One of the Mole’s furry friends was playing at Pinnacle Point when the following situation occurred. His ball ended up in a bunker, resting within a metre of a warm hungry Puff Adder.
What to do?
- Nothing, it is an immovable obstruction, so play it as it lies. (Risk death?)
- A free drop as near as is safely possible to the original position, but remaining in the hazard.
- A free drop outside of the hazard.
- Wait until the snake has moved on.
- Play the shot and then change your shorts.
- Ask your caddie to play the shot for you.
The correct answer is, of course, 2. According to Decisions on the Rules of Golf 2008-2009, Rule 1-4/10 states that if a ball comes to rest in a dangerous situation such as next to a live rattlesnake (in this case a big, angry puff adder), the player is entitled to a free drop in the same hazard, or if not possible then in a similar hazard.
In both cases the ball may not be dropped closer to the hole. If this is impossible, the player may drop outside of the hazard with a one-shot penalty, keeping the point where the original ball lay between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.
posted by: Nico du Plessis on 2010/06/29
posted by: tom on 2009/02/02
comments: 2
