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Westbrook Village

Rule of the Week - Relief from a Cart Path

A situation that we have all come across at one point during our many golf games is a ball resting on or near a cart path. In order to follow the rules of golf you, there are certain things you need to know in order to take a legal drop as it is not as simple as just tossing the ball back into the grass.

When you are on or near a cart path, USGA Rule 24 may apply, which states:

"24-2. Immovable Obstruction
a. Interference
Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player's stance or the area of his intended swing. If the player's ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.

b. Relief
Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an immovable obstruction as follows:

(i)Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green."

If your ball, stance or intended swing path is in direct contact with an immovable object (Cart Path), you may either hit the shot off the cart path or you may take relief. Most of us value our expensive clubs and take relief, but you are not required to, but sometimes we may have to or else our nearest relief may be in a bush.

cartpath_bush

USGA Rule 24-2 states that relief must be taken at the nearest point, but not in a hazard or on a putting green. You must remember that nearest point of relief is not the nearest point of grass, instead it is the nearest point, where your stance, ball, or intended swing path will no longer be impacted by the immovable obstruction, in this case a cart path.

 

cartpath_points

In the picture above, the ball in nearer the left side of the path. However, depending of your dexterity, after you take relief with your stance and intended club, the nearest point may actually be to the right of the path as shown by the two pictures below.

cartpath_nearest

cartpath_stance

Once you find your nearest point of relief, you want to mark that position where the ball would be with a tee. From here you can take any club in your bag and measure one club length again marking it with a tee, no closer to the hole. Finally from shoulder length, you may drop your ball between the two tees you laid. Most of the time, your first drop will suffice.

However, a re-drop will be required if:

  • The ball rolls and comes to rest in a hazard
  • Comes to rest on a putting green
  • Comes to rest out of bounds
  • Comes to rest in a spot that your shot would still be obstructed by the path
  • Comes to rest more than 2 club lengths from where it landed when dropped
  • Comes to rest closer to the hole

If you drop it a second time and any of the above rules apply, you must place the ball at the point where the ball struck the ground on the second drop and your ball will be in play.

Understanding the rules of golf can be beneficial in both saving you strokes and making the game more enjoyable. Have fun and use the rules to your advantage!

2024
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We are a membership based Arizona golf club providing an amazing experience for your golf lifestyle.

Lakes: 19260 N. Westbrook Parkway
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Phone: +1 623 566 4548 - Contact Us

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