Last week's rule contest

[oldmaninblack]

"Norm takes relief from a sprinkler head on the fringe of the green. When dropped, the ball first hit the fringe, then rolled onto and came to rest on the green, no closer to the hole. Cliff tells Norm that he must re-drop without penalty. Is Cliff correct?"

If the ball rolled "no closer to the hole" why does he have to re-drop? Under 24-2 b(i) I would have thought that he was OK since the nearest point of relief was not on the green.

[Gary Hill]

"Norm takes relief from a sprinkler head on the fringe of the green. When dropped, the ball first hit the fringe, then rolled onto and came to rest on the green, no closer to the hole. Cliff tells Norm that he must re-drop without penalty. Is Cliff correct?"

If the ball rolled "no closer to the hole" why does he have to re-drop? Under 24-2 b(i) I would have thought that he was OK since the nearest point of relief was not on the green.

Rule 20-2c(iii) requires that a dropped ball which rolls onto and comes to rest on a putting green MUST be re-dropped.

[Law]

because his lie was improved right?

[Gary Hill]

because his lie was improved right?

I don't understand what you are asking?

The player is allowed relief from a sprinkler head under Rule 24-2.
The player correctly followed the relief procedure described in Rule 24-2b(i).

However, after the ball was dropped, it rolled to a position where Rule 20-2c(iii) required the ball to be re-dropped.

Rule 13 does not apply.

[oldmaninblack]

Thanks Gary.
Have to remember to check rule 20 in any relief situation.

[LBH]

Gary, I think what "Law" was implying was the fact that rule Rule 20-2c(iii) exists because what results of this situation is an improved lie.

[Gary Hill]

Gary, I think what "Law" was implying was the fact that rule Rule 20-2c(iii) exists because what results of this situation is an improved lie.

The player's actions may have resulted in an improved situation, but that is not the same as "improving your lie".

The player has not moved, bent, or broken anything fixed or growing.
The player has not created or eliminated irregularities of surface.
The player has not pressed anything down.
The player has not removed dew, frost, or water.

Therefore, the player has NOT improved his lie.