So an interesting situation occurred today. I hit my ball close to the OB stakes. It was about a full club length away from the stakes in a fairly well manicured part of the course. However, the vegetation that was growing on the other side of the stakes was encroaching on the course, leaning well into the area of play. In the course of my backswing, I had to move my club through the vegetation that was growing on the other side of the OB stakes but was overhanging in the in bounds area about a half a club length from my ball.
Fortunately, I was playing a chip shot from this location, so I could alter my swing so that the vegetation didn't affect me at all. However, if I had needed to take a full swing from that lie, would it have been permissable to take relief from the vegetation?
The rules decisions states that if the vegetation was on the other side of the stakes, no relief is permitted. However, if a fence is on the other side of the stakes but leans into the area of play, relief is permitted should a person's swing be impeded by the portion of the fence that is leaning into the playing area. Is the same rule in place for vegetation?
