Thursday 16 June 2016

A questionable spot on #15

There is a spot on #15 about 75 yards from the green in the right rough that you should know how to  proceed correctly if your ball happens to end up there. Last year, it was marked off with ropes as "ground under repair". Until recently the area was very wet, had water in it, and much longer grass around it than our usual rough.  It appears that the area has dried up and the grass has been cut. It is still a very rough area with a rut running down the middle (where the water used to be).

However, since there is no water in it right now and there is no marking for "ground under repair", you must play the ball as it lies. 

If it becomes wet again after some heavy rain, perhaps, there may be other rules in play:

Embedded Ball: If your ball becomes embedded in its own pitch mark, you may lift, clean and drop as near as possible to where the ball lay, not closer to the hole.

Casual Water: If the ball is in the water, or if you would have to stand in the water to make your swing, you make take relief from that circumstance. To do it properly:
a) mark your ball before you pick it up (to make sure you are not closer to the hole when it's all done)
b) take your stance as close as possible to the spot where the ball lay, where it is dry
c) hold the club you intend to swing in your normal stance
d) put one tee on the ground at the club head
d) lay your driver on the ground from that tee in any direction, not closer to the hole
e) place another tee in the ground and drop the ball from shoulder height between the tees.

Lost Ball: If you happen to lose your ball in that area and you have not hit a provisional ball, you need to go back to the spot you hit that ball from and hit again, with a penalty shot.

Best advice: Stay the heck away from there!!