This week’s article is part of an on-going series on the Rules of Golf. They
will vary from the obvious to the not so obvious, and feature golfing holes
around Pattaya that regularly cause problems. If you have any local golf holes
you would like reviewed, simply pose the question in the online comments section
and we will endeavour to provide the answer.
How many golf courses around Pattaya contain obstructions or
abnormal ground conditions that can lead to a free drop? It would be simpler to
reverse the question by asking how many don’t? I suspect there aren’t any. This
makes sense given that most courses have been set up as resort or tourist
destinations. The chances therefore of a golfer taking relief, under Rule 24 –
Obstructions, or Rule 25 – Abnormal Ground conditions, are very high.
Nearest Point of Relief – is he
right?
Please note that phrases, when italicised, indicate a term as
defined under definitions contained within the Rules of Golf.
Let’s take the common occurrence of a ball coming to rest on
a cart path. This comes under 25-1 Abnormal Ground Conditions where
relief may be taken as follows:
(i) “Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green,
the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one
club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of
relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or
on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of
the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the
course at a spot that avoids interference by the condition and is not in a
hazard and not on a putting green.”
The critical point here, and one that many golfers,
experienced amateurs and professionals alike get wrong, is using the correct
club when determining the nearest point of relief.
Defining the ‘nearest point of relief’
The above diagram illustrates the term nearest point of
relief in relation to Rules 24-2 and 25-1. The diagram instances the case of
a right-handed player.
The nearest point of relief is the reference point for
taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction
(Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong
putting green (Rule 25-3).
- B1 = position of ball on road, in ground under repair
(GUR), etc.
- P1 = nearest point of relief.
- P1-A shaded area = area within which ball to be dropped,
radius of one club-length from P1, measured with any club.
- B2 = position of ball on road, in ground under repair
(GUR), etc.
- Two small squares = position of notional stance required to
play ball at P2.
- P2 = nearest point of relief.
- P2-C shaded area = area within which ball to be dropped,
radius of one club-length from P2, measured with any club.
What club is used to determine P2?
The Rules of Golf, under Definitions, page 29, actually state
the nearest point of relief as; “The point on the course nearest
to where the ball lies:
(i) that is not nearer the hole, and
(ii) where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference
by the condition from which relief is sought would exist for the stroke
the player would have made from the original position if the condition were not
there.
Note: In order to determine the nearest point of relief
accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his
next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address
position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke.”
Therefore the distance between the notional stance and P2,
above, is determined by the length of the club that would have been used for the
shot had the road or GUR not existed. Having established P2, any club may then
be used to determine the one-club radius drop area.
How often do we see players use their driver to establish the
equivalent of P2, shown in the diagram, when they are but a short iron from the
green?
Next time you see a player faced with a drop off GUR, or
similar situation such as P2, give him the heads-up on how to establish his
nearest point of relief. Hopefully, he/she will thank you for it.
Happy golfing,
Golfnutter
