[jlab-9hgl 00180] more on the "rocks" rule

[Mac Mestayer]

Hello golfers;

There were a few more inquiries about our rule allowing
one to move a ball away from rocks.  Some of these were
about roots: do you get relief from roots?  The short
answer is no, unless you declare an unplayable lie which
costs you a stroke.

The rule is that you can move it off of rocks if you're not in
a hazard or the woods for no penalty, but you CANNOT move it off
of roots.  This is justifiable because the rocks are
there because of bad grounds-keeping, whereas the roots are a
natural consequence of trees.

 				- for the rules committee, Mac

Note also that our "drop out of the woods for one stroke" rule
and this "rocks" rule are both local rules and not general
USGA rules.  I urge you to read the rules by going to the USGA
web-site.  They are as important to the game as are loud-colored
shorts or pants.

"mestayer at jlab.org", (757)-269-7252