Sheriff
on Rules: January 5th. 2017
Abnormal
Ground Conditions,
interference by an abnormal ground condition occurs if the Ball lies in or
touches the condition, or if the condition prevents you from taking your stance
or area of intended swing.
Question is
the footprint of a burrowing animal a hole, cast or runway within the meaning of
the term Abnormal Ground Conditions? Believe it or not the Answer is “No”, a footprint is an
irregularity of surface from which there is no relief, as with a few rabbit
droppings not constituting a scrape.
Getting
to the point of this blog. Mr Mole, the unwelcome
visitor to our golf course which often causes much discussion and misleading
advice given on the course with the question, “may I take relief”.
My
response is:- a cast made by a burrowing animal falls within the GUR definition
for a relief situation and therefore
includes a Molehill and/or the remains of a Molehill. If
the Molehill (or remains of a Molehill) interferes with your stance or intended
swing path or is in contact with the ball, relief under 25.1b is available.
Note,
if
you can take your normal stance over an adjacent Molehill and address your ball
laying clear, without interference to your swing-path, this situation does not
fall within the definition nor does “Line
of sight with a Molehill” relief for these situations is not available.
Sheriff
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