Found a situation the other day and I was unsure how to proceed under the rules. I thought I'd post here to get feedback.

The ball was about 5-10 yards off the right of the fairway, in a strand of trees. Between the ball and the hole, about 10 yards away, was some sort of green electrical box, about 1.5 yards high, which blocked a route to the green. There was also overhang from the trees, so going over the electrical box was not an option.

Given this, what is the proper point of relief? Is it to drop the ball, no closer to the hole, at a point where the electrical box does not obscure the shot? I found that this would have put the ball directly behind a tree. I'm assuming this is the proper place and being behind a tree is merely the consequence of not keeping the ball on the fairway. But I'm still curious since the position I was in offered a shot to the green, save for the green box. Given that, is it possible to move the ball in a position clear of box it and the trees?

I guess I'm asking if taking relief from an immovable obstacle requires you drop in an obstructed position if that is the closest point of relief.

Thanks.

David

David,

You get relief for stance and swing only, no line of sight relief.

Kevin

24-2. Immovable Obstruction

a. Interference

Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player's stance or the area of his intended swing. If the player's ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.

Thanks. Next time I'll keep the damn thing in the fairway.

David

Anytime!

Kevin

Also, and I bring this up because you said you were in the woods, you can not take relief from an immovable obstruction if "it is clearly unreasonable for [the golfer] to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than an immovable obstruction." For example, if a tree and the electrical box were interfering with your stance, you would not be able to take relief from the electrical box.