Vespar

Practice rounds allow you enter and exit and reenter only, that's it. Your plan above would not work.

No, I understood your advice. I am well aware of how relief is determined. My point is if relief is given say something obvious in the rough. Say a sleeping rattle snake, you get relief, and with the measured club distance- if that puts you in the fairway, no closer to hole, you are entitled to it. No rule that states you have to stay in the rough. Back on my topic the areas in question say areas of the sod turned over have been in the fairway. The areas of no grass can be on the fringe, The areas of patch work grass, small globs of gras can also be in the fairway or fringe- Its often very penal depending where the ball ends up despite being in the fairway

Well they are entitled to take one club relief and that includes from rough to fairway is my understanding. My intent of my question was n ot in the woods, But tee-green including the rough. What was once grass now is now grass, turned over sod, or unusual course condition due to drought, rainfall etc. Here is how my friend described it. "I'm a 150 out, my ball lands on the green but rolls off. I missed the green now in the rough, Im ok with but at least give me some grass, a playable lie on the rough or fringe. In some areas there is nothing."

agreed but more often than not its helpful

The handicaps are automated thru GHIN. You simply enter the scores or holes your self. In rare times if a scoring app is used (tournaments) they self enter the handicap by each hole ( golf genius)

We have no committee and our pro is not a pro but rather a GM

Our club has had its fair share of bad weather, incredible heat, downpours and drought. Subsequently making a mess of the course. The condition of the course has fell suspect to both ownership $$ & superintendent ignoring and natural problems. In certain areas its generally unplayable. These areas are abnormal when compared to the rest of the course or different holes. I am not speaking about penalty areas. or areas 50 yards off line. A) Areas around the green including first cut fringe and a couple of meters away from the green there will be no grass or areas where "hummocks" or tuffs of grass ahead the ball and directly behind the ball. Making chipping next to impossible. This condition can be blamed on lack of effort by the grounds crew or simply unable to get to it for ground under repair. B) in the fairway or rough that has had Turkeys and or skunks completely torn up sod, exposing chunks of sod & loose dirt in large expansive areas. 10 meters wide x 6-7 meters deep. Again the club's ground crew has ignored the areas despite how "in play" they are. Both of these examples at lush private clubs often are mark ( white spray paint) or staked as relief areas, free drop. QUESTION Would either of these areas in your opinion offer relief as abnormal ground condition Rule 16.x in competition, like member member or league play.