Perhaps a timely event in light of recent posts, but I had a situation yesterday which raised the following question.

I hit my second shot to a par 4 which ran through and stopped in long grass against a cyclone boundary fence behind the green. The fence interfered with my swing and prevented me from playing toward the hole.

I was told by my playing partners, all long time members and lower h’caps than I, that I had to play it as it lies.

In checking the rules this morning, I can’t find anything that supports this. As best I can tell, in the absence of any special ruling by the committee, the fence is an immovable obstruction and I was entitled to take nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole, without penalty.

So what is the correct ruling in this situation?

Perhaps more topically, is it not indicative of the complexity of the rules if 3 long time members with h’caps from 4 to 15, do not know what seems to me to be one of the more basic rules?

Opinions and comments most welcome please.

The fact that it was a boundary fence implies to me that it marks out-of-bounds, and if so, no relief is allowed.

It’s in the ‘definitions’ section

An “obstruction” is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice, except:

c. Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the course.

boundary fence

Perhaps more topically, is it not indicative of the complexity of the rules if 3 long time members with h’caps from 4 to 15, do not know what seems to me to be one of the more basic rules?

Opinions and comments most welcome please.

Norm

If it is a boundary of the course it is coverered in the definition of OOB also

Objects defining out of bounds such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed. Stakes identifying out of bounds are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixed.

Comment ;-)

The Rules have it covered pretty comprehensively.

The Definitions is the most important section of the book to read.

Firstly , if it was an immovable obstruction , you will most likely find the nearest point of relief is on the OTHER side of the fence …. thats right , sucks huh ….

Secondly …..ive played with scratch players who want free drops from stones
And with a committee member who recently sat a rules course who argued black and blue that if you can hit the ball it isnt unplayable
Also another committee member who all others goto when in doubt , who tried to tell me that when dropping under 28c …you measure 2 clublengths from the ball , and drop withen 1 club length of that

So forget how many people tell you what , forget their handicap , forget they are level 2 certified …
If its matchplay , do what you think is right , let them make a claim on the hole….unless their opinion favours you
If its strokeplay , play a 2nd ball ….”read rule 3.3”