Relief from path used by maintenance

[GarthM]

Is a path (not a paved cart path) used repeatedly by maintenance staff (or golfers for that matter) considered an immovable obstruction and do I get relief?

What kind of path (other than those in the rules) would I get relief from?


Cheers

[jvincent]

According to the definition of "Obstruction" anything artificial is considered to be an obstruction.

So if it's a path that they have created even though it isn't paved I would say yes.

[dhacker1956]

Ground under repair maybe?

[gbower]

Garth by the definition the road or path has to be artificially surfaced. I know last year at one tournament a player was on an area that the maintenace vehicles ran over and no relief was given and he made a great shot.

[jvincent]

Gerry, isn't a gravel path that is "constructed" an obstruction?

[gbower]

Yup, gravel would be an artificial surface.

[Chambokl]

Garth, great question... I was going to ask the same one.

So, it has to be recovered by something... Thanks!

[AAA]

The best option is to declare it to be GUR. There is no conflict with the definition then.

However, the margins will have to be defined clearly (by words in the LR or white lines).

[GarthM]

OK, so no relief. Now what about loose stones that are beside a paved cart path or any other material (woodchips come to mind) that is used as a "shoulder" to the path? What about an area beside the cart path (say the inside of a corner) that has over time been worn down to hardpan? Am I entitled to relief?

[BC MIST]

OK, so no relief. Now what about loose stones that are beside a paved cart path or any other material (woodchips come to mind) that is used as a "shoulder" to the path? What about an area beside the cart path (say the inside of a corner) that has over time been worn down to hardpan? Am I entitled to relief?

Since wood chips and loose stones (gravel) are part of what makes the cart path artificially surfaced, and if these are part of what defines the outside border (margins) of the cart path, then relief should be given.

However, as there is nothing artificial about hardpan, then no relief. Similar to what was mentioned above, if maintenance vehicles reduced an area to hardpan, there would be no relief unless so declared by the committee.

The question that often comes up regarding cart paths occurs when the gravel/woodchips are widely scattered outside the "natural" border of paths. In this cae they would simply be loose impediments.

[GarthM]

So a cartpath can me multi-material? i.e a paved path with gravel or wood chips as a "shoulder"?

Since wood chips and loose stones (gravel) are part of what makes the cart path artificially surfaced, and if these are part of what defines the outside border (margins) of the cart path, then relief should be given.

However, as there is nothing artificial about hardpan, then no relief. Similar to what was mentioned above, if maintenance vehicles reduced an area to hardpan, there would be no relief unless so declared by the committee.

The question that often comes up regarding cart paths occurs when the gravel/woodchips are widely scattered outside the "natural" border of paths. In this cae they would simply be loose impediments.

[tyorke1]

for instance if the cart path ends and hard pan was lets say ten ft in front of it would this be considered cart path. good question

[gbower]

tyorke1, in your situation I will usually have that area marked as ground under repair or have it defined in a notice to competitors as part of the cart path.

[AAA]

for instance if the cart path ends and hard pan was lets say ten ft in front of it would this be considered cart path. good question

If there is no artificial material covering the bare earth hard pan, it is not an obstruction. However, it can be incorporated into the path for relief purposes by a Local Rule. But the margin should be made clear.

[mgedit]

"The question that often comes up regarding cart paths occurs when the gravel/woodchips are widely scattered outside the "natural" border of paths. In this cae they would simply be loose impediments."

In this case, what often happens is that some of the small stones get stepped on and become imbedded. If they are directly behind or beside the ball as it lies, can they be moved although they are no longer loose? I'm assuming not, unless covered by a local rule. Is this correct or would relief be granted via regular rules?

Cheers, Mike

[AAA]

As they are embedded they can not be removed.

Decision 23/9