Drop on a path

[Dick in Shorts]

NPR is the NPR for what you are taking relief from, with the only caveat being that it can't be in a water hazard and can't be OB.  On e you've found NPR you then have one (free drop) or two (penalty drop) club lengths from that point.  You can't be nearer the hole than your NPR and you must have taken full relief from what you were taking relief from.  Where you drop within those one or two club lengths is entirely up to you, so if that happens to then put you on a path or behind a different staked tree then so be it, you just go back to the beginning and start again.

So theoretically you could go from being behind a staked tree in the thick rough to being on the fairway via two other free drops for interference from other staked trees.

Not sure NPR is relevant if it's a penalty drop?
Thought it was two club lengths from where ball lays - so if in a bush then it's not two club lengths from point wherre bush no longer interferes - but Two CL from where ball lays

[SBL]

Far as im aware its: Nearest point of relief,not nicest point of relief 

I wasn't suggesting to take nice relief over nearest point, just that I didn't think you could take relief and drop into another area that allows relief.

[Stu-Pid]

Not sure NPR is relevant if it's a penalty drop?
Thought it was two club lengths from where ball lays - so if in a bush then it's not two club lengths from point wherre bush no longer interferes - but Two CL from where ball lays

Yep, sorry wrote that on the train without thinking.  Obviously no NPR from a penalty drop, but the same principle applies that your two club lengths relief  can put you in a position where you need to take relief from another obstruction, such as a path or staked tree.

In future I'll wait until I'm at a keyboard to reply...   

[gripmyshaft]

All depends if the ball is unplayable.

If unplayable you have more than one option and you are entitled to any one of these options, irrespective of you dropping onto a patch that you will then need to take further relief from.

Once at Moray i found myself in a similar situation. Ball in gorse bush and i had the choice of playing within two club lengths, going back and hitting again, or playing the ball from a point further back keeping the position of the ball when in the bush between the flag and point of drop.

I chose to drop at the point further back, keeping the ball between the drop point and the flag. This meant having to drop beside an RAF landing light which is in the middle of the golf course. I dropped and then had to take relief from the landing light, without penalty.

Where it really got funny was when i played the shot, i hit the landing light that was 100 yards further up and it bounced 100 yards left. I was then entitled to take the shot again, without penalty. Played this shot to 4 feet, canned the putt for par and played the rest of the back 9 with a rather large smile

[Sam the Eagle]

I came across this scenario a few years ago while playing a round at Leatherhead.
Luckily I didn't need the rule book as I was playing with Stu 

[CapnAhab]

I feel that the Nearest Point of Relief is not always fully understood.  After this post, it may be pointed out that I don't really undestand it either, lol. 
You need to take FULL RELIEF from the issue at hand.  So, if your ball happens to have landed on, say, a 2-ft wide path and is just 6 inches away from the edge of that path - most people seem to drop at that side nearest the ball.  Whereas my understanding is that in taking full relief you must drop in a position where you are not impeded at all from the object from which you are taking relief - so in moving the ball just over 6 inches so you are just off the path would be incorrect if you are still standing on the path.  You should check your stance is free of the path THEN consider the dropping point.  It may very well be that the other side of the path was actually the nearest point of relief.

[Tin Pot]

I feel that it needs to be clear that there is no nearest point of relief when you're not taking relief.

So, this is the scenario.  I choose my two club length point to a place on a path - I can drop it there, if the ball comes to rest within two club lengths, I can then take relief from the path.

[Longshot]

I feel that it needs to be clear that there is no nearest point of relief when you're not taking relief.

So, this is the scenario.  I choose my two club length point to a place on a path - I can drop it there, if the ball comes to rest within two club lengths, I can then take relief from the path.

So long as the path is designated as one from which you can take relief. Seeing as we're being detailed 

[Tomba]

I feel that it needs to be clear that there is no nearest point of relief when you're not taking relief.

So, this is the scenario.  I choose my two club length point to a place on a path - I can drop it there, if the ball comes to rest within two club lengths, I can then take relief from the path.

If you're taking TWO club lengths its a penalty drop and not relief so the procedure is different.
If its a free drop taking relief then its ONE club length.