what to do?

Hi,

I recently played with a partner who ran into the following situation:

Par 3 carry across the water onto an island green. His ball lands on the edge of the island on the slope and is held up by some small bushes. After crossing the footbridge to get to the ball, he plays it as it lies but when he struck the ball, the ball hits a overhanging branch from a nearby tree, goes backwards and lands on the footbridge behind where he hit his ball. With nowhere to take relief from the footbridge without getting closer to the hole and the ball having traveled backwards from his original shot, I told him it must be declared unplayable and he must take the penalty and drop somewhere behind the footbridge before crossing towards the green. He argued that the footbridge constituted and manmade immovable object like a cartpath and is therefore entitled to a free drop. What should have been done?

Can he play it from the bridge?

There has to be relief SOMEWHERE from the foot bridge. He gets relief, no nearer the hole - even if it is 20 yards back to the nearest point of relief, he gets relief.

You cannot take relief from an immovable obstruction in a hazard (but you can ground your club)
A footbridge (unless declared by Local Rule to be an integral part of the course) is an immovable obstruction and is in the hazard it spans. So no free relief. He can treat as unplayable, as you suggested to him. Or play as it lies.

Is the bridge considered in the hazard?

The margins of a hazard extend vertically up or down. If you continue the margins of the hazard from one side of the bridge to the other that prtion of the bridge is in the hazard. Imagine a 6' bridge over a 2' ditch. The central 2' of the bridge is in the hazard.