Tuesday, February 2, 2016

Ask Linda #1246-Relief from out-of-bounds obstruction

Linda,
Our course's 9th hole has OB stakes 20 yards left of the green and one foot away from a stone wall that borders a homeowner's property. Question: if my ball is inbounds but I can't swing due to the wall, what are my options?
Lou from North Carolina

Dear Lou,

Your only option is to declare the ball unplayable and choose one of the relief options in Rule 28, all of which include a one-stroke penalty. An immovable object that is out of bounds is not an obstruction [Definition of “Obstruction”]. There is no available relief without penalty [Decision 24-2b/21].

Linda
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