cart path

[hacker1]

after hitting a tee shot the ball land so that there is a tree between the ball and the hole( so close-such that you cannot swing towards the hole)
you decide to play/hit the ball sort of backwards
when you set up to swing you are now standing on the cart path
Question
do get relief- and if so can if it works out can now hit the ball towards the green since the tree is no longer in the way is that ok
thanks dave

[GarthM]

Rule 24-2 covers this:

Exception: A player may not take relief under this Rule if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a 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.

No relief.

[jvincent]

You are correct. (EDIT: I was referring to hacker1)

Since the backwards shot is not "an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play" you can take relief from the path. If after taking relief you can now play a different shot that is fine.

One thing to note is that if you take relief from the path and change you shot so that you are now standing on the path I'm pretty sure that you would not be allowed to play that shot since you were taking relief from the path in the first place.

[jvincent]

It looks like Garth and I posted at the same time.

I think the (b) part of the exception allows him to take relief.

I bet this is covered in the decisions.

[jvincent]

Checked the decisions and I'm pretty sure I'm right on this one.

[GarthM]

Yep, should have checked the decisions on this one...too many different circumstances. Looks like 24-2b/9.5 covers this one.

[Kiwi battler]

once relief is taken , you are free to change club/shot

if the path interferes with your new stance etc - you may take further relief