Sprinkler head in fringe

[27x10.5]

If you are putting from the fringe say 3-4' off and there is a sprinkler head in your line, do you get relief?

 

I was told no, there was a sprinkler head about 2 balls ahead of me and my lie wasnt good enough to chip due to a depression so I just putted over it and of course the ball hit it and bounced up so the putt came up short

[QEight]

Needs a local rule to allow on line relief.

[27x10.5]

Cool thanks

[Bonneville85308]

We don't have a local rule about it (who knows why not), but in casual rounds, with the guys I play with, our own rule is that you can take a free drop if your ball is on a sprinkler head, if it is interfering with your stance, or is in the line of a putt. Same goes for yardage marker plates in the fairway.

[Mr. Bean]

We don't have a local rule about it (who knows why not), but in casual rounds, with the guys I play with, our own rule is that you can take a free drop if your ball is on a sprinkler head, if it is interfering with your stance, or is in the line of a putt. Same goes for yardage marker plates in the fairway.

 

In casual rounds we do whatever we like.

 

Well, we do not hurt other people, though... I mean physically...

[augustgolf]

This was address at this year's US Open, as a "local rule"

 

If I can find it, it was discussed in another thread a few weeks back

 

Personally....I think that the rule will be addressed for this exact situation, as how sprinkler heads are laid out on golf courses now brings this much more into play that from older designs.

[Shilgy]

We don't have a local rule about it (who knows why not), but in casual rounds, with the guys I play with, our own rule is that you can take a free drop if your ball is on a sprinkler head, if it is interfering with your stance, or is in the line of a putt. Same goes for yardage marker plates in the fairway.

Your group is playing by the rules except the last. You do get relief if you're ball is on/touching the sprinkler head. You also get relief is your stance is touching a sprinkler head. And you get relief if the head is in the area of your intended swing. You need a local rule to get relief from the line of a putt from off the green interfered with by a sprinkler head. Yardage plates would be the same but cannot imagine why you would need relief from a plate on your line.

[Newby]

Yardage plates would be the same but cannot imagine why you would need relief from a plate on your line.

 

What reference do you have for suggesting that line of play relief would be a permissible Local?

[Eidolon]

My lie was not good enough for the shot I prefered to play, so can I get relief? Why would you even ask! Find ball, adapt to situation, hit shot! This is golf!

[slc247]

But....if you decided to chip you would get relief for your swing path...take the drop and then putt...

[Shilgy]

Yardage plates would be the same but cannot imagine why you would need relief from a plate on your line.

 

What reference do you have for suggesting that line of play relief would be a permissible Local?

Guess I was not clear as that is not what I was saying at all. We have a local for sprinklers. I stated the similarities between sprinkler relief and yardage player relief. Then said I cannot imagine why you would need line relief from the plate. I was not suggesting that a local could be in place for it. Sorry you misunderstood.

[QEight]

But....if you decided to chip you would get relief for your swing path...take the drop and then putt...

 

Yes of course, if the sprinkler was affecting the path of the club.

 

...small edit.

[Newby]

Yardage plates would be the same but cannot imagine why you would need relief from a plate on your line.

 

What reference do you have for suggesting that line of play relief would be a permissible Local?

Guess I was not clear as that is not what I was saying at all. We have a local for sprinklers. I stated the similarities between sprinkler relief and yardage player relief. Then said I cannot imagine why you would need line relief from the plate. I was not suggesting that a local could be in place for it. Sorry you misunderstood.

OK, understood.

[Sawgrass]

For clarity, the approved Local Rule allowing line of play relief near the putting green references any Immovable Obstruction, not just sprinkler heads:

 

"In addition, if a ball lies through the green and an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:"

 

 

[Shilgy]

For clarity, the approved Local Rule allowing line of play relief near the putting green references any Immovable Obstruction, not just sprinkler heads:

 

"In addition, if a ball lies through the green and an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:"

Yep, at my club we had subair control boxes and such. Same rule applied.

[27x10.5]

My lie was not good enough for the shot I prefered to play, so can I get relief? Why would you even ask! Find ball, adapt to situation, hit shot! This is golf!

 

There was a huge sprinkler head in front of my ball...legitimate question that I didn't know the answer to

[Eidolon]

My lie was not good enough for the shot I prefered to play, so can I get relief? Why would you even ask! Find ball, adapt to situation, hit shot! This is golf!

 

There was a huge sprinkler head in front of my ball...legitimate question that I didn't know the answer to

 

On hole #7 I missed my 2nd shot and it came to rest on hole #8 tee box. Directly in my preferred line of play was the sign on the tee that lists hole info. (#8, par 3, 180 yards, etc.) the sign does not have any effect on my stance or swing but because I'm in a divot hole I can't loft the ball over the sign onto the green. I don't wish to play a low running shot because the paved cart path is half way between my ball and the hole and will effect my ability to control the distance of the shot. Can I get relief? Of course not! What's the difference? ;)

[QEight]

My lie was not good enough for the shot I prefered to play, so can I get relief? Why would you even ask! Find ball, adapt to situation, hit shot! This is golf!

 

There was a huge sprinkler head in front of my ball...legitimate question that I didn't know the answer to

 

On hole #7 I missed my 2nd shot and it came to rest on hole #8 tee box. Directly in my preferred line of play was the sign on the tee that lists hole info. (#8, par 3, 180 yards, etc.) the sign does not have any effect on my stance or swing but because I'm in a divot hole I can't loft the ball over the sign onto the green. I don't wish to play a low running shot because the paved cart path is half way between my ball and the hole and will effect my ability to control the distance of the shot. Can I get relief? Of course not! What's the difference? ;)

 

The difference is that there is a mention in the rule book about a relief rule regarding IO near the green. There is no such mention regarding IO near the tee box.

[Eidolon]

Needs a local rule to allow on line relief.

Don't sound like a 'rule' to me.

 

[Stuart_G]

Needs a local rule to allow on line relief.

Don't sound like a 'rule' to me.

 

It is a valid local rule (if the course so decides to implement it) and can be found in the Rules - specifically Appendix I. Sawgrass already posted a portion of it (his quoted text came right from the rule book).

 

Not as common in the US but (as I understand it) it is widely used and implemented in the UK (and maybe Europe?), particularly for links style courses.

[Eidolon]

Well, it is not the first time I was incorrect! :). However, a 'Local Rule' and a 'Rule', are two different things. If I was on the Rules Commitee, I would argue against this every time it came up. Strikes me as just another 'Rub of the green' event. We will just have to agree to disagree.

[Mr. Bean]

My lie was not good enough for the shot I prefered to play, so can I get relief? Why would you even ask! Find ball, adapt to situation, hit shot! This is golf!

 

There was a huge sprinkler head in front of my ball...legitimate question that I didn't know the answer to

 

On hole #7 I missed my 2nd shot and it came to rest on hole #8 tee box. Directly in my preferred line of play was the sign on the tee that lists hole info. (#8, par 3, 180 yards, etc.) the sign does not have any effect on my stance or swing but because I'm in a divot hole I can't loft the ball over the sign onto the green. I don't wish to play a low running shot because the paved cart path is half way between my ball and the hole and will effect my ability to control the distance of the shot. Can I get relief? Of course not! What's the difference? ;)

 

If that sign can be removed without unnecessary effort and without breaking it then you may remove it from your line of play.

 

If not, just blame it on the boogie...

[Eidolon]

And when have you seen a permanent Tee Sign that could be removed without effort? That comment, while true, has no value in the discussion.

[Stuart_G]

Well, it is not the first time I was incorrect! :). However, a 'Local Rule' and a 'Rule', are two different things. If I was on the Rules Commitee, I would argue against this every time it came up. Strikes me as just another 'Rub of the green' event. We will just have to agree to disagree.

 

Since I haven't shared my opinion on the use of that particular local rule, how can you tell if we are agreeing or disagreeing :-)

 

As far as the OP's question and the general discussion goes, neither of our opinions really makes any difference (not that I mind or think there is any problem with anyone sharing their opinion in a respectful mannor). It's a valid local rule that may or or may not be in place in the OP's situation (or anyone else reading the thread), so it is important to share the possibility to accurately answer the question asked.

 

FWIW, anyone spending much time here in the forum (with members from all over the world) will find there are a lot of cultural differences and views on many aspect of the game - including the rules. The way I look at it is this is just one aspect of those differences. And such cultural (and environmental) diversity is the reason (at least in part) for a few of the local rules we find in the rule book. Some of the others include local rules such as the use of DMD's, relief from embedded balls through the green instead of just in closely mown areas, and stones in bunkers treated as movable obstructions.

[KevCarter]

And when have you seen a permanent Tee Sign that could be removed without effort? That comment, while true, has no value in the discussion.

 

I'm having trouble finding your reference to the sign as permanent...

[Newby]

Well, it is not the first time I was incorrect! :).However, a 'Local Rule' and a 'Rule', are two different things.

I'm afraid you are incorrect again

 

Definition

 

"Rule" includes:

a. The Rules of Golf and their interpretations as contained in "Decisions on the Rules of Golf";

b. Any Conditions of Competition established by the Committee under Rule 33-1 and Appendix I;

c. Any Local Rules established by the Committee under Rule 33-8a and Appendix I; and

d. The specifications on:

(i) clubs and the ball in Appendices II and III and their interpretations as contained in "A Guide to the Rules on Clubs and Balls"; and

(ii) devices and other equipment in Appendix IV.

[Mr. Bean]

And when have you seen a permanent Tee Sign that could be removed without effort? That comment, while true, has no value in the discussion.

 

To be honest, I have never tried to lift one. However, at my home club a few years ago all those signs were renewed. First they dug a hole on the ground and then they poured concrete into that hole, well as a base for the installation. Before the concrete hardened two plastic tubes were installed in the concrete. Into those tubes the 'legs' of those tables were then assembled.

 

It just might be so that the 'legs' were somehow permanently cemented into those tubes to avoid someone taking the tables home but I honestly do not know. They just might be easily removed. Must test that in the spring, now they are frozen solid...

[27x10.5]

My lie was not good enough for the shot I prefered to play, so can I get relief? Why would you even ask! Find ball, adapt to situation, hit shot! This is golf!

 

There was a huge sprinkler head in front of my ball...legitimate question that I didn't know the answer to

 

On hole #7 I missed my 2nd shot and it came to rest on hole #8 tee box. Directly in my preferred line of play was the sign on the tee that lists hole info. (#8, par 3, 180 yards, etc.) the sign does not have any effect on my stance or swing but because I'm in a divot hole I can't loft the ball over the sign onto the green. I don't wish to play a low running shot because the paved cart path is half way between my ball and the hole and will effect my ability to control the distance of the shot. Can I get relief? Of course not! What's the difference? ;)

 

The difference was about $1400 in finding a chance to make birdie in the final 3 holes so I was looking for any and all help at the time. You're talking about blowing your tee shot off line to another hole, I hit the best shot I had in me at the green to be somewhat penalized by a sprinkler head in the fringe. Why are you so against me posting the question

[27x10.5]

I appreciate everyone's input

[rogolf]

My lie was not good enough for the shot I prefered to play, so can I get relief? Why would you even ask! Find ball, adapt to situation, hit shot! This is golf!

 

There was a huge sprinkler head in front of my ball...legitimate question that I didn't know the answer to

 

On hole #7 I missed my 2nd shot and it came to rest on hole #8 tee box. Directly in my preferred line of play was the sign on the tee that lists hole info. (#8, par 3, 180 yards, etc.) the sign does not have any effect on my stance or swing but because I'm in a divot hole I can't loft the ball over the sign onto the green. I don't wish to play a low running shot because the paved cart path is half way between my ball and the hole and will effect my ability to control the distance of the shot. Can I get relief? Of course not! What's the difference? ;)

 

The difference was about $1400 in finding a chance to make birdie in the final 3 holes so I was looking for any and all help at the time. You're talking about blowing your tee shot off line to another hole, I hit the best shot I had in me at the green to be somewhat penalized by a sprinkler head in the fringe. Why are you so against me posting the question

 

The Rules are about the game, not about the prize.