Here's the situtation: Lateral hazard on the right, with a cart path within 2 club lengths of the hazard line.

So you hit into it, you get 2 club lengths. Do you drop onto the cart path, then wait for the ball to come to a rest, and if it's on the path, take your free drop from that?

That is correct sir!

Remember, if the ball rolls more than 2 club lengths - redrop...

Kevin

I would think you'd just drop at the nearest point of relief, 2 clubs from that point

if the cartpath is in the way, you'd just drop farther from the lateral hazzard line, no reason to drop on the path and then re-drop

I believe that you would ,,,,, to be within the rules,,,, have to drop it twice. Once for your hazard drop and then if cart path is a problem,,,, drop from that. But also if there is 2 club lengths between hazard and cart path,,, your nearest point of relief would probably be closer to the hazard than the other side of the path. Just an idea

Harley is definitely on the right track. I'm still trying to find the exact decision, I think it's there, but the closest I've found so far:

1-4/8 Nearest Point of Relief from Cart Path Is in Casual Water; Nearest Point of Relief from Casual Water Is Back on Cart Path
Q. A player’s ball lies on a paved cart path from which he wishes to take relief under Rule 24-2b(i). It appears that the nearest point of relief will be in a large area of casual water which adjoins the cart path and the nearest point of relief from the casual water under Rule 25-1b(i) would be back on the cart path. What are the player’s options?

A. The player may proceed in accordance with Rule 24-2 and then, if applicable, Rule 25-1. He is not entitled to take relief from both the immovable obstruction and the casual water in a single procedure, unless after proceeding under these Rules, the player is essentially back where he started and it is evident that such a procedure is necessary to obtain relief from both conditions.

Therefore, the player should proceed as follows:

1. He may lift and drop the ball in accordance with Rule 24-2b(i) in the casual water.

2. He may play the ball as it lies or take relief from the casual water, in which case he would lift and drop the ball in accordance with Rule 25-1b(i).

3. If the ball when dropped comes to rest in such a position that there is interference by the cart path, he may play the ball as it lies or proceed in accordance with Rule 24-2b(i). If the nearest point of relief is in the casual water, as an additional option, the player may, in equity (Rule 1-4), obtain relief without penalty as follows: Using the new position of the ball on the cart path, the nearest point of relief from both the cart path and the casual water shall be determined which is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The player shall lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief, on a part of the course which avoids interference by the cart path and the casual water and is not in a hazard or on a putting green.

If the dropped ball rolls into a position where there is interference by either the cart path or the casual water, Rule 20-2c applies.

The same principle would apply if there was interference from any two conditions, e.g., casual water, a hole made by a burrowing animal, an immovable obstruction, from which relief without penalty was available and taking relief from one condition resulted in interference from the second condition.

Harold,

I keep looking at your reply wondering where your information is coming from? It's very creative, and player friendly. Sort of taking the best parts of both rules and combining them into one ruling... Nearest point of relief from the cart path, plus two club lengths?

Where is relief from the cart path (obstruction) coming from? Don't we first have to take our drop from the hazard, see where the ball ends up, and go from there? I agree that in some cases it could be an exercise in time wasted, but how do we determine that without going through the proper procedure?

Kevin