Taking a Lateral Relief Unplayable Ball Drop for my Ball in a Tree - Golf Rules Explained

[@ianparham7526]

Great video, thanks. What if your ball was even deeper into the bush/tree, just as mine was on the weekend? My ball was easily 4 club lengths into a very large, spiked pine tree; the ball was unplayable, and not practicable to be dropped whilst still deep in the tree. The skirting branches of this massive pine tree were resting on the ground & immovable. Feedback appreciated. Thank you.

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

You've got all the options, but as you laid out, 19.2c might not have been a good one, although you could have used it multiple times. However, you still had the option of going back to your previous place played (Rule 19.2a), and back on the line (Rule 19.2b).

[@manbearpig7359]

FYI . There is a local rule at my club that states that all yellow Callaway Triple Track chrome soft balls found in trees, long grass, rough, or any hazard or penalty areas are mine. 😀

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

😂😂

[@gbower1]

I'm loving watching all the videos you're putting out. Good job.

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

Thank you GB! There are a lot of the generic ones out there which is good, but I like to try and produce the rarer ones.

[@blackstaticband]

what if the bush is next to cart path..? You'd drop onto the cart path? And then use the unmoveable obstruction relief (because you're on cart path) to get back on the grass?

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

Yes, that may be a possibility, it depends how wide the cart path is. As you may find the cart path too wide and your Nearest Point of Complete Relief from the cart path is back in the bush.

[@codyallen9486]

Well done sir

[@jakeparker7236]

Was wondering are you allowed only a single attempt at dropping the ball? Say from your first relief it landed unfavourably but in relief zone and no other impediments . Thanks

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

Once your ball is back in play, the relief procedure is over. If you're not happy with how it is sitting, you can choose to take an unplayable for a one stroke penalty, this would be an additional one stroke to any penalty you may have just incurred.

[@Randsurfer]

Why is the word "lateral" used here? The relief area from an unplayable is a semicircle with a radius of 2 club lengths.

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

Rule 19.2c is lateral relief.

[@Randsurfer]

@@GolfRulesQuestions I wasn't questioning why you used the word "lateral". I was asking rhetorically why the word "lateral" is used by the Rules Wizards.

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

@@Randsurfer ahh okay. I don't have an answer for you on that one, although I did see that lateral means 'belong to the side'. Not sure if that is helpful.

[@Randsurfer]

@@GolfRulesQuestions That's why I question the word "lateral". The options are a semi-circle including "behind". Very different from the traditional drop from a red stake hazard (penalty area) which is was traditionally called a "lateral" water hazard and which resulted in dropping "to the side" of the hazard.

[@paulthomson2288]

if it is an immovable obstruction then surely you have missed dropping into the nearest point of relief? I think this is a point of protest if it was a competition.

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

Why do you think I have missed dropping into the relief area?

[@paulthomson2288]

@@GolfRulesQuestions is the immovable obstruction part of the relief area? I just don't know ? taking 3 club lengths for two separate rules is a bit of a loop hole

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

@@paulthomson2288 the immovable obstruction was within the relief area for my unplayable drop.

[@paulthomson2288]

@@GolfRulesQuestions within Yes but is it part of it? because if it is not part of the relief area the drop missed the relief zone it and should be re dropped?

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

@@paulthomson2288 yes, the immovable obstruction was within the general area and within my relief area. Actually it wouldn’t matter if it was in a penalty area, because when taking relief under Rule 19.2c you can drop within a penalty area if part of that penalty area is within your relief area.

[@manbearpig7359]

I bet if Patrick Reed did this, there would be massive controversy

[@GolfRulesQuestions]

Great call, I guarantee there would be.

[@Randsurfer]

No there wouldn't. Because he would be following the rules correctly.