Have you ever come across a dangerous situation like this photo shows? What do the Rules of Golf say about this situation? Your ball is in a penalty area lying up against an alligator.
Rule 16.2 Dangerous Animal Condition When Relief is Allowed A “dangerous animal condition” exists when a dangerous animal (such as venomous snakes, stinging bees, alligators, fire ants, or bears) near a ball could cause serious physical injury to the player if they had to play the ball as it lies.
A player may take relief under Rule 16.2b from interference by a dangerous animal condition no matter where their ball is on the course. This Rule does not apply to other situations on the course that could cause physical harm (such as a catus).
Rule 16.2b Relief for Dangerous Animal Condition When there is interference by a dangerous condition: 1. When Ball is Anywhere Except Penalty Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b, c or d, depending on whether the ball is in the general area, in a bunker or on the putting green.
2. When Ball is in Penalty Area. The player may take free relief or penalty relief: • Free Relief: Playing from Inside Penalty Area. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b, except that the nearest point of complete relief and the relief area must be in the penalty area. • Penalty Relief: Playing from Outside Penalty Area. One Stroke Penalty The player may take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d If there is interference by a dangerous animal condition where the ball would be played after taking this penalty outside the penalty area, the player may take further relief without additional penalty.
What if the alligator is in a bunker?
16.1c Relief for Ball in Bunker If the player’s ball is in a bunker and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take either free relief under (1) or penalty relief under (2):
(1) Free relief: Playing from bunker. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b except that: The nearest point of complete relief area must be in the bunker.
(2) Penalty Relief Playing from Outside Bunker (Back-on-the-Line Relief). For one penalty stroke, the player may drop the original ball or another ball outside the bunker, keeping the spot of the original ball between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped (with no limit on how far back the ball may be dropped). The spot on the line where the ball first touches the ground when dropped creates a relief area that is one club-length in any direction from that point, but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area: Must not be nearer the hole than the spot of the original ball, and May be in any area of the course except the same bunker, but Must be in the same area of the course that the ball first touched when dropped.
Here is this month’s golf etiquette tip: Players need to remember that when you leave the golf cart you need to take sand with you, especially on cart path only holes. We have beautiful new golf courses, and as members, we need to keep them that way
