Gopher hole counts as “anomalous condition”.
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What are the “abnormal course conditions” and what options do you have if the ball ends there? If you are not sure, you are not alone.
Last year, the USGA asked questions about abnormal course conditions from the public, and the most common one was 1,041 queries. (The second place has 570 inquiries, which is the relief for the punishment area.)
Answer? These were found according to Rule 16.
“Abnormal Course Conditions” is a general term covering four things: temporary water, ground at the repair site, artificial obstacles to real estate, such as trolley paths and sprinkler heads, and animal holes.
If your ball ends in either or in either, you have the right to relax (but if your ball is in the free throw area).
The same is true if abnormal course conditions can interfere with your position or swing. If your course conditions are in your competition, you can also get relief – but The only one If your ball is on the putter.
How you mitigate is another matter. First, you have identified the nearest relief point. From there, you are entitled to a club length without holes in the same general area. Put the ball down (directly down from your knees) and you’re happy to go.
If you are in bunker, the rules surrounding abnormal course conditions apply. You have the right to drop for free within the nearest relief point in the bunker. You can also take the so-called relief behind (i.e., you can all go back directly from the hole as you wish, but you can drop the cover by a one-hit free throw.
These are the rules. But like many written guidelines, they are sometimes interpretable. For example, suppose your ball rests on the top of the Fire Ant Mountain in a friendly match. Anyway, that’s what you said. Your partner’s ideas vary. He or she thinks it is a pile of harmless dirt and doesn’t think you deserve free relief. You can argue about this. But what should you do if you can’t reach an agreement and there are no rules officials or certified entomologists to rule on the matter?
In this case, the player involved in the ball (meaning you) decides how to proceed. If another player (meaning your friend) disagrees, they can submit what a third party calls a “ruling request.” In the game, this will be the tournament committee. But things get more complicated in a friendly match. The default arbitrator is easily a golf pro and he can issue a ruling, but he also has reasons to say, “You two are about making your stupid argument so ridiculous.”
If you want to avoid future rule uncertainties, try USGA’s online courses. Finishing it will give you the information you need to browse most of the situations that may be in a round, which is a great way to prepare for the season ahead.
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