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need a rules guru. I was playing golf and the ball landed about 8-10 feet from a large alligator. at the time i did not know I could get free relief from a life threatening snake, gator etc. my question is how close does the ball have to be for relief?
i was a bit nervous as i had to turn my back in order to hit the ball. the gator was alive, and about 8-10 feet long. what is the distance from the hazard to get relief? diana |
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| # 1 4/3/2014 5:21:12 PM |
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I would think that how close you get to gator would depend largely on how fast do you think you can run...
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| # 2 4/3/2014 6:34:29 PM |
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I would think that how close you get to gator would depend largely on how fast do you think you can run... Or more importantly can you out run at least one of the others in your group? |
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| # 3 4/3/2014 7:06:51 PM |
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Hope this helps
Alligators and fire ants are considered dangerous under the Rules of Golf. Rattlesnakes and bees fall under the same heading. If your ball lands near any of these creatures, you are entitled to a free drop on the nearest spot that is no closer to the hole and out of danger. You do not have to retrieve your original ball – drop another and stay safe [Decision 1-4/10]. |
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| # 4 4/3/2014 7:08:39 PM |
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If your ball is in a hazard, your free drop must be in the same hazard, if possible, or in a nearby similar hazard that is no closer to the hole. If dropping the ball in the same hazard is not safe, and there is no option to drop in another hazard, you will have to drop a ball outside the hazard on the line-of-sight to the hole and add a one-stroke penalty to your score.
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| # 5 4/3/2014 7:09:08 PM |
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If your ball lands in a bird’s nest, or so close to it that you would not be able to swing without damaging it, the same relief procedures as described above apply [Decision 1-4/9].
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| # 6 4/3/2014 7:16:00 PM |
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Alligators can run up to 40 mph for a short burst. No sense on chancing it. If the gator doesn't move away when you approach, then it has lost its fear of man, and if it were me, I wouldn't mess with it. That is my rule when I come across one in the Everglades. Which is just about every hunting season.
Vince had the best advice. You only have to be able to outrun one person in your forsome. (hehe). |
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| # 7 4/3/2014 7:31:10 PM |
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Hit him with the sand trap rake, then hit your shot, and then make a new pair of shoes!
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| # 8 4/3/2014 7:41:57 PM |
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..............or a purse............
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| # 9 4/3/2014 8:13:18 PM |
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Thanks guys, that was fun and I guess I could drop in an area where i felt safe, no closer to the hole. my playing partners were on the other side of the fairway and stayed there.
I have gotten fire ants on my retrieving a ball, but didnt know it until they started biting me. The joys of golfing in lower AL. diana |
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| # 10 4/4/2014 11:25:20 AM |
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I would think that how close you get to gator would depend largely on how fast do you think you can run... Otter is actually on to the key here. As most golf rules go, they are largely based on your "reasonable certainty". So to answer how close, I would say if your concerned enough not to want to retrieve your ball, that is close enough. |
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| # 11 4/4/2014 12:48:01 PM |
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If the critter was a bit smaller and you felt adventurous, you could always put in your golf bag and take it home aa a pet.
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