Back in 2019 when the USGA revised the Rules of Golf, CMSGA created a page at the website that listed some of the changes, and also identified "local rules" that, as a club, we would incorporate.
One of the local rules has to do with tree roots, and reads as follows:
Interference from Tree Roots entitles limited free relief for lie and stance. The relief area must remain in line with the hole and is one club length from the location of the ball.
The purpose of this post is to open a discussion regarding the tree root rule.
Should we keep it, should we remove it, should we modify it?
Rule Intention
Although I was not a member when the rule was added, I believe it's purpose was to make our members more aware of tree roots (often unseen just below surface) and to prevent injury. Without the rule, members might be more inclined to attempt a potentially dangerous stroke to avoid a penalty for declaring the ball unplayable.
The rule is not intended to provide complete (or even any) relief from the tree itself, that could be interfering with a players line of play.
This writers opinion (this is Jeff MacCarter btw) is that it is a good rule, and I support keeping it. I do believe it could use some re-wording however.
Nearest Point of Relief
It is very important that the player is going back-in-line keeping the position where the original ball lies between the relief spot and the flagstick. Also important is that it is the nearest point of relief. This may be just a few inches, might be more, but it is not permission to march backwards an unlimited distance.
Drop Area
Now, once the point of relief is determined and marked, where should the drop area be in relationship to that spot? Some people have stated the drop area must also remain back-in-line, as in when you drop the ball must come to rest on the same line. But to me that is not easily accomplished. Balls bounce/roll from where they hit the course, and how much of a roll is too far from the line?
I would support a drop area within a club length from the spot of relief, no closer to the hole. So yes - a player could possibly get some relief from the tree, by dropping a club length to the side of the relief spot. But drop areas need to be just that - an area, not a line.
Something like the above drop area.
If we do not allow a drop area of 180 degrees, then the rule would need to provide for the player to place their ball on the nearest relief spot. Maybe placing is a rule change we should consider?
My draft rewording is as follows:
Interference from Tree Roots entitles free relief for lie and stance.
Player is to determine the nearest point of relief from the tree root obstruction by going back-in-line from where the original ball rests and the flagstick.
The drop area is within one club length of the nearest point of relief.
Keep in mind: This relief is not intended to take a tree out of play, but only to prevent injury from attempting a shot while standing on a tree root, or when the club may contact a tree root.
Please share your thoughts on the tree root rule. You can do so by commenting on the post, or sending an email to
cmseniorsgolf@gmail.com
Thank you,
Jeff MacCarter
I think dropping the ball in line with the hole at the nearest point of relief is the intent of this safety driven local club rule. Outside of our CMSGA club, there would be no relief at all. So, there is no dropping the ball 1-club-length to the left or right of the line, even if the player desperately wants to avoid the tree. If the ball happens to roll sideways after dropping on the line, play the ball from where it comes to rest.
ReplyDeleteI (Christi Whittemore) agree with Jeff. Not having to take a penalty stroke (e.g., unplayable lie) is already generous.
ReplyDeleteI meant I agree with Jim.
DeleteWe need some on-course pics of example tree-root-relief situations. The first area that jumps to my mind are those tree roots to the left of 18 green on Mesa. Maybe someone can place a ball in the roots and snap a pic from behind the ball, showing the flagstick, and potentially where the 'nearest point of relief' would be. Email pics to cmseniorsgolf@gmail.com. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThis local rule is not compliant with the USGA Rules of Golf. Nonetheless, it is popular with our members and the board voted to keep it during the last revision. The intent is to avoid potential injury from striking a tree root, but not provide significant improvement in the line of play to the pin. The 1 club arc of relief provided under Rule 16.1 has potential to completely remove the tree from interfering with a shot directly to the pin. Since it is a noncompliant rule, limiting relief to a straight line from the pin could avoid the potential injury of a tree root, without offering the unfair relief that an unobstructed line to the pin would create. Good discussion. Bill Cloud
ReplyDeleteI agree the taking relief from a root is non-compliant relief situation. My thinking is that we might want to make the 'drop' area something members are familiar with. Without a defined 'arc' for a drop area, is a dropped ball that rolls 1 foot from line acceptable? What about two feet? This is why I proposed a 'placement' of the ball, instead of a drop. It would prevent debate as to a drop that might roll some and as such provide relief from the tree (something we are trying to prevent).
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