7/11/2026 - UCSD Casual Golf Club @ The Golf Club of California

It's always fun when the rules actually help you.  One member of our foursome missed the green to the right on #4.  Her ball came to rest right next to a very large rock.  Technically, the rock is a loose impediment, but there was no way that we were going to be able to move it.  She had a shot, but it was risky in terms of the shot, and possible damage to her club.  Unlike those folks who play on TV, most of us hacks pay for our clubs.

She took her stance, and she was standing on a sprinkler cover.  A sprinkler cover is an immovable obstruction, which is covered by Rule #16.1.  There is a caveat noted in Rule #16.1a-3 - "No relief when clearly unreasonable to play ball."  It would have been a challenging shot, but by no means unreasonable.

Free relief!

 

7/9/2026 - Welk - The Fountains

My drive went through the fairway into a bunker on #9.  I think that I hit sand on my backswing, but I'm not sure.

The rule I may have violated is Rule #12.2b.  If you touch sand on your backswing, it's a 2 stroke penalty.

But what do I do if I'm not sure?  AI suggested the "naked eye test."  No one saw it, including me.  I think I felt it.

My wife, who is the most honest person I know asked what I would have done in a tournament scenario?  If I was playing in a tournament, I would have told my playing partners about it, and I would have given myself the penalty.  So I'll be posting a 7 for #9.

 

7/4/2026 - The Crossings at Carlsbad

Someone dropped a tee in the rough just off the fairway on #11, and my ball came to rest on it.  I tried to move it, but there was no way to move it without moving my ball.  I thought a tee would be a movable obstruction, as opposed to a loose impediment, but I wasn't certain, so I left it there.

I was right about it being a movable obstruction, because it is artificial.  A loose impediment is a natural object.

Rule #15.1 covers Loose Impediments.  If the ball moves while you are removing a loose impediment, then it is a one stroke penalty.

Rule #15.2 covers Movable Obstructions.  Specifically, Rule #15.2a-2 covers this scenario.  If the ball had moved while I was removing the tee, then I simply replace the ball with no penalty.

If my ball was on or in a movable obstruction (think PGA Tour when the ball ends up in a spectator's bag), then you have to drop within one club length (still no penalty).  Interesting distinction.

====

Addendum

Has the pond on #7 always been yellow staked?  I thought it was previously red.  My approach hit above the stakes, but kicked back into the pond.  Rather than dropping greenside, I had to play from 50 yards out.  Amazingly, I got up and down for bogey anyway.