Dear Linda,
My colleague drove a ball off the fairway and landed in a
pile of grass cuttings that was cut by green staff. At the time it was not
considered by his playing partners that the pile of grass was due to be
collected. A penalty of one stroke was added after taking relief, nearest point
within two club lengths.
Question: Was this correct, or was he able to take relief by
declaring it was "Ground Under Repair" and drop at the nearest point
without penalty (Greens Keeping Workings)?
The other option I understand is "Loose
Impediment" – brush away without moving the ball.
Many thanks,
Lou from Thailand
Dear Lou,
Grass cuttings are considered ground under repair only if
they have been piled for removal [Decision 25/11]. As a rule of thumb, the
greenkeeper is likely to remove piles of grass lying in the fairway; he is
unlikely to remove piles dumped in the rough.
Your narrative suggests that these clippings were left on
the course to rot. As such, they are not ground under repair. They are,
however, loose impediments, and you are free to brush them away, taking care
not to move the ball.
Linda
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