Monday 18 February 2013

ON THE BRIDGE.....

There was no golf last Friday,  so some of us went for a walk to see the new bridge at the 17th on Rosemount.   What, we wondered, are the rules about the bridge?
The bridge is an  Immoveable Obstruction  (Rules 24-2 and 25-1) so if you  have a slight  duff off the tee and your ball lands on the bridge,  you must play the ball as it lies.  You could find yourself  perched on the top of the bridge,  or  in the middle, trying to swipe the ball to the green. The path on the bridge is quite tight, so you might have a problem with your backswing.

If you believe your ball is unplayable, you may under penalty of one stroke:
•    play a ball from where your last shot was played, or
•    drop a ball any distance behind the point where the ball lay keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball lay and the spot on which the ball is dropped, or
 •   drop a ball within two club-lengths of where the ball lies not nearer the hole.

The ditch  is a Water Hazard (yellow stakes or lines).  It has been cleared of vegetation so if you are unfortunate enough to land in it, you  will be able to fish your ball out and proceed under Rule 26  
You may play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke:
 •    play a ball from where your last shot was played, or
 •    drop a ball any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

Great fun!  Of course, nobody will duff the ball off the tee, and nobody will be in the  ditch.....