Bluebonnets and other protected areas

Question:"I played Disc golf in San Antonio during the Spring Months of 97. The beauty of it all, had to be the scenic surroundings. Texas Bluebonnets were everywhere. My concern was what to do when my disc fell into these flowers, which in fact, was every much apart of the fairways. In the state of Texas, it is illegal to pick or trample on these flowers. Making every effort not to do so, I would walk among these flowers to retrieve my disc. In this case, what is the proper play? 1 throw penalty? Do I select to drop? I'm sure this question needs to be addressed by the sanctioned PDGA Officials. It could create real problems for those who play the game during Spring in Texas."

Response: The question can be boiled down to: How can my disc be retrieved and the lie subsequently played from when it lands in an area of the course that has sensitive, protected, endangered, dangerous (poison ivy) or valuable foliage?
Applicable Rules: 803.05 (Obstacles and Relief), 803.06 (Unplayable Lie), 803.09 (Out-of-Bounds, 804.01 Special Conditions

Discussion: This situation is a good one that COULD be specifically addressed by the rules (though the rules already "cover" this), however there are probably better ways to handle the situation.

We are not sure that there is a "proper play" as far as the PDGA rules go. Like so many "rules issues" this example would appear to be more of a course design problem AND a Course Pro/Tournament Director issue than one involving the PDGA rules. Simply throwing into the Bluebonnets would also be illegal. It sounds as if the course should be re-designed. If the Bluebonnets are protected by the State of Texas then the course SHOULD NOT force one to play near (much less on) a protected species. Or alternatively, the course could be closed while the Bluebonnets are in bloom (although it would seem that the plants could be damaged year-round). That having been stated, what do we do IF the course DOES force us to play near the Bluebonnets?

Though the specific issue of "bluebonnets" (or poison ivy) are not specifically covered in the rules, the rules do cover this situation. The rules do address casual and out-of-bounds areas, which is the direction this question takes us. Some general concepts first: The rules do not make particular areas out-of-bounds (OB). Tournament Directors do. So the paved road or the water hazard or even the bluebonnets are not automatically OB. They become OB when the TD defines them as OB. (In casual play the local customs are used).

For this reason it is a good idea to check with the TD if you know of any questionable areas on the course. TD's should make it a point to include course OB and casual relief areas in a player's meeting. Some top tournaments (and their TDs!) include course maps and OB areas on the scorecards. When this is combined with clearly delineated OB lines (string, tape, paint, etc) a TD has gone a long way to preventing controversy. All areas that MAY produce controversy SHOULD be marked off clearly... and the markings should be in place several days before the tournament is to begin. This will allow traveling players to learn of these areas BEFORE the tourney starts!

So the TD in bluebonnet country has a decision how to handle the discs which encounter the bluebonnets. The TD will decide whether to 1) make no special provision, 2) declare bluebonnet fields to be OB or, 3) declare bluebonnet fields to be casual relief. If the TD chooses option 1, then there are no penalties for venturing into the bluebonnets and players have no idea as to how to play their shots (TD error, not a rules problem). If the TD chooses option 2, then penalties and subsequent placement of the lie are covered 803.09 (Out-of-Bounds). If the TD chooses option 3, then there are no penalties (unless the player chooses to declare an unsafe lie) and subsequent placement of the lie are covered under 803.05 (Obstacles and Relief).

The rules also currently provide for situations such as this. 804.01 (Special Conditions) allows the tournament director to specify "Rules governing special conditions that may exist on the course" such as Bluebonnets. That was the whole purpose for the inclusion of the "Special Conditions" rule. (One caveat though, the special conditions CAN NOT conflict with the PDGA rules.) In this instance the TD would announce (prior to the start of the tourney) exactly how to handle the “bluebonnet scenario.” (In effect, coupling option from the above scenario with the Special Conditions rule!)

Amazingly, a precedent has been set. In the days of Boylan Family Farms (A Christmas tree farm) , the Laurel Springs Open and the Amateur National Championships...property owner (And TD) Bill Boylan defined the special condition (his Christmas trees) and detailed how one should obtain relief from the trees. No penalty but stay on the line of play. It worked exceedingly well BECAUSE the TD thought about the situation in advance AND it was clearly explained in the players meeting!

Conclusion: In summary, the bluebonnet issue is like so many other “rules issues”, the “trouble” could be avoided by proper course design, a little extra work on the TD’s part, and through a reasonable and fair application of the existing PDGA Rule Book! PLEASE do everyone a favor...READ THE RULES!

Other Comments: Obviously, the above comments are all well and good...BUT, what if the TD failed to do his job? What IF, the player finds herself in the bluebonnets and does not know what to do? Some of the possibilities are not fun, such as breaking a state law or taking a penalty. We don't want a player to be penalized by her knowledge of and respect for the law. What to do? The player should inform her group, stop play, find the TD (or course official) and request a ruling. (Since the group has halted play while waiting on a ruling, other groups should be allowed to play through!) The TD's best bet would be to declare the bluebonnet area a casual relief area (under 803.05 C) for the rest of the round (since presumably other groups have played the hole in ignorance of the laws regarding bluebonnet protection). It should then remain casual relief for the rest of the tournament.