Get out the eraser!

About once a year I get the chance to propose or eliminate rules in the REGL rulebook (either for the process of league play or for local enacted rules to supplement the Rules of Golf. Before our annual captain's meeting the league officers hold a meeting to go over the proposed league schedule and any potential changes that might be proposed at the captain's meeting. This year I went into the meeting without cracking open the rulebook, and quite frankly after a proposal the year before kinda blew up in my face, I didn't have too much energy to propose anything.

So, imagine my frustration when I got to the subject of this blog - which happens to be 7f in the REGL rules.... (and I quote):

"A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area, may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped as near as possible to the spot where it lay, but no nearer the hole without penalty. Your opponent must rule that the ball is embedded to seek relief if the ball is off the fairway or green.  If your opponent does not agree that the ball is embedded, you must abide by their decision."

Seem nice and innocent, BUT in 2019 under the major rule re-write, the USGA and R&A made embedded balls and what to do about them part of the Rules of Golf. It's taken 6 years for me to realize that embedded balls are covered fully under the "new" rules. Prior to 2019, a local rule was enacted by virtually every tournament (both professional and amateur) to deal with embedded balls. So, here's the rule courtesy of the Rules of Golf:

Rule 16.3

b. Relief for Embedded Ball

When a player’s ball is embedded in the general area and relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

• Reference Point: The spot in the general area right behind where the ball is embedded.

• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:

• Limits on Location of Relief Area:

  • Must be in the general area, and

  • Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.

In case you need the definition: Embedded

When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground. There's also a GREAT set of pictures in rule 16.3a that clearly show what an embedded ball looks like, and when it isn't. And here's the picture:

A ball does not necessarily have to touch soil to be embedded (for example, grass and loose impediments may be between the ball and the soil).

A couple of points on the differences between the current REGL rule (which I believe should be stricken in total from the rules for next year if I can remember to bring it up). 1) The Rules of Golf give the player the determination as to whether or not the ball is embedded - a player does not need to get the agreement of his opponent or playing partner to render an opinion. If it's embedded, it's embedded. 2) Rule 16.3b doesn't explicitly say that you can clean your ball. HOWEVER, it also uses the term "free relief". Under any free relief procedure, a player can clean the ball after lifting it. 3) the player is to drop the ball within the 1-clublength area behind the location where the ball became embedded, and as with all drops into a relief area, must come to rest in that area. If it rolls out, drop again. If it rolls out again, place at the point where it was dropped.

As with all REGL play, once that ball gets dropped in the relief area in your own fairway, you have the option of then rolling the ball (see the blog or rollin' balls....)

So, I think the eraser should be employed to make the REGL rule book a bit shorter. The Rules of Golf adequately cover the issue without having to adopt a local rule.