1. If the ball lands on mud and is not marked as a hazard by the golf course can you move it a club length behind out of the mud? The course has their own rule that says yes but me and my co-worker play at 6am and most of the time the grass is wet so there is a lot of mud spots and he like to take advantage of the mud rule and move his ball around. Also what rule applies if the mud spot is 5 yards in front of his ball? He says he can move it to the side because its in his line. Is that true?
2007-11-26 13:24:54 · 8 answers · asked by Mike C 1 in Sports ➔ Golf
Appendix I of the "Rules of Golf" empower the local course to adopt certain, temporary rules to help the game. It specifically mentions mud (page 100 on the USGA website). Since your friend is citing a local rule, it is better consult the course itself for what their definition and intent is.
If the course is really muddy, then it doesn't matter if you lift, clean, and drop (not place) the ball on every shot -- that's what the rule is there for. Talk to the local pro and see what they say.
However, if the mud spot is 5 yds in front of the ball, you absolutely, positively do NOT get a drop. There's nothing in the rules of golf that even remotely suggests that this is legal.
For the sake of argument, you might be able to justify a free drop from mud under two USGA rules, but they take some interpretation. However, I don't think it is very likely that you will run into these conditions. This is why they created the local rule.
Rule 25-1 (Abnormal Ground Conditions): Under this rule, you get a free drop out of any "casual water." The USGA defines casual water as: "any temporary accumulation of water on the course that is visible before or after the player takes his stance and is not in a water hazard...A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches the Casual water." If the water appears after the player has taken his stance, it is still defined as casual water.
So under Rule 25-1, if you're in real 'soupy' mud that has water visible, then it can be considered casual water. If it's really thick mud where there is no visible standing water, then rule 25-1 does not apply (but it sounds like the local rule does).
Rule 25-2 (Embedded ball): This one is a bit more complicated: "A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty."
Under this rule, the following conditions must exist in order to take a free drop: (1) The ball must be in its own divot -- in other words, it must hit the ground and STOPPED. It cannot have bounced or rolled into the mud -- it must be the divot formed by the ball's first contact with the ground, (2) It must have occured in the fairway, or in another path in the rough where the grass has been mowed to fairway height.
Hope that helps!
2007-11-27 03:08:50 · answer #1 · answered by Chris D 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Your fellow competitor is not playing by the rules. If it's not marked as ground under repair you shouldn't move it at all. If there is a local rule about mud and it is printed on the scorecard or posted in the clubhouse maybe it qualifies as "abnormal ground conditions", and he gets nothing for mud five yards ahead of him. The only free drop you should take is if the ball is imbedded in it's own pitch mark through the green - then you get a free drop no closer to the hole.
2007-11-27 08:51:10 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is simply a mud "spot," you'll have to play the ball where it lies. But the USGA Rules of Golf do allow for relief from "abnormal ground conditions," such as a mud puddle or a large area on mud with no grass on it. Your local golf professional would be able to clarify your specific situation.
As for the mud spot 5 yards in front of his ball, he's out of luck, through the green. Even under a local rule that allows preferred lies ("winter rules"), he would not be allowed relief.
2007-11-27 00:42:32 · answer #3 · answered by kimglf 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The only thing that might cover this is a local rule for "preferred lies", sometimes called "winter rules". You would generally be allowed a free drop. The length of the drop is set by the club, but it's usually one club length.
The rule applies only to the lie of your ball, not to the line of your next shot. There is absolutely no justification for taking a drop just because there is mud 5 yards in front of your ball.
Of course, if you do get a one-club drop, you can move it left or right. You just can't move it closer to the hole.
2007-11-26 15:37:06 · answer #4 · answered by John F 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Stuck In The Mud Rules
2016-12-16 15:27:25 · answer #5 · answered by puccinelli 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your friend is taking advantage of the "pick, clean and place" rule. I call it "pick, clean and cheat". I'm sure that your friend moves the ball around whenever he wants. Your local rules do apply to your local matches however, if you play the ball down, play it where it lies, you'll be a better, more rounded player that can play in any conditions. You didn't indicate whether you have a money match very time you two play so if you don't it's no big deal. If you do, establish the rules before you plug it in on the first tee.
2007-11-27 01:35:52 · answer #6 · answered by toughnottobeacynic 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you play by the rules you get relief if the ball is in casual water or if the ball is plugged. There is not a mud rule,though a club can pretty much make any local rule they want. You buddy is pulling a fast one on you with the mud on his line deal. I suggest you play lift ,clean and place and leave it at that. Hope you wax your cheating buddy.
2007-11-27 10:13:12 · answer #7 · answered by Alasdair W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
see imbedded lie rule and no he can't move ball if there is mud between ball and hole
2007-11-27 05:11:02 · answer #8 · answered by JB H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋