Get a Ruling • LWH or OB
I would be grateful for opinions.
We have a river running alongside 5 holes. Apart from one, the course is protected by a 2m high flood protection bank. In addition the normal river level alongside the holes is 1m-2m below the fairway level and the bank side is virtually vertical. We deem any ball in or over the river to be OB.
The other hole is on the 'wrong' side of the bank (ie the river side). To the right of the fairway, is a rough line of trees and bushes and beyond, an area of rough about 8cm-12cm deep. Before the river is a poor area of ground. Long grass, scrub and shingle. The LWH margin is between these ill differentiated areas. Then comes the river.
The diagram is an attempt to show the lie of the land.
Regularly during the winter, the river rises and to varying depths covers land up to the trees. If it becomes deeper there is no problem because the fairway is under water and the hole is closed. Even deeper and it flows over the flood protection bank and the whole course is under 2m of water.
The problem.
1) When the water rises the stakes are often washed away (even though the may be concreted in) or damaged by debris in the river.
2) It is difficult to mow along the LWH line because of the nature of the ground
3) Because of the length of the rough it is often difficult to justify KVC for 26-1 relief and some players are simply dropping to the side without justification or accuracy.
4) The current rough is very receptive to wayward drives or second shots but is very large. The cost of maintaining a short length would be prohibitive.
My inclination is to make it OB and therefore consistent with the rest of the holes. But the moving margin is the issue. Conventionally a WH would have a fixed margin but as you can see, that is difficult to do.
Is it acceptable to use the same LR/OB definition as the other holes whatever the water level? ie the ball is OB if it is in or over the river.
We have a river running alongside 5 holes. Apart from one, the course is protected by a 2m high flood protection bank. In addition the normal river level alongside the holes is 1m-2m below the fairway level and the bank side is virtually vertical. We deem any ball in or over the river to be OB.
The other hole is on the 'wrong' side of the bank (ie the river side). To the right of the fairway, is a rough line of trees and bushes and beyond, an area of rough about 8cm-12cm deep. Before the river is a poor area of ground. Long grass, scrub and shingle. The LWH margin is between these ill differentiated areas. Then comes the river.
The diagram is an attempt to show the lie of the land.
Regularly during the winter, the river rises and to varying depths covers land up to the trees. If it becomes deeper there is no problem because the fairway is under water and the hole is closed. Even deeper and it flows over the flood protection bank and the whole course is under 2m of water.
The problem.
1) When the water rises the stakes are often washed away (even though the may be concreted in) or damaged by debris in the river.
2) It is difficult to mow along the LWH line because of the nature of the ground
3) Because of the length of the rough it is often difficult to justify KVC for 26-1 relief and some players are simply dropping to the side without justification or accuracy.
4) The current rough is very receptive to wayward drives or second shots but is very large. The cost of maintaining a short length would be prohibitive.
My inclination is to make it OB and therefore consistent with the rest of the holes. But the moving margin is the issue. Conventionally a WH would have a fixed margin but as you can see, that is difficult to do.
Is it acceptable to use the same LR/OB definition as the other holes whatever the water level? ie the ball is OB if it is in or over the river.
Statistics: Posted by Doug — Today, 14:29