Are you entitled to free relief from a memorial tree on the course?

The Rules of Golf are difficult! Thankfully, we’ve received the guru. Our Rules Guy is aware of the e-book entrance to again. Got a query? He’s received all the solutions.

I used to be taking part in in our member-member event and hit a wayward shot. My ball got here to relaxation behind a memorial tree, which was straight between my ball and the inexperienced. I requested for free relief, reasoning that, as a memorial, the tree wasn’t a part of the course design. I used to be denied and informed I might solely have gotten free relief from the adjoining memorial stone. Was that proper? —Tim Muldoon, Buffalo, N.Y.

It sounds proper to Rules Guy.

Specific bushes may be protected by Local Rule by making them no-play zones, however such remedy is usually reserved for younger, rising bushes. If the committee didn’t make the memorial tree a no-play zone, then underneath the Definition of Obstruction the memorial plaque itself is the solely immovable obstruction and irregular course situation that free relief would enable for.

Rules Guy additionally needn’t inform you by no means to, er, take relief on a memorial tree.

For extra relief-related steering from our guru, learn on …

My wedge method landed on the fringe, created a enormous ball mark, popped out of it, and got here to relaxation an inch behind the mark. Naturally, that mark was straight on my line to the gap. I’d have most popular to putt the ball, however the depth of the mark made that unattainable… except I can repair the mark earlier than making my stroke. The method by no means touched the inexperienced — does that make a distinction? —Joe Scopel, Maryland 

Indeed, it does make a distinction, Joe — if the pitch mark have been on the inexperienced then you might repair it … however it isn’t, so you can’t.

Please refer to Rule 8.1; you will not be allowed to remove irregularities that enhance your situations affecting the stroke — on this case, the line of play. You’ll have to take your probabilities placing or chipping over it … or, we suppose, go round it, however that may simply be type of unhappy.

Need assist unriddling the greens at your house course? Pick up a customized Green Book from Golf Logix.

Got a query about the Rules? Ask the Rules Guy! Send your queries, confusions and feedback to rulesguy@golf.com. We promise he gained’t throw the e-book at you.