24-2.
Immovable Obstruction
a. Interference
Interference by an immovable obstruction
occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or
so close to the obstruction that the obstruction interferes with
the player's stance or the area
of his intended swing. If the player's ball lies on the putting
green, interference also occurs
if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his
line of putt. Otherwise,
intervention on the line of play
is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.
b. Relief
Except when the ball is in a water hazard
or a lateral water hazard, a
player may obtain
relief from interference by an immovable obstruction,
without penalty, as follows:
- (i) Through the Green:
If the ball lies through the green,
the nearest point of relief
shall be determined which is not in a hazard
or on a putting green. The player
shall lift the
ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole
than the nearest point of relief,
on a part of the course which
avoids interference (as defined) by the immovable obstruction
and is not in a hazard or on a putting green.
- (ii) In a Bunker: If
the ball is in a bunker; the
player shall lift and drop the ball in
accordance with Clause (i) above, except that the nearest
point of relief must be in the
bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker.
- (iii) On the Putting Green:
If the ball lies on hte putting green,
the player shall lift the
ball and place it at the nearest point of relief which is
not in a hazard. The nearest
point
of relief may be off the putting green.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 24-2b.
(Ball rolling to a position where there is interference by the condition
from which relief was
taken - see Rule 20-2c.(v)
Exception: A player may not
obtain relief under Rule 24-2b if (a) it is clearly unreasonable
for
him to playa stroke because of interference by anything other than
an immovable obstruction
or (b) interference by an immovable obstruction would Occur only
through use of an
unnecessarily abnormal stance,
swing or direction of play.
*Note 1: If a ball is in a water
hazard (including a lateral water hazard), the player is not
entitled to relief without penalty from interference by an immovable
obstruction.
The player shall play the ball as it lies or proceed under Rule
26-1.
*Note 2: If a ball to be dropped
or placed under this Rule is not immediately recoverable,
another ball may be substituted.
*Note 3: The Committee may make
a Local Rule stating that the player must determine the
nearest point of relief wihtout crossing over, through or under
the obstruction.
c. Ball Lost
It is a question of fact whether a ball lost after having been struck
toward an immovable
obstruction is lost in the obstruction.
In order to treat the ball as lost in the obstruction, there
must be reasonable evidence to that effect. In the absence of such
evidence, the ball must
be treated as a lost ball and
Rule 27 applies.
If a ball is lost in an immovable obstruction, the spot where the
ball last entered the obstruction
shall be determined and, for the pUrpose of applying this Rule,
the ball shall be deemed to lie
at this spot.
- (i) Through the Green: If
the ball last entered the immovable obstruction
at a spot
through the green, the . player
may substitute another ball without penalty and take relief
as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(i).
- (ii) In a Bunker: If
the ball last entered the immovable obstruction
at a spot in a bunker,
the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take
relief as prescribed in Rule
24-2b(ii).
- (iii) In a Water Hazard (including a
Lateral Water Hazard): If the ball last entered
the immovable obstruction at
a spot in a water hazard, the
player is not entitled to relief
without penalty. The player shall proceed under Rule 26-1.
- (iv) On the Putting Green:
If the ball last entered the immovable obstruction
at a spot
on the putting green, the player
may substitute another ball without penalty and take relief
as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(iii).
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE:
Match play -Loss of hole
Stroke play -Two strokes.  ........BACK |
