Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
One of the most common questions I am asked is when taking relief from a red penalty area and there is a cart path running along the red line can the player skip over the path and drop a ball. The short answer is “no, you must handle each Rule separately.”
It is very common to have cart paths that run along areas of water, especially in Florida. If you are taking relief using the two club lengths option you must drop a ball within two club lengths from where the ball last crossed the red line of the penalty area. Of course, you also must not drop closer to the hole than the spot where the ball crossed the red line. Many times this will leave you dropping on the cart path. You first must get the ball in play and satisfy Rule 17 - Penalty Areas.
Dropping a ball on a cart path can be interesting. Many times the ball will bounce around and end up in a position that will require a second drop. If after the second drop, the ball ends up in place not permitted, like back in the water or closer to the hole, then place a ball on the cart path where the ball first struck the path on the second drop. Now you have satisfied the penalty area rule.
Now we have a completely new situation; we have interference from an immovable obstruction. We have the option to play the ball as it lies or take free relief under Rule 16 – Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions, Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball (long rule title!)
I know this two-step process seems silly, but it is required.
Stay safe out there; we look forward to seeing you on the course soon.
