Dear Linda,
Dew and frost are not loose impediments.
Dew and frost are not casual water
So what are they in terms of Golf definitions?
Integral part of the course?
Kind regards from a sunny part of the Netherlands (at least
today).
Lou from The Netherlands
Dear Lou,
I guess you don’t want to hear that dew and frost are dew
and frost. Probably not.
So, what does it mean if dew and frost (D&F) are neither
loose impediments nor casual water? Let’s consider.
Players are permitted to move loose impediments, except when
the loose impediments and the ball lie in the same hazard [Rule 23]. Since
D&F are not loose impediments, you must draw the conclusion that you may
not move them.
Casual water is an abnormal ground condition [Definition of
Abnormal Ground Conditions]. Players are entitled to free relief from abnormal
ground conditions, except when their ball lies in a water hazard or a lateral
water hazard [Rule 25]. Since D&F are not casual water, there is no free
relief available if your ball lies in or touches D&F or if the D&F
interfere with your lie, stance, or the area of your intended swing.
While the Rules do not define dew or frost (their
definitions are the same in golf as in the real world), they are specifically
addressed in Rule 13, “Ball Played as it Lies.” Rule 13-2 tells us that we may not remove dew or frost anywhere
except on the teeing ground. If you remove it anywhere except on the teeing
ground, thereby improving your lie, area of intended stance or swing, or line
of play, you incur a two-stroke/loss-of-hole penalty for a breach of Rule 13-2.
Linda
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