Nearest point of relief

[3puttwizard]

Had an issue today and I'm pretty sure I let someone get away with murder

Player hooked ball into brambles left of the fairway. To the left of these is fencing all the way down. His ball is about 3 feet into the cabbage and claims an unplayable.

I'm thinking he will still be dropping it in the shit closer to the fence line.
He takes 2 club lengths from outside the bushes in the semi and puts it on the green and sinks the putt.

I'm thinking an unplayable would have been to go back and replay the shot as he would still have been dropping in the shit....

[Tomba]

Sounds like he took two club lengths from where the brambles started instead of two clubs from where his ball lay?

If thats the case then he was wrong. Should carry a rule book for these times.

[BigJim]

It's not nearest point of relief for an unplayable lie, it's within two clublengths, not nearer to the hole is it not? (Or back as far as necessary with line of sight to the hole - in this case the fence prevented that.)

In which case 3 ft into the crap could easilly be covered by two clublengths.

[Jono]

Rule 28 outlines your 3 options for an unplayable lie

[Tomba]

Meant to add. I think Nearest Point of Relief is only used for taking FREE relief from GUR, abnormal ground, etc.

He is taking a drop for an unplayable Rule 28 so only has three options. Back to where he played original shot, keeping the point where his ball lay and taking a line to the flag going back as far as he wishes or taking two club lengths from where the ball lies.

Nearest point of relief would have been correct if it was an area marked as GUR or with blue stakes/paint then it would be ok to take two club lengths from the brambles If they were marked with blue stakes/paint.

Its late but i'm sure all of the above is correct.

[Blofeld]

3PW....

You have been advised correctly by each of the four posters above.

[3puttwizard]

Meant to add. I think Nearest Point of Relief is only used for taking FREE relief from GUR, abnormal ground, etc.

He is taking a drop for an unplayable Rule 28 so only has three options. Back to where he played original shot, keeping the point where his ball lay and taking a line to the flag going back as far as he wishes or taking two club lengths from where the ball lies.
Nearest point of relief would have been correct if it was an area marked as GUR or with blue stakes/paint then it would be ok to take two club lengths from the brambles If they were marked with blue stakes/paint.

Its late but i'm sure all of the above is correct.

I was sure about the replay or the go back as far as you like options.

The 2 club lengths - should that be in line with your ball and the green or can you angle it away. I know it should be not nearer to the hole but the direction of the 2 clubs is where the issue arises.

[True Blue]

I was sure about the replay or the go back as far as you like options.

The 2 club lengths - should that be in line with your ball and the green or can you angle it away. I know it should be not nearer to the hole but the direction of the 2 clubs is where the issue arises.

2 club lengths from where the ball lay in any direction, not nearer the hole AFAIAW

[Stu-Pid]

The 2 club lengths - should that be in line with your ball and the green or can you angle it away. I know it should be not nearer to the hole but the direction of the 2 clubs is where the issue arises.

Any direction as long as not nearer the hole.  It's the same for all drops.

[Scott W]

Does this help?

[Jono]

So did he take  two club lengths relief from where the ball came to rest in the bush or from the edge of the bush?

was it nearer the hole?

You should remember this rule as it can really help you make the best of a bad situation in a comp.

R&A have an app for that

[3puttwizard]

Does this help?

Yep its the arc that helps.  

@Jono. 2 club lengths from the edge of the bush not from where the ball was. I don't think 2 clubs would have got him out of the bush either 

[Jono]

so now that we know he dropped from the wrong point- what penalty should have been added to his score for that infringement?

[Stu-Pid]

so now that we know he dropped from the wrong point- what penalty should have been added to his score for that infringement?

Matchplay = loss of hole

[Jono]

in stroke play its 2 strokes is it rule 20-7?

then of course you are DQ'd for signing for a wrong score.