Golf- ball rolls into an open gutter- penalty?

Question

Yesterday this problem arose. I drove off a par five tee. To the left is a large bank that slopes down to the fairway. At the bottom of the large bank there is an open, concrete lined gutter to carry away rainwater. My ball rolled down the bank and into the foot-deep gutter, and then rolled about 50 more yards back downhill towards the tee box. What happens? There are not red stakes, and no OB. Where do I place my ball and is there a penalty stroke?

Answer 1

This would be classed an Immovable obstruction, therefore you are entitled to free relief. One club length from nearest point of relief, not nearer the hole. Rule 24-2.

Answer 2

If the ball went into the concrete lined gutter , rolled back down the hill and was still in the gutter you get relief from an immovable obstruction, by dropping it on a spot which avoids the gutter within 1 club length with no penalty. If the ball rolled back downhill toward the tee box and was not in the gutter play it as it lies. If you lost 50yards, it's the "rub of the green"

Answer 3

I know that it isn't a penalty, because it is a man-made structure. You would probably put the ball where it enters the structure, and not where it ends up. This would be similar if a ball entered a water hazard, but got moved backwards due to a current (just an example that probably wouldn't happen because golf balls sink). The ball would be dropped from where the ball entered. But in that case, a penalty stroke would be administered. So i would say no penalty and a free drop where it entered.

Answer 4

You play the ball where it came to rest. Use the same logic as it you hit the drive into the woods and hit a tree and came back towards the tee. I once hit a tee shot out of bounds it bounced down the road and hit something and came back inbounds about 325 yards down the hole. Sometimes you have good luck and sometimes bad.

Answer 5

I actually think dimples would slow the roll down. They REALLY help with getting the ball to fly in the air and if top flite came up with a dimple in dimple design, I'm sure it would help even more. Also, $1 a ball isn't really that expensive. I think a common price is $20 a dozen. That's what I pay for my NXT Tours

Answer 6

No penalty. Drop the ball within a club length of where the ball entered.

Answer 7

You get relief from the obstruction. FROM where the ball is located NOT from where it entered the obstruction. Sorry. There is no penalty. You get "nearest relief" plus one club, no nearer the hole.

Look up USGA Rule 24-2
http://www.usga.org/playing/rules/books/

Answer 8

I would say yes it is a penalty as it is part of the course. And you can drop your ball as far back as you want.

Answer 9

You should receive a penalty stroke after such a bad drive.