INTERPRETATION OF THE RULES OF GOLF 
by Frank Gal, 
Chairman of Rules & Amateur Status

May 2006 - Do I get a drop from the path?

This is a question frequently asked by players when they play in a competition or event away from their own course.

Relief without penalty is generally available under Rule 24-2 from artificially surfaced roads and paths since they are "obstructions" by definition (see page 31 of the Rules of Golf booklet).

However, a number of issues need to be clarified before we can say for certain that free relief is available from a path.

Firstly, a bare path worn in the earth is not an obstruction, so free relief is not available.

Secondly, what constitutes artificial surfacing? Decision 24/9 tells us that "A road or path to which any foreign material, e.g. concrete, tar, gravel, wood chips, etc. has been added is artificially surfaced and thus an obstruction."

Therefore, if the path is surfaced with material that wasn't there before, it is regarded under the Rules as being artificially surfaced, even if the material is something natural such as gravel or sand. Note that this applies whether or not the path has a border constructed of wood, concrete or something similar.

Thirdly, always check the Local Rules on the score card for guidance when seeking relief from immovable obstructions such as surfaced roads and paths.

The Committee may declare any obstruction (including an artificially surfaced path) an integral part of the course. If it does so, there is no free relief and the options available are to play the ball as it lies or declare it unplayable.

The most famous example of this is on the Road Hole at the Old Course in St Andrews. The road has always been an important element of the hole, and to allow free relief would eliminate one of its essential obstacles.

Incidentally, the provision that the Committee can declare any construction an integral part of the course, disallowing relief, was introduced in 1976 because of the R&A's reluctance to give free relief from the Road on the Road Hole. Prior to this, such roads and paths were not obstructions and relief was allowed only under a Local Rule.

Finally, having established that a particular path is an obstruction because it is "artificially" surfaced and that there is no Local Rule declaring it as an integral part of the course, relief would still be denied if the exception to Rule 24-2 were to apply.

Exception: A player may not obtain relief under Rule 24-2 if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than an immovable obstruction or (b) interference by an immovable obstruction would occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play (see page 91 of the Rules of Golf Booklet).