It doesn’t seem to matter if it’s snow, frost, if the rain has been falling like we all need to live in arks rather than houses, or if the ground’s dried up in a drought, our climate these days seems perfect for ground under repair to rear its head.
Yes, conditions on the course can sometimes be less than ideal. That’s the weather for you. But whether it’s inclement conditions, a course renovation, or a dry spell that cracks up the ground, you all want to know the same thing as I get variations of this question all the time on email.
“Is it compulsory to take relief from ground under repair?”
Well, is it? Let’s see if I can give you a definitive answer once and for all.
GUR golf rules: Is ground under repair compulsory?
Lots of you out there misunderstand this rule and, to be honest, I don’t blame you one bit. What I’m about to tell you is going to feel pretty contradictory.
If a committee has labelled an area of the golf course as GUR then you can take free relief, but you also have the option to play the ball as it lies.
Doesn’t sound right, does it? Your greenkeepers have labelled this area for a purpose. It’s what it says on the tin. It is ground that is under repair.
They don’t want you swinging around in a bunker that’s being renovated. They don’t want you hacking up their newly laid turf.
