Sprinkler Head Relief

[vetterex]

Ball rests in a bowl like configuration but ball is not directly in contact with sprinkler head.  Sprinkler head is about 12 inches below fairway and golf ball rests in this "bowl" area.  Can golfer get free drop?

[cnosil]

Not enough information to answer.   See rule 16.1.  IMO, The bowl itself wouldn’t warrant relief as there are different level surfaces all over the course .  

 

When Relief Is Allowed

(1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition. Interference exists when any one of these is true:

• The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition,

• An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, or

• Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play.

If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule.

[Denkea]

20 hours ago, vetterex said:

Ball rests in a bowl like configuration but ball is not directly in contact with sprinkler head.  Sprinkler head is about 12 inches below fairway and golf ball rests in this "bowl" area.  Can golfer get free drop?

Only if the sprinkler head itself interferes with the golfers stance or swing.  So I take this to mean if you are standing on the sprinkler head then there is relief.   If your swing will hit the sprinkler head on the backswing or the follow through there is relief.  If not play it as it lies.  

[DaveP043]

This is from Interpretation 1 to the Definition of Immovable Obstruction:

"Immovable Obstruction/1 – Turf Around Obstruction Is Not Part of Obstruction
Any turf that is leading to an immovable obstruction or covering an immovable obstruction, is not part of the obstruction."

So unless the Obstruction itself (the sprinkler head) interferes with your stance or area of intended swing, you don't get relief.  Another possibility, in some cases the Committee could define that depression as part of the Obstruction, or as GUR.  Look for white paint, or for something on the scorecard.

[Shapotomous]

Sounds like the video question I saw a week or so ago.  If it is the same reference my set up and swing would have probably had me hitting the sprinkler head.  I say probably because it was hard to tell from the angle of the video. 

But the lie in the bowl was downhill which would have had me angling my shoulders to match the bowl angle and the club head would have followed the turf downhill.  The shot was probably a lob for me so I would have been opening the face & cutting across with the club path, again heading right for the sprinkler head.  Practice swings would have to confirm it or not, however.....

During the actual shot I would have probably looked up in the excitement of trying to pull off such a miracle,  bladed the ball across the green by about 30 yards and lifted the clubhead safely above the sprinkler.