08 Feb '10

RULE: GUR on the green.

 I hit a great shot onto the green - but now I may be punished because of a bare patch on the green between my ball and the hole. Surely I don't have to putt across that??

With the difficult seasons we have experienced, we still have a couple of greens with some bare patches on them.

Consider these two balls on or near the green on # 7 – for which ones am I entitled to relief from the abnormal ground condition, if any??

Before deciding, I need to know what “abnormal ground condition” is, and let’s see what Rule 25 says about “abnormal ground condition”.

Definitions tell us that an “abnormal ground condition” is any casual water, ground under repair or a hole, cast or runway on the course made by a burrowing animal, a reptile or a bird.

Interference occurs

-  when my ball lies in or touches the condition, or
-  when the condition interferes with my swing or stance.
-  However, if my ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if the abnormal ground condition intervenes on my line of putt. (Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not of itself interference under this rule.)

Ball A: Even though the “GUR” (white lines) intervenes on my line of putt, my ball is not on the green, so I am NOT entitled to any relief.

Ball B: Now the GUR intervenes on my line, and my ball is on the green, so I am entitled to relief if I wish.

LOOK AT THE PHOTO ON THE LEFT: NOW this patch is NOT MARKED GUR This bare patch intervenes on my line of putt, my ball at B is on the green but the only relief I can get is to curse my bad luck!!

OK, back to photo number one, where the GUR is marked. My ball is Ball B, and I can take relief. Where and how do I obtain relief?

Rule 25b iii tells me I must lift the ball and place it, without penalty, at the nearest point of relief (not in a hazard) but not nearer the hole. The nearest point of relief or maximum available relief may be off the putting green! This event is more likely to occur when we are faced with casual water on the green.

Now have a look at this photo below - using the information from the rules above, decide if you can obtain any relief in this situation.