Players can lift and clean embedded balls at Bethpage
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — The rain finally stopped at Bethpage State Park on Thursday night, but the turf at the Black Course feels like soaked rye bread underfoot. The light breeze and momentary bits of sunshine are helping a little, but nearly every shot has a chance of embedding in the muck.
Here's how the USGA is handling plugged balls: If a player hits a shot that embeds, the ball can be picked up, cleaned and put back on the ground as close as possible to where it was embedded. This only applies to balls embedded in the ground. If a ball is simply dirty or buried in deep rough, tough luck.
Posted by: Dave | Jun 20, 2009 6:51:46 PM
25-2 stipulates 'closely mowed areas'
I believe their exception for the open applies to rough also.
Posted by: Kevin O'Connell | Jun 19, 2009 12:19:31 PM
Isn't this basically just rule 25-2? It's nothing special for this competition is it? Or are they modifying the rule?
25-2. Embedded Ball
A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the coursethrough the green. "Closely mown area" means any area of the course, including paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.
Posted by: Jamie | Jun 19, 2009 11:44:06 AM
They used winter rules at Bushwood!
It only make sense to LC&P on such a wet course. If not, there would be large landmine pits where the players were trying to blast out plugged balls. The place would look like the moon by Monday.