Linda,
If the only way you can hit a ball away from an out of
bounds marker (fence) is backwards (with a reverse stroke), which would have
you standing in a fire ant bed, and you take relief from the ant bed, can you now
hit the ball forward? Originally there was no way to hit the ball facing
forward and the ants were not in play.
Love your emails.
Lulu from Texas
Dear Lulu,
While hitting a ball with a reverse shot (turning around and
hitting lefty, for example, if you’re a righty) is unusual, it is not an
unreasonable stroke for a right-handed player whose ball lies near a fence on
the left side of the hole. The player is entitled to free relief from the
dangerous fire ants that interfere with her stance for a left-handed stroke.
After she takes her relief (nearest point of relief plus one club-length, no
closer to the hole), she may hit the ball any way she chooses. If she is now
able to turn around and hit right-handed, that is her good fortune [Decision
24-2b/17].
However, there must be no doubt that the ants are responsible
for her inability to hit the shot. If the ball is so close to the fence that
the fence would interfere with a left-handed shot, the player is not entitled
to relief.
Linda
Copyright © 2013 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
