Greenhorn Disc Golf

Important Rules That are Often Overlooked, Part 2
Rule 803.05 Obstacles and Relief

We've all been in a rough spot or two while on the course, be it landing in a mud puddle or in the middle of a thick bush or behind a pesky tree branch positioned right in the ideal line to the basket. The rules that govern these situations are fairly common sensical, but they are also among the most oft-abused and misunderstood rules in the book. Let's go through the rule step by step and hash it all out.

A. Obstacles to a Stance or Throwing Motion: Players must choose a stance which results in the least movement of any part of any obstacle except as allowed for casual obstacles by 803.05 C. No relief is granted from park equipment (such as signs, trash cans, picnic tables, etc.) as they are considered part of the course. Once a legal stance is taken, a player may not move an obstacle (or hold it back or bend it) in order to make room for a throwing motion. It is legal for a player’s throwing motion to make incidental movement of an obstacle.

Easy as pie to comply with this rule on shots in the open fairway. Get into the rough and into thicker trees/bushes, it gets a bit tougher. The essence of the rule is to cause the least disturbance as possible to the objects and obstacles around you. That means that sometimes it won't be possible to take a normal, comfortable and up-right stance behind the lie, such as when the disc lands under a bush or a tree with low hanging branches. The rules state that a legal stance constitutes having a supporting point directly behind the mark/lie on the line of play, so there's generally no relief granted if a stance is possible (we'll get to where relief is allowed in a little bit). The key point is that the supporting point behind the mark need not be your foot...it just needs to be a part of the body in contact with the playing surface. So if need be, that supporting point can be a knee, a hand, a finger, etc. Whatever it might take to assume a legal stance and get a throw down the fairway.

Most often, though, when in a situation like this, it takes a bit of contorting and finagling some limbs (both body and tree) to get into a position to throw. Note that the rule specifies that once the stance is taken, no obstacle can be moved/altered. That means that a branch can be adjusted in order to attain a stance (perhaps holding it slightly aside to slide a foot past it to the ground below), BUT it must return to its original position before the throw is made. It cannot be held out of the way in any manner, including by way of backing into it and holding it back with one's body. There is a term for such actions, "tunneling", and it is not a word that is looked upon well in the disc golf world. Best to avoid any appearance of it as best as one can.

B. Obstacles Between the Lie and Hole: A player may not move, alter, bend, break, or hold back any part of any obstacle, including casual obstacles, between the lie and the hole, with one exception: A player may move obstacles between the lie and the hole that became a factor during the round, such as spectators, players’ equipment, open gates, or branches that fell during the round. Where it is not known if an obstacle has become a factor during a round, it shall not be moved. It is legal for a player’s throwing motion to make incidental movement of an obstacle.

Again, pretty straight forward but also a rule that gets flaunted a bit. This rule really gets to the heart of what makes disc golf a challenging game. Obstacles on the course are generally there by design. If there's a branch that hangs in just the right spot to block your preferred route to the basket, there's a good reason for it. If there's a little tree on the edge of a green, it's there for a reason. If there's a good sized rock/boulder in the center of the fairway, it is playing a role in the design/difficulty of the hole. Branches should never be bent or broken, nor trees/bushes trampled, nor rocks/signs/benches/etc moved aside in order to give oneself a better line or shot to the basket. Play around, over, under, whatever, but never move something between the lie and the hole to give oneself a better shot.

C. Casual Obstacles: A player may obtain relief only from the following obstacles: casual water, loose leaves or debris, broken branches no longer connected to a tree, motor vehicles, harmful insects or animals, players’ equipment, spectators, or any item or area specifically designated by the director before the round. Obstacles may not be moved if any part of the obstacle is between the lie and the hole. The type of relief a player may obtain is based on the location of the obstacle and is limited as follows:
(1) Casual obstacles between the lie and the hole: A player may move obstacles which became a factor during the round as described by 803.05 B.
(2) Casual obstacles to stance or throwing motion: The player must first attempt to remove the obstacle unless a portion of the obstacle is also between the lie and the hole. If it is impractical to move the obstacle, or if a portion of the obstacle is also between the lie and the hole, the player’s lie may be relocated to the nearest lie which is no closer to the hole, is on the line of play, and is not more than five meters from the original lie, as agreed to by a majority of the group or an official (unless greater casual relief is announced by the director). Alternatively, the player may declare an unplayable lie and proceed in accordance with 803.06.
(3) Casual obstacles to a run-up: The player may move the obstacle provided no part of the obstacle is between the lie and the hole. No other relief is provided.

There are really two separate issues addressed with this rule as there are two types of casual obstacles: movable and unmovable. It is important to note that only obstacles and objects designated as casual can be treated as such. Never should the assumption be made that an object or obstacle can be moved in accordance with the rule simply because one is physically able to move it. The written rule illustrates some standard examples, but anything outside of those specific examples should be treated as permanent and therefore immovable obstacles unless the course designer or tournament director designates them as casual obstacles. So first what must be established on the course is whether a particular obstacle is a casual one or a permanent one.

Once something is established as a casual obstacle, the above rule can be applied. The key piece of the rule for casual obstacles is that it must be completely behind the player's marker in order to be moved at all. For example, if a stick is laying on the ground in such a way that a portion, even just a half-inch, of the stick is closer to the target than the rear edge of the marker disc, it cannot be moved even if it is categorized as a casual obstacle. Same thing applies if the thrown disc lands on a stone or any other object in such a way that a piece of it rests in the lie and a piece rests in front of the lie.

For casual obstacles that are not allowed to be moved or that are impractical/impossible to move out of the way, relief is granted without penalty. This relief allows the player to re-locate to the next available lie that is on the line of play, no closer to the target than the initial lie, and is within five meters of that initial lie. The important piece is that it is the next available lie from the original, it does not mean the "best" or most advantageous lie along the five meter line. The determination of the lie is up to the majority of the playing group or an official if one is present.

If a situation arises for which there is no lie that is playable within the five meters, the player is given two choices: play it from within the five meters even if it is an undesirable or uncomfortable stance (such as within a puddle of casual water) or declare the lie unplayable and proceed under rule 803.06 which involves a penalty added to the score.

D. In situations where it is unclear if an object may be moved or other relief obtained, it shall be determined by a majority of the group or an official.

Fairly self-explanatory. As the by-rule casual obstacle descriptions can be somewhat broad and vague, there will be occasions where an object falls into a grey area. One specific case goes back to section B in which the status of an obstacle between the lie and the hole is in doubt (was it in place prior to the beginning of the round?). The default is to assume it was in place prior to the round, but a determination can be made by the group per this section D.

E. A player shall receive one penalty throw, without a warning, for violation of an obstacle or relief rule.

This emphasizes that all players' approach to casual obstacles should be to ask the group for a ruling before proceeding. Better to check with a group, especially about questionable obstacles or relief, than to assume and be incorrect. The two most common instances for violation are moving obstacles in the stance or throwing motion that extend in front of the lie and taking too much relief along the five meter line than is necessary in order to give oneself a more advantageous shot. There are some eagle eye players out there that will not hesitate to speak up if such violations occur, so better to err on the side of caution and ask first.

F. A player who purposely damages anything on the course shall receive two penalty throws, without a warning, if observed by two or more players of the group or an official. The player may also be disqualified from the tournament, in accordance with section 804.05 A (2).

Perhaps the most important rule in the book...more important than proper stance, out-of-bounds, etc. The integrity of the course lay in every obstacle upon the course; every tree, bush, shrub, rock, and blade of grass is there for a purpose. Players that disregard this rule and flagrantly and intentionally cause damage, be it bending and breaking branches/bushes/trees, abusing course equipment, or even vandalizing any part of the course, are the worst kind of violators. Not only for the damage caused to the course itself, but for the disrespect it shows course owners/designers, tournament directors/organizers, and other players themselves.

Don't be one of those people. Whether it is a casual round, a serious tournament, or anything in between, never be in violation of this rule. The more respect you show the course, the more it will show you. Karma can be a b----...the next branch you snap out of the way to get a better line could be the cause of the next shot that misses the target and rolls into a deep, deep pond. Don't be that person.