Free drop rule

When a ball is lying near a taped tree and a free drop is allowed, what is the rule please. I have been told that :-

1. I can drop no nearer the hole within one club length.

2. I can stand within one club length and drop within another club length.

Can you sort me out please.

imo neither

Assuming the tree has been declared an immovable object then 24-2b should apply and you drop within 1 club length of the nearest point of relief i.e. you work out the nearest point where the tree no longer interferes and drop within 1 club length of there.


23-b
(i) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.

__________________
I firmly believe that we should try to experience all that life affords, except, perhaps, bestiality and of course Morris Dancing.

Just to complete the picture

Nearest Point of Relief
The “nearest point of relief” is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3).
It is the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies:

(i) that is not nearer the hole, and
(ii) where, if the ball were so positioned, no interference by the condition from which relief is sought would exist for the stroke the player would have made from the original position if the condition were not there.

Note: In order to determine the nearest point of relief accurately, the player should use the club with which he would have made his next stroke if the condition were not there to simulate the address position, direction of play and swing for such a stroke.

Thanks guys, I understand now.

and whats interesting about this is, say your original lie is kinda ****py so you are hitting a wedge out.
You figure out your relief point and take a drop.
Now you happen to drop it onto some better ground or perhaps the fairway.
You then figure out that you can hit a 3 wood so you try and make a swing.
Now the tree is in the way again due to the longer club.
You are entitled to repeat the process and gain further relief.

Didn't realise that - cool, to save me looking do you know the supporting decision?

The bit I thought interesting and was going to post (but got distracted) was to say that a) when you take reliief it has to be complete not partial, and b) you don't (unless LRs say so) have to take the free drop.

The flip side of your post being that you could end up in a worse place(take "stance relief" from a cart track and end up in the rough or in line with a tree) with the relief than without.

Rule 24-2b/4

AAA

Thanks.

If I read it right 24-2b/4 refers me to 20-2 (redropping) and c/4 cross references; but on redrops generally I thought you had to re-drop with reference to the original point of relief (if you see what I mean).

GB seems to imply that you can seek a new point of relief from where the ball landed - I didn't realise that.

He is correct. See Decision 20-2c/0.8
A different club is a different condition so you get fresh relief.
D 20-2c/0.7 is the opposite situation.

Ah that's clearer. I thought it had to be a decision like that.

14 clubs, a rule book and an R&A man next time I go out

Seriously though I carry a useful pocket rules guide with me but it's so hard to know all the variations on a theme. Though when in doubt "play it as it lies" is I suppose the golden rule.

Even then there are a couple of exceptions.
GUR when the LR says relief is compulsory.
Wrong green

Indeed but I'd hope very few people would be in doubt on the wrong green, or come to that about LRs - unless they forget to read them - so I'll keep my golden rule thanks

You'd be amazed at the number of people who believe it is OK if they use a putter to play from a normal green to an adjacent temporary green.

Yup, moments after I posted it struck me as dumb - hope & reality are rather different I've seen people do all sorts of strange things.

just last night I had to drop out of GUR and the nearest point of relief left me impeeded by branches...ahwell