Hi Linda,
I have searched your blog and I could not find this
scenario.
My playing partner found his ball in the rough. When he
tried to hit his ball, he was standing on a newly aerated area with a tractor
mark which he declared as GUR. There is no blue flag, no line or rope around
the area. He took a relief by dropping outside of the area. Is he correct in
declaring that as a GUR?
2nd question: What if his ball is outside of the marked GUR
and when he tries to hit his next shot he is standing in the GUR, does he get
relief?
Thanks again Linda,
Lou from Daly City, California
Dear Lou,
The responsibility to mark Ground Under Repair (GUR) lies
with the Committee or course, not with the player. If the player believes the
spot where his ball lies should be marked as GUR, he may play two balls under
Rule 3-3. Upon review, if the Committee decides that the spot was GUR, he will
count his score with the ball he dropped away from the GUR; if not, the other
ball will count. If he plays only one ball, takes relief with that ball, and
the Committee decides that the area was not
GUR, he will incur a two-stroke penalty for moving his ball in play and not
replacing it before hitting it. If he fails to include the penalty in his score
when he submits his scorecard, he will be disqualified.
Many players seem to be confused about their rights
regarding GUR. Unless the Committee declares that relief from GUR is mandatory,
players may hit a ball lying in GUR, and they may stand in GUR to hit a ball
lying outside the GUR. They may instead choose to take free relief (stance plus
one club-length, no closer to the hole). Free relief is available if the ball
is in the GUR, your stance is in the GUR, or the GUR interferes with the area
of your intended swing [Rule 25-1a].
Linda
Copyright © 2015 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
