Two separate rules?

orvisorvis · February 6, 2006

Unplayable lie, relief from a stone wall

I drive my ball up next to a stone wall. I declare an unplayable lie. Tree branches are in the way if I drop perpendicular to the wall so I go backwards for the best shot around branches and drop. Next I take a rescue and notice that the same stone wall now interfers with my backswing. Do I get relief from the man made obstruction?

lrgdawg · February 6, 2006

I drive my ball up next to a stone wall. I declare an unplayable lie. Tree branches are in the way if I drop perpendicular to the wall so I go backwards for the best shot around branches and drop. Next I take a rescue and notice that the same stone wall now interfers with my backswing. Do I get relief from the man made obstruction?

Is the wall in question a course boundary wall? If so, no free relief. If you are taking an unplayable, your options are: a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played; b. drop a ball BEHIND the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit as to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or c. drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole. Rule 28

:drinks:

gslabbert · February 7, 2006

If you declare your ball unplayable and take a drop and the ball rolls back into the unplayable lie (same spot or different spot does not matter) you have to play it as it lies or take a 2nd unplayable lie and drop it again. Simple as that. If the ball rolls more than 2 club lengths from where it 1struck the ground then you get a free drop or if it rolls forward. These are the only 2 instances that I can think of quickly that will allow you a free drop from the 2nd unplayable.

orvisorvis · February 7, 2006

The wall in question was a boundary wall. I was not aware I had any other options other than the two club rule. Thanks for the answers.

peter3 · March 23, 2006

I disagree that if the ball rolls back and is unplayable that another stroke is assessed. When taking relief you must take full relief. If the balls rolls closer to the hole or back into an unplayable lie (usually after 2 drops) then the ball can be placed.

What say?

According to decision 28/3: "Ball Dropped Under Unplayable Ball Rule Comes to Rest in Original Position or Another Position at Which Ball Is Unplayable":

Q. A player deemed his ball unplayable and, under Rule 28c, dropped his ball within two club-lengths of the spot where it lay. The ball came to rest in the original position or another position at which the ball was unplayable. What is the ruling?

A. The ball was in play when it was dropped — Rule 20-4. Thus, if the ball came to rest in the original position, the player must again invoke the unplayable ball Rule, incurring an additional penalty stroke, unless he decides to play the ball as it lies. The same applies if the ball came to rest in another position at which it was unplayable, assuming that the ball did not roll into a position covered by Rule 20-2c, in which case re-dropping without penalty would be required.