The Remington Parkview Valley course crosses the mighty Rouge River 4 times. Two of those holes are par 3's where the penalty area begins directly in front of the tee. All of the crossings have significant areas of heavy shoreline vegetation. It is often not possible to see if a poorly struck shot might have actually made it across safely or not. Note - the vegetation is quite thick, and the likelihood of finding one's ball is not great, and if found will probably be unplayable.
So, how can, or how must, players proceed in those situations when there is some hope that the ball may not have landed in the penalty area and be lost? Are there options?
Rule 18.3 prohibits the use of a provisional ball for a ball that might be lost in a penalty area - so that option is out.
If the player feels his ball is probably landed in the penalty area and is not likely to be found, they can play either from where the original ball was played under penalty of stroke and distance, or to take a one stroke lateral release penalty from the penalty area. The disadvantage here is that the original ball, should it be found, is no longer in play.
However, if the player feels there may be a chance their ball may have travelled beyond the penalty area and be easily found, then they would need to go across the river and confirm that. But In this case, if the ball is not found and it is abundantly clear that the only possible place the original ball could be lost is in the penalty area, the only apparent relief would be to go back and seek relief as above.
Is this the only option available under the rules?
If this later situation is the case, it would involve considerable time and effort in some of those situations at Remington (as elsewhere I presume) to cross over the river, look for a ball, and to go back across once more, to seek relief after failing to find the original ball. One hole would require climbing a hill all the way back up to the top of the valley.
Full disclosure....where there is the slightest possibility that a ball might have made it across one of the river crossings at Remington, none in our group of seniors, many of of who are walking, would even consider the possibility of going back across the river to take such relief if the ball is not found. They would just drop a new ball where the original should have been found - had it made it through the penalty area. And, where relief has been taken and a second ball is put in play, should the first ball be found, guess which ball gets played?
So, how can, or how must, players proceed in those situations when there is some hope that the ball may not have landed in the penalty area and be lost? Are there options?
Rule 18.3 prohibits the use of a provisional ball for a ball that might be lost in a penalty area - so that option is out.
If the player feels his ball is probably landed in the penalty area and is not likely to be found, they can play either from where the original ball was played under penalty of stroke and distance, or to take a one stroke lateral release penalty from the penalty area. The disadvantage here is that the original ball, should it be found, is no longer in play.
However, if the player feels there may be a chance their ball may have travelled beyond the penalty area and be easily found, then they would need to go across the river and confirm that. But In this case, if the ball is not found and it is abundantly clear that the only possible place the original ball could be lost is in the penalty area, the only apparent relief would be to go back and seek relief as above.
Is this the only option available under the rules?
If this later situation is the case, it would involve considerable time and effort in some of those situations at Remington (as elsewhere I presume) to cross over the river, look for a ball, and to go back across once more, to seek relief after failing to find the original ball. One hole would require climbing a hill all the way back up to the top of the valley.
Full disclosure....where there is the slightest possibility that a ball might have made it across one of the river crossings at Remington, none in our group of seniors, many of of who are walking, would even consider the possibility of going back across the river to take such relief if the ball is not found. They would just drop a new ball where the original should have been found - had it made it through the penalty area. And, where relief has been taken and a second ball is put in play, should the first ball be found, guess which ball gets played?
Comment