Is poison oak a penalty with golf? http://www.flickr.com/photos/397057... unplayable?

Question

My golf ball was off the cart path in a barren bush (no leaves) and I tried to rescue my ball. I got a terrible case of poison oak or poison ivy and am perfectly miserable. I had no idea that it is this bad, I may beg to be chopped at the elbows if this continues. My question is that the next time I play golf and I suspect my ball is near this poisonous plant, is it a penalty stroke plus distance? unplayable lie? At this point in my poison oak misery, I'd settle for a 10 stroke penalty for leaving the ball and teeing off again but I'm sure I will settle down as the pain subsides. I can't find anything in my golf rules book regarding a ball lying in poison oak or poison ivy - thank you in advance.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/39705705@N00/2322630661/sizes/l/ this is me after much treatment - I have tried everything and I am 6 days into this misery

Answer 1

Well, the USGA says to play it.  But a look at your arm says to leave the ball in the brush & drop in the rough.

Answer 2

Anything of potential  physical danger is an exception and you are allowed a free lateral drop no closer to the pin.

Answer 3

you were playing golf? what did you do, trip??? howd you get it all the way up on ur arms?

Answer 4

In a tournament situation, my answer would be totaly different than the one I am about to post.

To be truthful, if you are playing a friendly game of golf with your friends, no one will should care if you drop a ball on the line of flight and dont improve your position in a situation like that. You might want to confer with them and explain the situation. We arent professionals and their are certain circumstances like the one you posed that would call for a little leniancy. Just my take. Rules are rules, BUT, I am not going to force my friends to lose a stroke or receive poison oak (sumac, ivy) or anything like that over it during a friendly-competitive weekend game of golf.

Answer 5

The USGA says that you have to play it as it lies, or take a pentalty. But I've always thought that they're missing something here. There's an exception for dangerous animals in the official publication "Decisions on the Rules of Golf.", so why not for dangerous plants.

My conclusion is that the bluebloods who write the rules of golf don't play on courses that have poison ivy or oak, and so don't think it's a problem.

Answer 6

Killd, this is where my ball way lying:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/39705705@N0...

There were no leaves on this barren bush and I suppose that swinging the club through the brush caused the twigs to whip on my forearms

Answer 7

You are supposed to play the ball where it lies. Remember only you can determine what is an unplayable lie.  This means anything YOU feel is unplayable. I would take the one stroke penalty rather than itch for a week.

Answer 8

I would assume that it is covered under "Dangerous Situations", which would entitle you to relief without penalty, but judging by other peoples' answer I guess "dangerous situations" only apply to animals (such as bees' nests, crocodiles, etc.). That means the only thing you can do without penalty is play it as it lies.

Another option is to call an unplayable lie, then proceed under the options for taking an unplayable lie.

1) Play you next shot from the place where the previous shot was played

2) Keeping the spot of the unplayable lie directly between you and the hole, DROP a ball as far back as you want

3) DROP a ball within two club-lengths of the unplayable lie, no closer to the hole

All options under the unplayable lie rule will cost you ONE penalty stroke.

P.S. That is some NASTY stuff on your arm. You should get that checked out by a doctor.

Answer 9

Some people are allergic to milkweed. Some people are allergic to raspberries. The rules don't differentiate for medical conditions.

Answer 10

Even if you are in a tournament drop a ball and play it, don't even touch your ball if you are allergic to  poison oak/Ivy.  My rule book "Golf Rules Explained"  says that that it is a unplayable lietake one club length relief amd continue play- No Penalty.  If you are unsure don't touch the ball that landed in the poisin oak/Ivy keep playing and ask your playing partners (most should say no penalty), or if you are on a tourney ask the officials at the end of the round.

Answer 11

Julianna -

Unless you're playing in some kind of tournament my advice to you would be to move it out of that junk and have fun....people make golf hard for no reason......just give it a little Judge Schmails foot mashy and have a good time playing....

What you got there is NASTY!! Man you are highly allergic!

Hope you get better soon!