Play it Where it Lies

A morning stroll took me:

Past my local homeless encampment and a new acquisition for one of the RVs—a jet ski on a trailer. Another one of the residents has begun displaying driftwood on and around his domicile. I liked the flair. Much better than 20 lawnmowers twisted together.

Past another annihilated riparian area, annihilation courtesy of people living under canopies and tarps several feet from a creek near an abandoned warehouse.

Past a mattress coiled in the leafless branches of a tree.

Past streets where homeowners had placed improvised RV (tank) obstacles—logs, boulders, lumber, pipes, bark dust piles to deter RV parking.

Past a city park where workers had newly planted trees and shrubs in fresh compost and where three sedans with people living inside them had planted themselves on the street.

Past a man asleep or passed out in his truck.

Past three stripped trailers tilting under the overpass.

To the public golf course where five duffers played a par four with a fairway adjacent to a homeless encampment of three rigs, one tent, a dog kennel, multiple collections of detritus, and trash strewn everywhere.

I stopped to watch them duff. Why not? I like watching people hack it around socialist golf courses. It's free. A thought arose:

So what happens if a duffer shanks a shot into the encampment? I mean, it isn't technically out of bounds. It's not a lost ball, which mandates a a one-stroke and distance penalty. The rule says you have to play it where it lies! Every golfer I've ever known would have gone in there and punched it out, scrambling it's called. I would have! Just hood that five iron and swing away!

Of course, the ball could have come to rest inside or atop a baby stroller, engine block, hubcap or Traeger grill and that might make it unplayable. (Not for me!) If so, the shanker simply takes a one-stroke penalty and drops the ball into what he hopes becomes a playable lie in the encampment. If two drops don't produce such a desired result, the duffer is allowed to place it within two club lengths, as long as the ball is not advanced toward the hole.

Got all that?

Would the residents object? Why do I think not? I have no idea. They might even form a mini gallery and watch the action. They might even clap for a great shot that trickled onto the green! I think I'll wait here all morning and watch for that shank. It's a socialist golf course, so I know it's coming. Oh shit, here comes a four-some of blue hairs riding in carts!