Hardly a week goes by without Foremost hearing from a friendly Reader … “when is F going to call a violation on F?” The sad implication, of course, is that F tends to use the Rules when beneficial to F, or when placing F in a favorable light, and not necessarily in the noble pursuit of truth, justice, world peace and strict adherence to the Rules of Golf.

F denies this accusation, but must acknowledge there are, indeed, situations where his own rules ignorance rears its ugly head. Such a situation, even if rare, should in fairness be documented as well.

Facts : Individual Match Play — Immovable Obstructions (IOs)

(1) In an Individual Match Play competition at HCC, on the difficult Par 3 4th Hole, F’s opponent, JWo, finds his tee shot left of the green inside the cart path with his backswing impeded by a wooden railing (picture a small horse rail), the purpose of which F isn’t aware. The ball is clearly inbounds. JWo states that the railing is an Immovable Obstruction, and that he is entitled to free relief which he takes. After some deliberation and conversation, F grudgingly satisfies himself that the railing is not a boundary railing, and offers no protest to the free relief. The hole is tied with the free relief ball.

(2) On the treacherous Par 3 13th Hole, F’s tee shot is long and left, over the green. He is in a bit of a pickle. JWo hits his tee ball in a spot familiar to HCC members, short right, where it disappears in the gully short of the bunker. Upon arrival, the players find the ball has rolled through the gully and is lying below and within inches of a ground-level stacked stone wall supporting the gully land feature, with the ball in a position so close to the wall that a swing is impossible.

JW declares the rock wall is an Immovable Obstruction and that he is entitled to free relief. F objects this time, saying he has no idea whether the stacked wall is an IO or a structure integral to the course from which no relief is allowed. F advises his opponent to play two balls, one with the ball as it lay, and one with free relief, and that they would obtain an official Ruling after the hole. (Fortunately, rules official JH (aka, “Celebrity”) was in the following foursome and the competing players were confident he could make the Ruling. The hole was tied with the free relief ball.

Rulings

(1) Yes, the railing on Hole #4 and the stacked stone retaining wall on H #13 were Immovable Obstructions (See Def’s : “Obstructions” and “Immovable Obstructions”) from which free relief was allowed. (R16.1a). Both structures were artificial or man made, and neither was a “boundary object” or an “integral object” under HCC’s Local Rules.

JH was summoned. He quickly ruled just that … that the stacked wall on H#13 was, indeed, an IO. He advised for further reference (just in case), that the stone wall bordering the ensuing Par 5 14th Hole was, also an IO, and that the OB on that hole was the road and not the wall.

Ok, it would have helped if F had known the Local Rules! For the record (HCC members take note), no “integral objects” are identified in the HCC Local Rules.

(2) Rules savvy Readers know by now that F messed up as well in advising JW that he had the option of playing two balls if uncertain about whether or not he had free relief from the stacked stone wall on H#13. A serious mental lapse by F! Playing two balls is not an option in Match Play and, of course, at F’s suggestion, JWo did play two balls in. Did he automatically lose the hole for playing two balls? Could F have raised this play as a violation even though it was at his idea?

No, in Match Play, players may agree how to decide a Rules issue, as long they do not agree to ignore a Rules issue they know applies (R20.1b, citing R1.3b(1)). This violation was unintentional and unknowing, and by agreement of both parties, so no violation!

In summary, Readers will appreciate that F was wrong both about the IOs and the relief option of playing 2 balls. This story does have a happy ending, however. As foreshadowed by Celebrity, JWo hit his 3rd shot on #14 right of the green where it danced around momentarily before residing perfectly atop the stone wall bordering the hole. F quickly identified the stone wall as an IO and graciously offered JWo free relief! What a great guy! (Although there is possibility that JWo wasn’t paying any attention to what F said anyway at this point in the match! Can’t blame him!).

As usual, all comments or corrections are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,
F