Listed below are a series of rules interpretations from questions submitted to Jimmy.
Note: These are only Jimmy's professional interpretations of the rules questions asked and may be misunderstood or need further clarification.
Listed below are the various ruling that Jimmy has clarified. Click on the one that pertains to you or scroll down to view them all.
RULINGS
A player is in the greenside bunker on hole #15. The player hits their ball across the green and into the water. For this ruling we have to determine one key piece of information:
- Did the ball go into the water between the two stakes on the slope to the left of the green? If so the player has the following options (all with a penalty of one stroke):
- Option #1: Replay the last shot. When taking this option the player will drop in the bunker as close as possible to where the previous shot was played. Under the rules a player may re-create the original playing conditions by raking the bunker before dropping.
- Option #2: Drop the ball behind the hazard, as far back as desired, keeping the line between you and the hole. (In this case the drop would be taken on the far (west) side of the hazard and therefore would probably never be selected.)
- Option #3: Take two club lengths from the spot where the ball entered the hazard, no nearer to the hole. Under this option the player would likely have to move to the left or right somewhat before taking the club lengths in order to satisfy the “no nearer to the hole” requirement. This will likely result in the player taking a drop closer to the front or back portions of the bank rather than directly in the middle where his/her ball may have entered.
- Option #4: Go to the drop zone. This is the recommended option as it avoids confusion and keeps the player safely away from the steep bank. When using this option the player will locate the drop zone sign (which will be back out there this week) and then take two club lengths in ANY DIRECTION (this includes towards the hole, thus creating a circular area).
- If the ball did not go into the water between the two stakes on the slope to the left of the green, the player only has Options 1 - 3 above (all with a penalty of one stroke)
- The drop zone only comes into play on shots that enter the hazard from between the two stakes on the bank.
An animal runs out on the course and takes the golf ball (as in the case of a Javelina on our course) .
- The golfer may drop a ball as near as possible to the place where the ball was taken without a penalty stroke, provided the ball was inbounds.
A ball comes to rest beneath a tree that is not staked, but has a piece of wire stretching from one branch to another for stability. The player’s swing is inhibited by that wire. What are his/her options?
- Option #1: Play the ball as it lies
- Option #2: Take relief from the wire. Because the wire is deemed to be an immovable obstruction not integral to the golf course, the player is entitled to relief without penalty. The player will find his/her nearest point of relief where the wire no longer effects their swing. Once that point is found the player may take one additional club length in any direction (no nearer to the hole). A ball is then dropped between those two points.
- Key things to remember:
- The player does not get complete relief from the tree, only the wire. So the nearest point of relief may still result in a swing that is inhibited by the tree itself. To get complete relief from the tree the player must then take an unplayable lie penalty.
- Once relief is taken the player can choose to play a completely different shot, with a completely different club. You are not required to play the same shot that you would have from the original spot.
- This relief falls under rule 24-2
- Not all immovable obstructions grant free relief. The best examples would be an Out of Bounds stake or fence that serves as an out of bounds barrier. These are deemed to be an integral part of the golf course, and therefore no relief is given.
- Here are some examples where relief would be given without penalty (when interfering with stance, swing or lie):
- Sprinkler Heads
- Control Boxes
- Tree wires or stakes
- Drains/manhole covers
- Cart Paths
- 150 yard pole
- Yardage markers
- Cart Restriction Signs
- Etc.
- Here are examples where relief would not be given
- Stakes or barriers that define out of bounds
- Stakes or barriers that define hazards
- Anything that is located within a hazard (only when the players ball also lies within the hazard)
- Anything else deemed integral to the golf course (usually noted on the local rules)
- Here are some examples where relief would be given without penalty (when interfering with stance, swing or lie):
- Key things to remember: