On course: Free drop from sprinkler head

[Augster]

Hey,

 

Free drop from sprinkler head by the green. Can the drop be on the green? I don’t think it can but I don’t have time to look it up. 
 

Thanks. 
 

 

[Axiom]

No. Drop must be in the general area.

[st1800e]

34 minutes ago, Axiom said:

No. Drop must be in the general area.

Yes, general area doesn’t include; teeing area of the hole being played, penalty areas, bunkers and the putting green of hole being played.  

But you can get it from the rough to the fringe.  

 

https://www.randa.org/rog/the-rules-of-golf/rule-2#2_2a

[davep043]

1 hour ago, Augster said:

Hey,

 

Free drop from sprinkler head by the green. Can the drop be on the green? I don’t think it can but I don’t have time to look it up. 
 

Thanks. 

Others have the correct answer.  In almost all cases, the relief area for free relief must be in the same Area of the Course as the original location of the ball.  Interestingly, Penalty Relief may usually be taken in and Area of the Course, of course depending on other considerations.

[Augster]

Thanks guys! Thats what I thought. 
 

Free relief, no. Paying, yes. 

[Axiom]

12 minutes ago, Augster said:

Thanks guys! Thats what I thought. 
 

Free relief, no. Paying, yes. 

Well, not exactly. You do get free relief from an ACC, in this case the sprinkler head. It's just that in this case, the relief area must be in the general area; you can't drop on the putting green.

[davep043]

2 hours ago, Axiom said:

Well, not exactly. You do get free relief from an ACC, in this case the sprinkler head. It's just that in this case, the relief area must be in the general area; you can't drop on the putting green.

That's what he was saying, I think. 

"Can I drop on the Putting Green?" 

With free relief, the answer is "no".

With Penalty Relief, possibly "yes".

[Augster]

6 hours ago, davep043 said:

That's what he was saying, I think. 

"Can I drop on the Putting Green?" 

With free relief, the answer is "no".

With Penalty Relief, possibly "yes".

You got it. 
 

Thanks for the help. 

[Mr. Bean]

17 hours ago, davep043 said:

In almost all cases, the relief area for free relief must be in the same Area of the Course as the original location of the ball.  

 

I started to twist my brain but cannot come up with a situation where free relief can be taken on another Area of the Course than where the ball was lying. Are there any?

[limegreengent]

Ball laying on putting green.😂

[Newby]

16.1d

The nearest point of complete relief must be either on the putting green or in the general area.

[davep043]

4 hours ago, Mr. Bean said:

 

I started to twist my brain but cannot come up with a situation where free relief can be taken on another Area of the Course than where the ball was lying. Are there any?

At first I wrote the word "always", and then remembered all the times that has been proven wrong, so I took a step back.  I had re-written that bit already before I remembered the case of a ball on the Putting Green that @limegreengent and @Newby have noted.  

[Axiom]

18 hours ago, davep043 said:

That's what he was saying, I think. 

"Can I drop on the Putting Green?" 

With free relief, the answer is "no".

With Penalty Relief, possibly "yes".

In my experience, sprinkler heads near the green are usually 1 1/2 to two feet from the edge of the putting green, at least, which may also include a fringe. It seems that it would be difficult to construct a relief area after taking penalty relief that would get you to to the putting green. And, of course, why would you anyway when free relief was available. 

Edited July 28, 2024 by Axiom

[davep043]

51 minutes ago, Axiom said:

It seems that it would be difficult to construct a relief area after taking penalty relief that would get you to to the putting green.

I'm not talking about free relief from sprinkler heads (or other Abnormal Course Conditions), but rather penalty relief, from Penalty Areas or Unplayable Balls.  It depends on the geometry of the green and hole position.  I've definitely seen Red Penalty Area relief areas, two clublengths from the point of last entry, which include a portion of the Putting Green.  And if the ball is dropped on the Green, it must remain on the green or be re-dropped, and perhaps eventually placed on the green.  

[Phayd]

5 hours ago, Axiom said:

In my experience, sprinkler heads near the green are usually 1 1/2 to two feet from the edge of the putting green, at least, which may also include a fringe. It seems that it would be difficult to construct a relief area after taking penalty relief that would get you to to the putting green. And, of course, why would you anyway when free relief was available. 

Course near me expanded their greens last season and now there are sprinkler heads on the putting surface itself.

 

local rule lets you move the ball one club length, no nearer the hole.

[davep043]

24 minutes ago, Phayd said:

Course near me expanded their greens last season and now there are sprinkler heads on the putting surface itself.

 

local rule lets you move the ball one club length, no nearer the hole.

That sounds like the normal relief allowed under 16.1d, as long as the ball is on the Putting Green.  Is relief allowed when the ball isn't on the green?

[Newby]

2 hours ago, Phayd said:

Course near me expanded their greens last season and now there are sprinkler heads on the putting surface itself.

 

local rule lets you move the ball one club length, no nearer the hole.

Does this give 'line of play' relief?