Forum > Rules and Etiquette

Graham Mclaren

Hi golfers, one rule I am stuck on, I heard Sam Torrance mention something about it during The Open, if your ball is behind a sprinkler head directly in line with the pin, how near to the sprinkler head does the ball have to be to get relief, if at all, this has happened to me on several occasions and when playing with mates is not a problem but I can see the time coming when there might be something at stake and would not like to make wrong decision hope you can help.

Regards

David Lythgoe

Hi Graham,

A Sprinkler Head is a 'Man made Object' so an "Obstruction" for the Rules. Because it can't be moved, it comes under "Immovable" so is covered by Rule 24-2. Relief from an immovable obstruction is available when the Ball lies on it or it interfers with your stance or line of intended swing.

Hope this helps.

TheLyth

Graham Mclaren

Thanks for that, so what you are saying if the ball lies behind it, that won't affect your stance or swing, you can't use your putter but have to chip over.

Regards

Graham

David Lythgoe

Afraid so, that is what happened to Paul McGinley at Turnberry.

TheLyth

Graham Mclaren

Thanks for that, that must have been the one i was watching and sam said something like if so and so had happened he could have got a drop of two club lengths, which might be if his foot was in or on the head.

Graham

Chris Salter

Played Wychwood Park today and on the back of the card there is the ruling regarding this situation.

'Fixed heads are immovable obstructions; relief from interference by them may be obtained under rule24-2. If such an obstruction on or within two club lengths of the putting green of the hole being played intervenes on line of play between ball and hole, relief may be obtained without penalty, as follows:

If the ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and is within two club-lengths of the intervening obstruction, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball originally lay which a) is not nearer the hole, b) avoids such intervention and c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.'

Hope this clears things up. Good to read the back of the cards sometimes eh?

John Flood

Chris,

I thought that if it interfered within 2 clubs of your stance or swing you were allowed relief too??

Chris Salter

John,

I think you only get relief if your actual stance or swing is interfered with. I think the ruling for path's/buggy tracks is 1 club length. If your stance or swng is inside this then you can obtain relief but as regards sprinkler heads, I'm pretty sure you have to be in contact with the obstruction. Could be wrong as I'm no rules expert. Just happened to notice the ruling on the back of my card.

David Lythgoe

This is one of the situations where a Local Rule can give you more relief from a place than the actual Rules do.

TheLyth

Graham Mclaren

Good morning golfers, can of worms this, thanks for that Chris, that would seem fair, but as you say only a local rule, again worth reading back of card, I'm going to dig out all my cards and check if any have that on back, such a nerd.

Thanks for all your replies

Good golfing

Chris Perry

Phil Eadsforth

Graham Mclaren

Nice one, s**t happens, that's the beauty of the game.

Thanks fellas

Good golfing

John Flood

Phil,

how quick your playing partner turns on you, especially as you carried him for 15 holes!!!

Chris Perry

"cracking 9 iron into the green.....going straight at the pin"

I don't think that's turning on him at all, more saying how unlucky I thought he was.  You're nothing but a trouble causer Flood.  Go and find a lefties forum to bother. 

John Flood