1. Unmarked LWH Boundary- Bahamas        

One of Foremost’s favorite golf tracts is the Treasure Cay Golf Club at beautiful Treasure Cay, Bahamas. This Dick Wilson-designed course looks rather benign as it carves it’s way through the Bahamian jungle, but coupled with less than ideal conditions and constant winds, the jungle is a bit of ball magnet for slightly wayward shots, even for a player of Foremost’s caliber.

F has, of course, played this course for decades, and is familiar with the Local Rule that the jungle is played loosely as a LWH, in that a ball may be brought out laterally under penalty of one stroke. This relief is a good idea since the sprinkler system doesn’t extend to the rough leaving a hard-packed splotchy rough which will often guide the errant shot just into or under the branches of a dense flora.

In a weekend competition, F was placed in a group of regular winter residents whose spokesman was a crusty Englishman. Ever-cautious, F asked how they played balls hit in the jungle. The Englishmen described the Local Rule as F articulated above. Satisfied, F turned to place his tee in the ground. The gentleman added…”unless it’s just in, or on the edge, or real close.”

(This would be fun, thought F! He believes this additional caveat must be one of the new Rules effective in 2019).

2. White Line Boundary BMCC

Facts         

In intense competition at BMCC with Readers CC and LB, F overshoots the green and finds his ball perhaps touching a white boundary line. In fact, a small dispute arises. LB says the ball clearly touches the line. F says the ball does not actually touch the line, although the circumference of the ball does appear to just overhang the painted surface. In an attempt to referee the dispute, CC lies on his belly, peers closely, and arises to dust his pants and offer a verdict. He says that he agrees with F, in that he saw no actual contact between the ball and the paint although the ball did overhang the paint.

Issue

Was F out of bounds?

Ruling

No. See, Def. “Out of Bounds”, which states, “A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds.” Readers should note the distinction between between a ball touching an Out of Bounds line and a Water Hazard line. In the latter case, a ball “just touching” is in the hazard (See, Def. LWH).

3. Ball Played off Adjacent Course – Naples

Facts

On the pivotal 18th hole Reader RF played his 3rd shot off the 10th fairway of an adjacent course and recorded a bogey 5. No out of bounds stakes marked the courses.

Issue

Was this 3rd shot played from out of bounds?

Ruling

Yes. “Out of Bounds” is defined as “beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee.” F finds that a ball on another course cannot be on the course being played despite the lack of markings.

RF would lose the hole in match play or be disqualified in stroke for not finishing the hole.

4. Ball Played from Maintenance Shed- Bahamas

F played his 18th hole in the above-referenced competition, and after a perfect drive shanked his iron shot over and through the jungle into a maintenance area with a fine lie on packed sandy earth between a couple of rusty-looking mowers. After ascertaining there were no boundary stakes, he played back through the jungle to the fairway salvaging a triple-bogey seven. He asked the Pro whether the maintenance facility was in bounds, and the Pro said no one had ever asked that question before, or played from there to his knowledge.

Issue

Was F’s 3rd shot played from out of bounds?

Ruling

No. The “Course” is defined as “the whole area within any boundaries established by the Committee.”

In short, the ROG are very thorough in defining lines and boundaries … wish Mueller had a few.

As usual, all comments and corrections are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,
F