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legalbgl asked in SportsGolf · 1 decade ago

Question about taking relief from a cart path.?

I was playing a round and on one hole I hit my drive like I never hit it before. 220-230 in the air and another 30 or 40 on the ground. For me, thats an absolute crushing. To bad, this particular hole is a dog leg left, and I overshot the fairway and landed on the cart path. The fairway is lined by rough then lined by a thick row of trees, then the cart path. So, not exactly knowing the rules, I tried to hit off the cart path (I thought that was the rule.) What happens, I hit it right into the middle of the trees. Third shot, from the trees, ends up bouncing off a trunk and more trees. Fourth shot, finaly onto the fairway. Fifth into the greenside bunker. Sixth on the green, Eigth in the hole. So, after a 270 yard drive I get a freakin 8. On the next hole, someone said, why didn't you move the ball off the path.

Where should I have moved it? Onto the rough? straight line where it landed? one club length from the trees?

Update:

So I can clear the trees, but still may have to hit from the rough? How far from the trees am I allowed to go?

16 Answers

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  • John F
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    Everybody who said "nearest" point of relief is correct. Remember it's "nearest" point of relief, not "nicest" point! The rules make no mention of fairway, rough or trees.

    Relief is optional.

    Remember at the US Open when Tiger hit off the cart path? His nearest point of relief would have been behind a tree. That's why he hit from the path instead.

    To find the nearest point of relief, you should take the club you will most likely use on your next shot. Take a stance where you will not have interference with the path, and mark the position of the clubhead. (Put a tee there.)

    Do this on both sides of the cart path. Whichever is closer to the position of the ball is your "nearest" point of relief.

    Drop within one club length of that spot, any direction, but not closer to the hole.

    If you take a drop, you must get full relief from the path. If you drop and the ball rolls to a spot where you would still be standing on the path, you must drop again.

  • 1 decade ago

    Unless the trees are marked as a hazard, you must either play from the cart path (as you did) or drop within a clublength of the nearest point of relief from the cartpath (trees). It sounds to me like you made the right call.

    Now, if the trees were marked as a lateral hazard (generally a red spraypaint or stake line) AND the cartpath was WITHIN the hazard, then your ball was IN the hazard you had the option to move the ball back on any point between the ball and the tee on that line.

    If the trees were marked as a hazard and the carpath was NOT within the hazard, you have to determine where the nearest point of relief not nearer to the hole. That is the key.

  • 1 decade ago

    Off the path, no closer to the hole. Funny, though, on the famous 18th at St Andrews Old Course, the little paved path across the fairway is in play and a ball there needs to be played there. Annika Sornestam had to play hers from there at the Ladies British Open a couple of years ago. But generally, it's a free drop.

  • googie
    Lv 7
    1 decade ago

    The Rules of Golf allow one to take relief from a cart path. To determine to which side one gets relief, if the ball is right of center the relief must be taken on the right. Conversely, if the ball is on the cart path and is left of center, the relief must be taken on the left. If relief is taken, it must be full relief both for the dropped ball as well as the stance. Be careful. make the decision after careful consideration for you may take relief and end up in worse trouble than having to play from the cart path.

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You are entitled to a drop off the cart path. But you have to go the nearest point that gives you swing and stance relief. If that nearest point is in deep rough or trees, etc, then Oh well. In that case, sometimes it is better to hit off the path.

  • Anonymous
    7 years ago

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  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    You find the NEAREST point of relief for the ball and your stance, which may be in the rough, not closer to the hole. From this point you are allowed 1 club length to drop your ball.

  • burgas
    Lv 4
    5 years ago

    till the wood are marked as a danger, you need to the two play from the cart course (as you in all probability did) or drop interior of a clublength of the closest component of alleviation from the cartpath (wood). It sounds to me such as you made the perfect call. Now, if the trees have been marked as a lateral danger (somewhat often a purple spraypaint or stake line) AND the cartpath was in the risk, then your ball was in the risk you had the choice to circulate the ball lower back on any component between the ball and the tee on that line. If the trees have been marked as a danger and the carpath replaced into now not in the risk, you need to study the place the closest component of convenience not closer to the hollow. this is the main important.

  • 1 decade ago

    You could've taken relief from the cart path from the spot no nearer to the hole.

  • 1 decade ago

    1 club length from any man made structure. including cart paths. no nearer to the hole

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