Hitting the Pin on the Fly.

[JungleJ]

Originally Posted by CristieKerr

I hit a "visual aid" once. I had no idea what to do in given situation. But it was a marker at a really annoying course that had 8-10 blind tee shots, and if you flew over the marker, you'd supposedly hit the fairway. The tee box was down, and the marker was on the top of a hill and then the fairway fell back down on the other side. I hit a low line drive, great shot really to keep it out of the wind, but not what I had planned because of the hill, and it was headed directly for it, certain enough I hit that pole that was maybe two inches in diameter, bounced off said marker straight left and onto the side of a mountain. It was ever so excellent. This was about the 12th hole, and I wanted to kill the course designer, ugh, it was by far the most unfair course I've ever seen. There were 12 of us, and we all shot 8-12 strokes higher than the rest of the week.

What would be the ruling in that situation? It was playable, kind of, so I just hit because I had no idea. I assumed it was a play it as it lies or take an unplayable if you can't. We never looked into it. I did however, drain a 35 foot bird on the next hole. That was the only bright spot of the day, and unfortunately, I cannot forget that round!

So what should the ruling have been? Was CristieKerr right to play it as it lay?

[GolfSavage]

Yes. It's no different than hitting a tree, a sprinkler head, a cart path, etc. - you play it as it lies afterwards.

[JPsuff]

.


The ball is simply played from where it comes to rest after striking the marker.


I don't know of any rules specific to this situation, but I don't think that you'd be able to get relief in this instance. A directional marker is no different than a yardage marker and it is indeed part of the golf course.

Almost every course I play has a 2-inch diameter, five foot long PVC pipe, painted in black and white set in a socket in the middle of the fairway, 150 yards from the center of the green. This marker is moveable if it immediately interferes with one's stance or line of sight or play and may be removed from its socket to eliminate such interference and then replaced after the shot is played.

But from the tee, this object is not interfering with anyone's play because no one could have any reasonable expectation of hitting this pipe with their tee shot. I have seen it done (once in over 30 years) and in that case, the ball was played from where it came to rest. It is no different than a flagstick in the sense that it is a marker and it is removable but it is otherwise part of the course.





-JP

[CristieKerr]

Originally Posted by JPsuff

Almost every course I play has a 2-inch diameter, five foot long PVC pipe, painted in black and white set in a socket in the middle of the fairway, 150 yards from the center of the green.

I figured it was a play it as you lie, just bad luck. But, this marker wasn't five feet long, it was a solid 8 (add that to the fact it was on a hill it was easier to hit with a low shot that you'd think). But, it probably doesn't happen very often either.

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by JungleJ

So what should the ruling have been? Was CristieKerr right to play it as it lay?

That is what is meant by "rub of the green." Play it as it lies.

[Fileygolfer]

Some courses have power lines running over them. A local Rule is then sometimes put in place.
"Retake a shot that hit them with no penalty"
But in the case of a 'Marker Post' tough, play it from where it finished.

[Dormie]

Originally Posted by Fileygolfer

Some courses have power lines running over them. A local Rule is then sometimes put in place.
"Retake a shot that hit them with no penalty"
But in the case of a 'Marker Post' tough, play it from where it finished.

Yup, but the courses I've played on with power lines state that you MUST retake the shot without penalty. However, if you hit the pole supporting the wires...too bad!