Dear Linda,
At my local club, the yardage markers used to be white
stakes with the tops painted for 100, 150, 200 yards etc., which could easily
be removed under Rule 24-1 Movable Obstruction if they caused interference. The
club has now planted casuarina trees next to the stakes, which are clearly
intended to be yardage markers. Consequently, there are those players in the
club that believe, in view of the purpose of the trees, they should be entitled
to free relief! I don't believe this to be correct but would be interested in
your answer to this question.
Regards,
Lou from Bermuda
Dear Lou,
Trees are not obstructions. Obstructions are defined as
anything artificial. “Artificial” means “man-made.” Players are entitled to
free relief from man-made obstructions
under Rule 24.
Unless the trees are made of plastic or some other man-made
material, they are natural objects typically found on golf courses. There is no free relief from trees,
whether they be tall, short, stumps, or planted to serve as distance markers.
If a tree interferes with a player’s shot, he has the option to declare his
ball unplayable. The relief options for an unplayable ball all include a
one-stroke penalty [Rule 28].
Linda
Copyright © 2014 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
