Cart Path Rule

[LobWedge]

you know what's confusing? when would the NPR not be the area which the ball is closest to? would that be a situation where the closest area is an out of bounds area, water, or something unplayable like that?

thanks

Sure, for a right-handed player, say your ball was laying on a cart path very close to the right-hand edge, and there is an area through the green, right next to that right edge of the path, but it's only a couple of feet wide, and then to the right of that is the margin of a water hazard. There may be "relief" for the ball to the right of the path, but there is not enough room for the ball and your stance. The rule says that your NPR cannot be in a water hazard, so your nearest point of complete relief would now be to the left of the path. There are areas on the right side of the 10th & 15th holes at Loch March where this can happen.

[nokids]

Sure, for a right-handed player, say your ball was laying on a cart path very close to the right-hand edge, and there is an area through the green, right next to that right edge of the path, but it's only a couple of feet wide, and then to the right of that is the margin of a water hazard. There may be "relief" for the ball to the right of the path, but there is not enough room for the ball and your stance. The rule says that your NPR cannot be in a water hazard, so your nearest point of complete relief would now be to the left of the path. There are areas on the right side of the 10th & 15th holes at Loch March where this can happen.

it's starting to make sense. does this relief rule apply to a ball sitting on grass but which is very close to a man-made artificial thing in your way? i had the misfortune on 11th hole at LM to have my ball sit next to the bricks along the cart path. i couldnt make a normal chip shot, so i hacked at it with a sandwedge. could i have moved it without a penalty?

[gbower]

At the Citizen tournament we had added in the notice to competitors that the bricks are part of the cart path which would allow you free relief for an immovable obstruction. This is the only fair thing as it is a man made obstruction as the cart path is.

[nokids]

At the Citizen tournament we had added in the notice to competitors that the bricks are part of the cart path which would allow you free relief for an immovable obstruction. This is the only fair thing as it is a man made obstruction as the cart path is.

NICE! next time i'll take my relief and avoid getting a 7 on that hole!

[AAA]

it's starting to make sense. does this relief rule apply to a ball sitting on grass but which is very close to a man-made artificial thing in your way? i had the misfortune on 11th hole at LM to have my ball sit next to the bricks along the cart path. i couldnt make a normal chip shot, so i hacked at it with a sandwedge. could i have moved it without a penalty?

Bricks lining a cart path are by definition an immovable obstruction. They are artificial and almost certainly cannot be moved.

May I suggest that before you play in any tournaments (or even before you play another game) that you read the Definitions. It will make life much easier.

http://www.usga.org/bookrule.aspx?id=14253

[nokids]

Bricks lining a cart path are by definition an immovable obstruction. They are artificial and almost certainly cannot be moved.

May I suggest that before you play in any tournaments (or even before you play another game) that you read the Definitions. It will make life much easier.

http://www.usga.org/bookrule.aspx?id=14253

you're right, i should flip through that RCGA rules of golf book from time to time.