Rules Inquiry Re: Picnic Tables

[pjohnmeyer]

Situation: A disc comes to rest on the ground underneath a picnic table, in bounds.

Here is how I interpret the situation, assuming no TD directives otherwise:

The picnic table is an obstacle under 803.05.A and "No relief is granted from park equipment".

If the design of the picnic table and the lie is such that it "prevents a player from taking a legal stance within 30 centimeters directly behind the marker disc" then 803.04.E applies.

If not, then the player must take a legal stance under 803.04 with at least one supporting point on the ground, or take Optional Relief under 803.05.C, or take an Optional Rethrow per 803.06. The picnic table is not part of the playing surface, and cannot satisfy the requirement of 803.04.A(1).

If the TD declares picnic tables to be casual obstacles, then the relief rules under 803.05.B apply.

Even if the TD declares picnic tables to be part of the playing surface, then the picnic table still cannot satisfy the requirement of 803.04.A(1) in this situation. The ground is also a playing surface, and playing surfaces can be vertically stacked per QA2, so the lie must be established on the ground.

Is my interpretation correct?

This was sparked by a conversation here.