R14.3b; R14.5 Drops

Facts

It was great to see Reader SS back on the golf course! SS missed the entire 2018 golfing season after shoulder surgery, and is trying to make a comeback in 2019 while recovering from back surgery which involved the fusion of the L-2 and L-5 , or something like that …very painful and serious surgery. His only play prior to running into Foremost had been a 9-hole outing with his wife, the lovely and talented, SzS.

Anyway, sensing he had run into someone he could beat, Foremost challenged SS to a match. SS played from the forward tees, his only concession to in injury, but in all other respects, he looked in mid-season form. The match was ebbing back and forth as the players executed one magnificent shot after the other.

Unfortunately, F had to call a penalty on SS on Hole #4, a diabolical par 4 which requires two shots over the Red Penalty Areas of Richland Creek. SS had dumped his second shot in the creek. He had dropped, taking back-on-the line relief pursuant to R17.1d.

Observing that his drop was from shoulder height, F quickly had called a penalty, but suggested he exercise the “Eraser Rule” (R14.5) which allows a player to correct a drop made “in the wrong way”.

SS thanked F for this advice, and dropped again. F called another penalty, advising SS that this second drop was clearly not at knee height, but rather, that it had been executed from waist height. F suggested he exercise the Eraser Rule a second time, and drop again.

Appearing to be in some pain, SS crouched slightly and dropped again. F called another penalty, politely reminding SS that under R14.3b the drop must be from “knee height” at a “standing position”. This mandate requires an erect knee rather than a bent, or crouching knee.

SS was clearly frustrated. He stated that due to his back surgery which had rendered his back inflexible, he could not bend his back from the waist to execute a drop at knee height while maintaining erect knees. His hand simply could not reach that far.

F was extremely sympathetic with this physical impediment, and was happy to inform SS not to worry, that it was only a one-stroke Penalty.

As usual, all comments or corrections are welcome!

Respectfully submitted,
F