Sometimes, when playing a round of golf, you come across a ruling that you just think to yourself, Man, that is a stupid rule.

That is how I feel about the rule of having your ball fall into a divot in your own fairway.

See, my issue is that I don’t think you should be penalized for hitting a well placed shot, especially in your own fairway. Now, if you block it 80 yards right and into a parallel fairway, then sure, you should play it as it lies, but if you pipe one down the middle, perfect position, and your ball falls in a divot, it might be 1 1/2 inches below the fairway and nearly impossible to hit a good shot.

That isn’t fair. I know life isn’t fair, but with the hundreds of rules that currently exist in the USGA, you would think that you would be allowed a free drop in the case that your ball lies in a divot in YOUR fairway.

However, Rules 13-2 pretty much sums it up.

A player must not improve or allow to be improved:

  • the position or lie of his ball,
  • the area of his intended stance or swing,
  • his line of play or a reasonable extension of that line beyond the hole, or
  • the area in which he is to drop or place a ball,

by any of the following actions:

  • .moving, bending or breaking anything growing or fixed (including immovable obstructions and objects defining out of bounds),
  • creating or eliminating irregularities of surface,
  • .removing or pressing down sand, loose soil, replaced divots or other cut turf placed in position, or
  • removing dew, frost or water.

So, the rule will never change, but its one exception that I wish was implemented. I think it would help alot of golfers out.

Posted in: Rules

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