USGA rules response SHOCKER!

darpar · 2021-05-30T23:00:52+00:00

So I've written/called the USGA regarding rules etc. on many occasions in the past. It usually takes anywhere from 1-2 weeks to get a response. I couldn't be...

sdandrea1

Hit the damn ball off the cart path using your partner's wedge. Problem solved.

Par4QC

darpar But you do NOT get free relief from an immovable obstruction (cart path in this case) when your
ball is clearly in an unplayable condition like the middle of a bush.

I'll have to disagree with that statement, and say the person making it is wrong. Only the player may deem a ball as unplayable. I've seen Pro golfers climb trees to hit balls, and just like this instance, they have hit balls from bushes, ponds, etc..

darpar

Par4QC
Like I said above, the guy who hit the ball in the bush said he couldn't play it from there.
I guess I should have taken a picture, his ball was in the bottom of a bush surrounded by
about four or five branches shooting upwards.

Here's the actual ruling for this condition: Rule 16.1a (3)
(3) No Relief When Clearly Unreasonable to Play Ball. There is no relief under Rule 16.1:
When playing the ball as it lies would be clearly unreasonable because of something other than an abnormal course condition (such as when a player is standing in temporary water or on an immovable obstruction but would be unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush),

Par4QC

darpar ahhh, big diff in the terms....unplayable and unreasonable!

Yet, the Pros are allowed to do it. 🤔

darpar

Par4QC ahhh, big diff in the terms....unplayable and unreasonable!

I guess you can look at it this way....
Unplayable would be a decision made by the player who's ball is in question
Unreasonable could/would be a decision/judgement made by a playing partner or the both of you.

We both knew there was no way he could hit/play his ball from the location where it was found....
Unless he had a chainsaw in his bag!

Luc_Van_Daele

darpar We both knew there was no way he could hit/play his ball from the location where it was found....
Unless he had a chainsaw in his bag!

Then Rule 16.1.a(3) applies without any doubt whatsoever. Golf is supposed to be fun so next time ask him to play 2 balls one taking refief and one with the ball as it lies and have a good laugh when he runs out of clubs to break.

sdandrea1

There would be no debate if he hadn't hit it into the stupid bush. 🙄 I wonder what the tour would be like if you HAD to play your ball if you can see it and reach it with a club. 🤣

Bravopilot

sdandrea1 Didn't Kevin Na do that once logging a 15?

azgreg

Bravopilot Didn't Kevin Na do that once logging a 15?

pellmell

darpar This response is for your personal information and may not be posted or disclosed by email or internet posting.

Why, is it because the rules of golf are ambiguous?

darpar

pellmell
You think!
I started to just cut and paste the entire reply I received and then noticed at the very bottom
of the email the disclaimer.
It's all public knowledge on the USGA w/s, the problem sometimes is trying to sift through all
the minutia to try to get the correct ruling pertaining to your question.
I guess they just want to protect themselves in case they screw up and give the wrong answer/ruling
to someone's particular situation.
Seems a little counter productive to me!

golf_bhoy

The R&A use the same disclaimer. I think it's just to keep rules and decisions "contained" in the official releases, and to allow them to answer specific questions directly. The wording you quote, for example, doesn't appear in the official releases, but it would be "cold" to answer your polite query by just directing you to the rules and decisions website.

fnufan

Unreasonable ultimately would be a decision made by a referee or the committee. In strokeplay, if a player is in doubt he should play two balls and get the committee to rule later. In matchplay the player and his opponent may agree or his opponent may lodge a claim.

sdandrea1

Don't count that........

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