 

 

2) If so, can he take his next drop from the cart path to the LEFT of the cart path?

 

 

 

1) Yes

2) It depends on where the Nearest Point of Complete Relief is.

Edited August 29, 2023 by Newby

[Pepperturbo]

The way it's posed, it's a good question. 

 

Last recollection, when my ball ended up on the cart path, conditions usually were not favorable elsewhere, so I left it on the cart path and hit it.

Edited August 29, 2023 by Pepperturbo

[rzitup]

The answer to your question is, yes, you can drop on the cart path, while taking relief from something else.  And then take relief from the cart path.  

[davep043]

I believe it was Will Zalatoris who did exactly that this past season, and then chose to play from the path since his NPCR would have put him back in the shrubbery he took Unplayable Relief from in the first place.

[antip]

1 hour ago, davep043 said:

I believe it was Will Zalatoris who did exactly that this past season, and then chose to play from the path since his NPCR would have put him back in the shrubbery he took Unplayable Relief from in the first place.

As noted earlier, yes, permitted to drop anywhere when taking unplayable relief (within the lateral and back on line options), but the Zalatoris incident shows the potential problem - if it rolls back where you were (and is still in the relief area) you are one stroke more without progress. 

[davep043]

On 8/29/2023 at 7:06 PM, antip said:

As noted earlier, yes, permitted to drop anywhere when taking unplayable relief (within the lateral and back on line options), but the Zalatoris incident shows the potential problem - if it rolls back where you were (and is still in the relief area) you are one stroke more without progress. 

My memory, I think Zalatoris knew that he'd end up in a spot from which cart path relief wouldn't be advantageous.  He seemed to understand the rules, and looked at not just the Unplayable options, but considered the next step before he made the choice to drop on the path.  Playing his next shot from the path seemed preferable to re-playing the shot that put him in the bushes in the first place.  To me that's the thing to learn, to consider not just the first step, but what you might be able to do next.  

[rogolf]

13 minutes ago, davep043 said:

My memory, I think Zalatoris knew that he'd end up in a spot from which cart path relief wouldn't be advantageous.  He seemed to understand the rules, and looked at not just the Unplayable options, but considered the next step before he made the choice to drop on the path.  Playing his next shot from the path seemed preferable to re-playing the shot that put him in the bushes in the first place.  To me that's the thing to learn, to consider not just the first step, but what you might be able to do next.  

It is definitely something to learn and apply - think ahead. 

Reminds me of drivers on the road that don't look more than 25 yards in front of themselves, then make sudden, ignorant moves.