Annika-gate | THE GRQ PODCAST EP31

Annika-gate

GRQotW30 - After the player hits their ball into the green, it stops and comes to rest on the green. As the player is walking up to the green, suddenly the irrigation system turns on and water runs across the grass, down the green and moves the ball. Does the ball need to be replaced, or is the player permitted to play it from where it is now at rest?

Outside Influence/1 - Status of Air and Water When Artificially Propelled

Although wind and water are natural forces and not outside influences, artificially propelled air and water are outside influences.

• Examples include:
  If a ball at rest on the putting green has not been lifted and replaced and is moved by air from a greenside fan, the ball must be replaced (Rule 9.6 and Rule 14.2).
  
• If a ball at rest is moved by water coming from an irrigation system, the ball must  be replaced (Rule 9.6 and Rule 14.2).
  

Annika-Gate

An interesting one occurred during the drive-on-championship on the LPGA.

Annika Sorenstam hit her ball near a boundary fence. When arriving at the area, she saw there was a gate in the boundary. Annika thought that she might be able to open the gate to play her shot, so she asked for a referee to provide assistance, but unfortunately for her, the referee denied her this option, as he believed it was integra to the course.

Annika took an unplayable for a one stroke penalty under Rule 19.2a, and played her shot.

It was then found out that Annika could have indeed opened the gate and played a shot instead of taking penalty relief.

The referee apologised for the error, the fans wanted the one stroke penalty gone, and the Rules nerds of the world were trying to work out (and still are) what is the difference between an integral object, and a gate in a boundary object.

The statement released by the LPGA didn’t provide enough information ‘Regarding the Ruling given to Annika Sorenstam on the fifth hole during the first round of the 2021 Gainbridge LPGA, the official on scene linked the word “integral” to the gate meant that it could not be moved. This was an error under the definition of an Immovable Obstruction in the Rules of Golf. The gate is considered moveable if proven to be unlocked (Rule 16), and therefore could have been moved to allow the player to hit the shot. The option to rescind the penalty is not available under the Rules of Golf. The official met the player immediately following her second round to explain the mistake and apologize.’
It should have referenced the gate as being in the fence of a boundary object, and thus not actually part of the boundary object as per boundary object/2.

Angel Yin - We saw another interesting situation where Angel Yin, hit her ball into a Red Penalty Area, and as her options were going back to her last place played, back-on-the-line, and lateral relief, she chose lateral relief as per Rule 17.1d(3), which meant her relief area was in a bunker. With a penalty area, your relief area could be anywhere on the course except in the same penalty area.

Background Bingo - Ep30
Rossco - Sandhurst North Hole 3 & Blakey - Bairnsdale Hole 13

GRQotW31

Fraz hits his tee shot into the some medium rough. He searches for his ball in the rough, and finds it. Fraz then goes to get a club and on the way back he accidentally steps on his ball, causing it to move. He then decides to take an unplayable, and after dropping his ball, hits it onto the green, and makes a one putt. How many strokes has Fraz had?