Before You Lift Your Ball

[Fourputt]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

What do you mean by "in most cases"? Do you mean, if "not contested" you don't need measurement?

No. I mean that if I walk up to my ball and find it lying on the left edge of a cartpath, then being a right handed golfer, It's obvious to me (because I know the proper procedure) that my NPR is straight left of the obstruction on a line perpendicular to the line toward the hole, just to the point where the path no longer interferes with my stance or swing. To think that the NPR is anywhere else is simply unreasonable in such a case, as I'm likely moving the ball about a foot or less. Then if I drop the ball 2 feet from the NPR, and it just takes a little hop and stops, it is now in play. I've put the ball back in play in a correct location without measuring, marking, or otherwise wasting time, and I can do so because I know that where my ball was dropped is within the area that the relief procedure requires.

Most of the time when I'm facing a relief situation, the NPR is self-evident... other times I may have to mark and measure. The point is that the rules do NOT require that you follow the procedure to the letter, the only requirement is that your next stroke is played from a correct place.

This Decision should clear it up for you:

24-2b/2 Player Does Not Follow Recommended Procedure in Determining Nearest Point of Relief

Q. A player’s ball lies on an artificially surfaced path, which is an immovable obstruction, through the green. The ball is situated at the left edge of the obstruction and the player is right-handed. The player elects to take relief under Rule 24-2b(i) but does not go through the procedure recommended in the Note to the Definition of “Nearest Point of Relief” for determining the nearest point of relief. Instead, he lifts the ball and drops it within one club-length of the nearest edge of the obstruction, not nearer the hole than the ball’s original position, and plays it. What is the ruling?

A. Provided the ball is dropped on a spot that satisfies the requirements of Rule 24-2b(i) and the ball did not roll into a position requiring a re-drop under Rule 20-2c, the player incurs no penalty.

Although there is a recommended procedure for determining the nearest point of relief, the Rules do not require a player to determine this point when proceeding under Rule 24-2, 24-3, 25-1 or 25-3. If a player does not determine a nearest point of relief accurately or identifies an incorrect nearest point of relief, a penalty only arises if, as a result, the player drops his ball at a spot which does not satisfy the requirements of the Rule under which he is proceeding and he then plays the ball (e.g., the spot is more than one club-length from the correct nearest point of relief or the ball is dropped nearer to the hole than the nearest point of relief). In such circumstances, the player would be penalized for playing from a wrong place (Rule 20-7).

[atticusfinch]

Originally Posted by Bulls9999

As our previous club pro would have said: "Simple solution....just keep it in the fairway and you won't have those kinds of problems".

The advice of a dope. What help is that kind of advice? Just as bad as Penik's advce re long putts...land the approach shot closer to the hole. Oh, really....thanks grandpa...good advice. Thanks for helping my putting problem.

Does your pro think he is better able than Cinc to keep a ball in the fairway. These questions do not arise because un skilled players get in trouble. they arise because players of all skills get in trouble and it is no solutioin to criticize their skill. When a rules questioln is presented, ,address it...answer it. Don't minimize it with some meaningless platitudes.

[Bulls9999]

Suffice it to say, that's partly why he is no longer our club pro.

Originally Posted by atticusfinch

The advice of a dope. What help is that kind of advice? Just as bad as Penik's advce re long putts...land the approach shot closer to the hole. Oh, really....thanks grandpa...good advice. Thanks for helping my putting problem.

Does your pro think he is better able than Cinc to keep a ball in the fairway. These questions do not arise because un skilled players get in trouble. they arise because players of all skills get in trouble and it is no solutioin to criticize their skill. When a rules questioln is presented, ,address it...answer it. Don't minimize it with some meaningless platitudes.

[Bulls9999]

Good diagram for NPR:

Nearest Point of Relief Illustration