I hope that this is an OK place to put my question.

The course that I regulary play has a wooden fence that protects a storm water drain. The fence is located within a lateral water hazard. I recently placed a tee shot close enough to the fence that it interfered with my swing, however, my ball was not in the hazard. I asked the other players within the group and they advised that I was entitled to free relief from the immovable obstruction. The following day my partner in a 4 ball event hit a shot to the same spot. His ball was not in the hazard, but the construction in the hazard interfered with his swing. We were playing with a committee member that advised the fence formed part of the hazard as it was inside the red line and as such my partner was not entitled to relief.

I have read through the rules on a couple of occassions and cannot determine which one of the two outcomes above was the correct decision.

Any suggestions?

Thanks you

The rule for immovable obstruction lists as exception when ball is in hazard and thus in your situation, generally, taking relief is appropriate. Sounds like the committee member was not citing a local rule but rather his interpretation of USGA rules, but I think his interpretation is flawed.

http://www.usga.org/questions/faqs/rules_a...=97&Rule=24

Rules on line and a search engine is a beautiful thing.

Could the fence for some odd reason have been declared an integral part of the course?

As my ball was not in the hazard I can only assume that the fence has been declared as an integral part of the course. I will check the local rules and see what it says.

Thanks for the help.