Florida golf question. What's the ruling.

[fisher]

I watching the PGA on TV from Innesbrook and there is a very large gator sunning himself in the right rough just off the fairway on one of the holes.

Now say you tee off and your ball comes to rest near that gator what do you do? I don't think I could play a shot anywhere within a 15 yard radius of that thing so potentially you could be in the fairway and not want to play the shot, or retrieve the ball for that matter. What is the ruling? I've never seen a gator on the course before but I could see it happening someday.

PS, my parents live a half hour from Innesbrook. I've driven by it several times but never played there. So many good courses in that area to play at a fraction of the price. I'm going down week after next.

[Bignose]

I don't know the exact rule, but you don't have to endanger yourself to play it as it lies. I am almost positive the rule book gives a hill of fire ants as an example. You get a free drop, no closer to the hole, where you think that you are no longer in danger.

[N.V.M.]

the rule is also, if your are in a hazard, you have to drop into another hazard, no closer to the hole. but since fisher's example states that he is in the rough,the above answer is correct.

[Fourputt]

This is the applicable decision:

1-4/10 Dangerous Situation; Rattlesnake or Bees Interfere with Play

Q. A player's ball comes to rest in a situation dangerous to the player, e.g., near a live rattlesnake or a bees' nest. Does the player have any options in addition to playing the ball as it lies or, if applicable, proceeding under Rule 26 or 28?

A. Yes. It is unreasonable to expect the player to play from such a dangerous situation and unfair to require the player to incur a penalty under Rule 26 (Water Hazards) or Rule 28 (Ball Unplayable).

If the ball lay through the green, the player may, without penalty, drop a ball within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest spot not nearer the hole that is not dangerous and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

If the ball lay in a hazard, the player may drop a ball, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest spot not nearer the hole that is not dangerous. If possible, the ball must be dropped in the same hazard and, if not possible, in a similar nearby hazard, but in either case not nearer the hole. If it is not possible for the player to drop the ball in a hazard, he may drop it, under penalty of one stroke, outside the hazard, keeping the point where the original ball lay between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

If the ball lay on the putting green, the player may, without penalty, place a ball at the nearest spot not nearer the hole that is not dangerous and that is not in a hazard.

If it is clearly unreasonable for the player to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the dangerous situation or if the situation would be dangerous only through the use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing, or direction of play, he may not take relief as prescribed above, but he is not precluded from proceeding under Rule 26 or 28 if applicable. (Revised)