Can a drop zone be on a forward tee box?

[ChaosTheory]

We have a par 3 that desperately needs a drop zone.  There is not much level ground in the appropriate area except for a forward tee.  Would that be okay under the rules?

[WipeyFade]

I was always under the assumption that drop zones were established by a local rule or by the tournament organizers. 

[rogolf]

36 minutes ago, ChaosTheory said:

We have a par 3 that desperately needs a drop zone.  There is not much level ground in the appropriate area except for a forward tee.  Would that be okay under the rules?

Yes.  Put a drop zone on a forward tee box in competitions many times.  Just remember that the drop zone is in the general area, it is not a teeing area.

[ChaosTheory]

36 minutes ago, WipeyFade said:

I was always under the assumption that drop zones were established by a local rule or by the tournament organizers. 

That will be the case here, if it goes forward.

[rogolf]

1 hour ago, ChaosTheory said:

That will be the case here, if it goes forward.

For fun, I've periodically painted them as squares instead of circles! 

If constant painting becomes an issue, you could define them as the entire closely-mown area of xxx tee box.

[Shilgy]

1 hour ago, rogolf said:

For fun, I've periodically painted them as squares instead of circles! 

If constant painting becomes an issue, you could define them as the entire closely-mown area of xxx tee box.

Silly question that occurred to me….the drop zone could be a tee box of another hole?  

[sui generis]

2 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

Silly question that occurred to me….the drop zone could be a tee box of another hole?  

Sure. Here's the guidance for the Committee:

https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=cp&section=rule&rulenum=2&subrulenum=9

[rogolf]

28 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

Silly question that occurred to me….the drop zone could be a tee box of another hole?  

Yep, could be, that’s part of the general area. Just make it clearly known to the players.

[Shilgy]

30 minutes ago, sui generis said:

Sure. Here's the guidance for the Committee:

https://www.usga.org/rules/rules-and-clarifications/rules-and-clarifications.html#!ruletype=cp&section=rule&rulenum=2&subrulenum=9

 

3 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Yep, could be, that’s part of the general area. Just make it clearly known to the players.

Thank you both…figured as much.  Some small footprint courses I’ve played I could see that being a logical idea.

[hammergolf]

5 hours ago, ChaosTheory said:

We have a par 3 that desperately needs a drop zone.  There is not much level ground in the appropriate area except for a forward tee.  Would that be okay under the rules?

DZ’s are a local rule so absolutely OK. You’ll see a DZ next week at The Players on #17.

[Newby]

10 hours ago, hammergolf said:

DZ’s are a local rule so absolutely OK. You’ll see a DZ next week at The Players on #17.

On the tee?

[st1800e]

51 minutes ago, Newby said:

On the tee?

Yes it’s on a forward tee.  About 90 yards. 

[Hawkeye77]

15 hours ago, hammergolf said:

DZ’s are a local rule so absolutely OK. You’ll see a DZ next week at The Players on #17.

Yep, we’ve had one similar at our course since a hole re-design. 

[Newby]

6 hours ago, st1800e said:

Yes it’s on a forward tee.  About 90 yards. 

So not on the tee

[rogolf]

4 minutes ago, Newby said:

So not on the tee

Are you talking about a "tee box" or the "teeing area"?  Of course a drop zone wouldn't include the "teeing area".  But it could well be on another portion of the same "tee box".

[Newby]

1 hour ago, rogolf said:

Are you talking about a "tee box" or the "teeing area"?  Of course a drop zone wouldn't include the "teeing area".  But it could well be on another portion of the same "tee box".

That is what I was trying to elicit. Why couldn't a Teeing Area and a Dropping Zone be on the same patch of ground?

[rogolf]

15 minutes ago, Newby said:

That is what I was trying to elicit. Why couldn't a Teeing Area and a Dropping Zone be on the same patch of ground?

Did someone say otherwise?

[Newby]

25 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Did someone say otherwise?

No. It was just your reference to the General Area.

[Mr. Bean]

3 hours ago, Newby said:

That is what I was trying to elicit. Why couldn't a Teeing Area and a Dropping Zone be on the same patch of ground?

 

That would certainly be somewhat extraordinary but not forbidden in the Rules. As a referee I cannot really understand why that should be an option as different Rules apply on a Teeing Area and a Dropping Zone. Maybe you can tell me why?

[Newby]

1 hour ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

That would certainly be somewhat extraordinary but not forbidden in the Rules. As a referee I cannot really understand why that should be an option as different Rules apply on a Teeing Area and a Dropping Zone. Maybe you can tell me why?

I can't see a Rule that says you can't but if you can then I guess the rules appropriate to the type of area that the player intends it to be apply. So, Teeing Area for S&D and DZ if operating under the LR

Edited March 10 by Newby

[rogolf]

32 minutes ago, Newby said:

I can't see a Rule that says you can't but if you can then I guess the rules appropriate to the type of area that the player intends it to be apply. So, Teeing Area for S&D and DZ if operating under the LR

Read Rule 6.2a, there may not be a difference.  As Mr. Bean says, it would extraordinary, and imo, a very poor decision by the Committee.  Not sure it's worth exploring!

[Newby]

10 minutes ago, rogolf said:

Read Rule 6.2a, there may not be a difference. 

 Not sure it's worth exploring!

Good point

I agree

[Mr. Bean]

10 hours ago, Newby said:

I can't see a Rule that says you can't but if you can then I guess the rules appropriate to the type of area that the player intends it to be apply. So, Teeing Area for S&D and DZ if operating under the LR

 

I can only assume that it had momentarily slipped your mind that use of DZ under these circumstances would cost a player 1 Penalty Stroke as well as S&D does, so in essence a player would be invoking S&D in any case.

[Newby]

1 hour ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

I can only assume that it had momentarily slipped your mind that use of DZ under these circumstances would cost a player 1 Penalty Stroke as well as S&D does, so in essence a player would be invoking S&D in any case.

I was originally thinking of free relief from some sort of IO (eg a safety fence but not a boundary fence).

I agree Sawgrass would incur a penalty if the ball is in the water but the OP did not specify what the reason was for the DZ.

Edited March 11 by Newby

[MountainKing]

I've seen it numerous times. From a maintenance perspective I never really understood it, especially on those long holes over water where you know most hit in the water - but it does happen.

[Mr. Bean]

On 3/11/2024 at 10:59 AM, Newby said:

I was originally thinking of free relief from some sort of IO (eg a safety fence but not a boundary fence).

 

It is rather fun to ponder such a case. The player would have to state the marker (or referee) if s/he is using the DZ or S&D as dropping a onto the Teeing Area ball does not reveal that and there is a difference of one stroke between the procedures. I believe that alone tells us that combining a DZ and the Teeing Area is not a good idea.

 

 

[nitram]

On 3/9/2024 at 10:03 AM, ChaosTheory said:

We have a par 3 that desperately needs a drop zone.  There is not much level ground in the appropriate area except for a forward tee.  Would that be okay under the rules?

 

 

I don't see why not.

 

[Mr. Bean]

8 hours ago, nitram said:

 

 

I don't see why not.

 

 

Aren't we glad you do not disagree with the rest of us 😂

[nitram]

40 minutes ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

Aren't we glad you do not disagree with the rest of us 😂