http://www.golfswingbook.com/blog/rules/ground-under-repair



I have a question regarding ground under repair.

I was playing once, and the ball of a flightmate landed on a ground-under-repair cordoned off by sticks and string; playing the ball in that GUR was not allowed by the club.

The thing is, the GUR was in the rough right in between the green and a greenside bunker. If the person drops backward, he'd be in the bunker. The GUR extended pretty far through the side of the green, almost taking up one whole side of it.

Can you drop in the fringe, even if it is very far from where the ball landed, but one club length from the GUR marker? Can you actually drop on the green, as it is the nearest point of relief, as long as it isn't closer to the hole?

His only option in the situation is on either side of the GUR not on the green or in the bunker.

Rule 25-1:

b. Relief

Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an abnormal ground condition as follows:

(i)Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the condition and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

Thanks a lot, much appreciated. Now I know what he ended up doing was wrong, as he dropped in the bunker, and no way is that relief. We'll be prepared next time. Thanks.

Piggy-back question: if GUR is in the rough, and nearest 1-club relief point would put the drop into the fairway, that is OK right? I played with a guy last week who insisted that you had to "keep the same conditions" for your drop (can't go from rough to fairway), but I'm pretty sure that only applies if you are dropping inside a bunker.

If the GUR - and the ball - is in rough grass but the nearest point of relief happens to be on close-mown grass, chalk it up as a bonus and drop away. As long as the player is dropping fairly, and correctly, if the genuine nearest point of relief happens to afford a better lie than the player would have had, it's squarely down to rub of the green.

mat562 is correct. Below is the documentation confirming his assertion in case you are interested.

Definition of Through the Green:
"Through the green" is the whole area of the course except:
a. The teeing ground and putting green of the hole being played; and
b. All hazards on the course.

Decision 24-2b/8
Q: A player whose ball lies in the rough close to the fairway is entitled to relief from an immovable obstruction. In obtaining relief under Rule 24-2b(i), may the player drop the ball on the fairway?

A: Yes. There is no distinction in the Rules between fairway and rough; both are covered by the term “through the green”.

I'm familiar with the above decision, and don't dispute it in any way, but I've always found the answer odd in that it says the rules don't distinguish between fairway and rough. I believe they do, as evidenced as follows:

Rule 25-2
Embedded Ball Rule
Q. On what part of the course is a player entitled to relief from an embedded ball?
A. Under Rule 25-2, a player may only take relief from a ball that is embedded in a closely-mown area through the green. A closely-mown area is any area that is mowed to fairway height or less. However, the Committee may adopt a Local Rule that allows for relief from an embedded ball anywhere through the green. This Local Rule can be found in Appendix I; Part B.


To me, this is a distinction between fairway and rough. Odd, no?

I've always thought that was odd. I understand what their trying to do, but it does seem inconsistent.

Rub of the Green
A "rub of the green" occurs when a ball in motion is accidentally deflected or stopped by any outside agency (see Rule 19-1).

Being English old boy, it's a phrase that's also used in my neck of the woods as a euphemism for any fortuitous occurrence on the course.

I've always understood it to mean a chance, unpredictable occurance -- whether good or bad. It's all a rub of the green. This fits with Newby's USGA definition and Mat562's customary useage.

Not exactly. The fringe or a path through the rough for example are not fairway, but can be mown to fairway height or less.

You do get relief from an embedded ball in the fairway, you don't if the ball is in the rough. That, to me, is a distinction between fairway and rough.

Yes, but it's not the complete story. You get relief from an embedded ball in a closely mown path through the rough. I wouldn't call such a path fairway.

Actually, I am English. But as this is a Rules of Golf forum I thought we ought to be using the words as defined by both the USGA and R&A. It can save much confusion. eg reading 19-1 some may think that the euphamistic meaning applies in the rule.
The Rules are very pedantic as written. They should be read in the same way.

From About.com (Not that they have any particular claim to golf knowledge, but perhaps they have one to common useage of the English language? BTW, they clearly don't know what an "outside agency" is in that they seem to include one's caddie.)


Definition: "Rub of the green" is one way in which the Rules of Golf say, "those are the breaks."
If a ball is accidentally deflected or stopped by an outside agency (caddie, forecaddie, referee, etc.), it is called "rub of the green" and the ball is played where it comes to rest. No penalty is assessed.

Anytime you see "rub of the green" in the rulebook, imagine a rules official shrugging his shoulders and saying, "Hey, whaddya gonna do?"