Relief from No Play Zone Interference in Penalty Area
3 min read
The Situation
If a ball lies in a penalty area near a bird nest (defined as a no-play zone by the Committee), and the nest interferes with my swing, am I required to take penalty relief?
The Ruling
The statement is: "A player's ball comes to rest near a bird nest and both the ball and the nest lie in a penalty area. The nest interferes with the player's intended swing. The player must take penalty relief under the penalty area Rule." This is false.
Let's break this down using the Rules of Golf:
1. No Play Zone (NPZ): The Committee has declared all bird nests as no play zones. This means you can't play from them.
2. Location: Your ball and the bird nest (NPZ) are both in a penalty area.
3. Interference: The nest is in the way of your intended swing.
According to Rule 17.1e, if your ball is in a penalty area and a no play zone interferes with your stance or swing, you must take relief.
Now, let's look at the type of relief:
If your ball is in the no play zone inside the penalty area, you must take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d or 17.2.
But, if your ball is outside the no play zone, but the no play zone interferes with your stance or swing for a ball that's in the penalty area, you have two options:
1. Take penalty relief outside the penalty area under Rule 17.1d or 17.2 (this costs one penalty stroke).
2. Take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in a relief area within the penalty area. This relief area must be no nearer the hole and at the nearest point that gives you complete relief from the no play zone.
The scenario says the ball is "near a bird nest" and "both the ball and the nest lie in a penalty area," and the "nest interferes with the player's intended swing." This means the ball isn't necessarily inside the no play zone itself, but the no play zone is causing interference.
Therefore, you have the option to take free relief within the penalty area. The original statement is false because it says you must take penalty relief, when free relief is also an option.
In short: When a no play zone (like a bird nest) interferes with your swing and your ball is in a penalty area (but not in the no play zone), you can choose to take free relief within the penalty area. You don't have to take penalty relief.
Let's break this down using the Rules of Golf:
1. No Play Zone (NPZ): The Committee has declared all bird nests as no play zones. This means you can't play from them.
2. Location: Your ball and the bird nest (NPZ) are both in a penalty area.
3. Interference: The nest is in the way of your intended swing.
According to Rule 17.1e, if your ball is in a penalty area and a no play zone interferes with your stance or swing, you must take relief.
Now, let's look at the type of relief:
If your ball is in the no play zone inside the penalty area, you must take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d or 17.2.
But, if your ball is outside the no play zone, but the no play zone interferes with your stance or swing for a ball that's in the penalty area, you have two options:
1. Take penalty relief outside the penalty area under Rule 17.1d or 17.2 (this costs one penalty stroke).
2. Take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in a relief area within the penalty area. This relief area must be no nearer the hole and at the nearest point that gives you complete relief from the no play zone.
The scenario says the ball is "near a bird nest" and "both the ball and the nest lie in a penalty area," and the "nest interferes with the player's intended swing." This means the ball isn't necessarily inside the no play zone itself, but the no play zone is causing interference.
Therefore, you have the option to take free relief within the penalty area. The original statement is false because it says you must take penalty relief, when free relief is also an option.
In short: When a no play zone (like a bird nest) interferes with your swing and your ball is in a penalty area (but not in the no play zone), you can choose to take free relief within the penalty area. You don't have to take penalty relief.