Rules Corner - No Relief From A

In a recent Pennants Match a player claimed relief from a sign close to the base of a tree. On the basis that the sign interfered with the stance and swing, the player would need to use the ball that had come to rest alongside an exposed root of the tree. 

Under Rule 16.1a relief from the sign would not be allowed if an object, from which relief was no available, the tree root, was still prohibiting a normal stroke towards the green being made.

The player explained the intention was to play in the opposite direction to the tree and the ball could be struck from such a stroke but the sign would still interfere with the stance and stroke and free relief should still applying this situation.

The request was agreed to and the player was able to take relief from the sign and with the allowed reference point and one club length of relief area able to play a stroke back towards the fairway and the front of the green and an approach stroke to the green to putt to halve the hole.

Knowing the rules in this situation saved the player a stroke in critical point of the match.