01 Jul '10

RULE: Temporary Obstruction in a Bunker

We have a local rule which can provide relief from the temporary wall on the 8th bunker damaged by vandals.

When can I get relief?  Is there any penalty if I take relief? Where can I drop my ball within this rule?

Can I get line of sight relief if I play my ball from outside the bunker?

Morgan wonders which ball/s Jake will agree can obtain relief under the local rule invoked to take account of the temporary wall in the bunker.

The obstruction rule provides relief from an obstruction which interferes with your swing or your stance. This local rule also extends relief under this circumstance to your ball in the bunker if the obstruction also interferes with your line of site.

NB - this relief only applies to this obstruction - not any other obstruction on the course!!

So, which ball/s is Jake prepared to allow relief from the temporary wall??

NO to Ball A. The wall does not interfere with his stance nor his area of intended swing. Nor does the wall lie in his line of sight to the green

YES to  Ball B as it will interfere with Morgan's swing, and as well, the ball lies on the line from ball to flag.

YES to Ball C too, as the obstruction is on his line of sight to the flag.

Now the next question is - where can I drop the ball if it is legal to get relief??

The guiding principle is "nearest point of relief" - that point which avoids interference with

• your area of intended swing; or
• your stance (your normal stance for this shot - not an unnecessarily abnormal stance);
• line of sight - a line between your ball and the flag.

Now you have two choices - do you want a free drop or are you prepared to take a penalty??

1. FREE drop - you may drop within one club length of the nearest point of relief IN THE BUNKER. Yes, you must drop, not place!

2. If you want out of the bunker, you can do so but MUST take a one stroke penalty. AND you MUST keep the point where the ball lay in h ebunker directly between the hole and the spot where you will drop the ball, with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball can be dropped.

Now, if you choose 2, do you get line of sight relief from the temporary wall? No - this only applies if your ball is in the bunker!

Best solution - avoid the bunker; hit the green from the tee!!