Not an uncommon thing on many courses...the 150 yd marker bush.
I recently hit into one...had no play...took my unplayable penalty/drop.
Found out after the round, this course has a local rule allowing free drop from
a 150 bush. (the committee deemed I should not have taken a penalty)

I have always treated said bushes as no more than a growing plant on the course,
and played it, or dropped from it, like any other plant/tree on the course.

Since this scenario came up again with a playing partner on a different course,
with a response from others in the group that these bushes are *always* free
relief...which I doubt, and said so....

I looked it up in the rules, and in the decisions, and found nothing.
(doesn't mean it doesn't exist)

Question:

Is there anything in the rules or decisions
that speaks to these bushes, as far as legal local rules that can or cannot be applied,
or for that matter a rule or decision that defines said bushes (obstruction, immovable, etc)...

Hoping this dissertation makes sense, thanks for the help.
(really looking for a specific rule/decision, conjecture I've got)

Thanks,
Rich

Good question Rich. There is nothing in the Rules or Decisions that specifically calls out 150 yardage marker bushes or trees. However, I can't recall playing at a course that did not have a local rule allowing or usually requiring relief from these trees. I've seen courses treat these bushes as ground under repair and others that treat them as an immovable obstruction. In Appendix I of the Rules, there is some suggested language for a local rule to protect young trees. This wording is very common for 150 yard bushes as well. So, these local rules are permitted. I think the only thing that would run counter to the Rules is a local rule requiring relief, but also imposing a penalty. Below is the suggested language from Appendix I if you're interested. I hope this rambling helps.

3. Protection of Young Trees

When it is desired to prevent damage to young trees, the following Local Rule is recommended: “Protection of young trees identified by ______. If such a tree interferes with a player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, the ball must be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction). If the ball lies in a water hazard, the player must lift and drop the ball in accordance with Rule 24-2b(i), except that the nearest point of relief must be in the water hazard and the ball must be dropped in the water hazard or the player may proceed under Rule 26.The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Local Rule.

Exception: A player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the tree or (b) interference by the tree would occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play.

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:

Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes.”

I've witnessed several playing partners taking relief behind shrubs or trees, over the years....

Thanks Opus.

I saw that too...just have a hard time wrapping my mind on that when
some of those bushes are older than me.
Certainly no big deal...just got my curiosity up.

The R&A have made a ruling the the Local Rule (above) must only be applied if the tree or bush is 'Young and in need of protection'.
Established trees are not 'obstructions' and should not be considered as such.

Thanks for the info. That is interesting. Where is that ruling located? I couldn't find it in the 2008-2011 R&A Rules of Golf or the 2008-2009 Decisions.

I can't find a decision that talks relief from bushes (or similar objects) used to mark distance. My opinion is that such bushes are a natural part of the course and relief without penalty is not permissible. I agree that using a local rule for the protection of young trees to mark the bushes as obstructions is inappropriate. I suppose it would be permissible to mark such bushes as Ground Under Repair.

It does raise the point that if you drive a stake into the ground to mark the yardage, the golfer gets free relief but if you plant a bush or tree for the same purpose, you have to penalize the golfer.

Where are these yardage marking bushes located? Are they in the middle of the fairway? In the rough? I've never played a course that had them.

I've played a number of courses with bushes used as yardage markers. Usually private clubs ... that (rightly) believe the bushes to be more aesthetically pleasing than painted stakes. Generally they are on the side of the fairway, just into the first (or second) cut of rough.

Come to think of it, I'm not certain exactly what justification the courses used to give golfers a free drop - but all of them had a local rule. Which makes sense ... the rule is there not so much for the benefit of golfers, but rather because the bushes are generally small and distinct (in fact, often manicured - to serve as a marker, they cannot just look like a naturally growing bush, but have to be made distinct), and because they are placed close to the fairway balls often would wind up in them, or just behind them. If a player didn't get a drop, it would be perfectly allowable to take a hack at one's ball - at the expense of the bush (which as a result probably wouldn't last very long). Indeed, I remember a rule at one course that did not just permit a drop, it required it.

The ruling was given to me as a direct query I made to the R&A.
The key in the reply was that the specimen local rule specifically mentioned 'young' trees

Why not use fake plastic bushes and get free relief from artificial obstructions?

The course I play most of my Golf at uses Fairly good sized sandstone rocks as 150 markers.

After seeing this thread I asked the Pro about relief and the answer was "no".

Whether that's a local rule I don't know but at this course it's just bad luck if it's in the way.

This is not uncommon. There is a school of thought that says, although the stones may be 'unprocessed', they have been placed for an artificial purpose and are therefore obstructions. If they have been cut or carved they are of course obstructions, movable or immovable according to how they match the definition.

Otherwise they are loose impediments and may be moved (if you can find enough of Tiger Woods' fans).
A Local Rule would be useful.