That’s what we did. We made the player hit 2 balls. With relief he made 5, without relief he made 7. With relief he won his division, without it he would have been in a playoff. We marked the ball position. The Rules official came out and said count the 5. Rules official, It was NOT UNREASONABLE for the player to envision his shot using the 4 iron. Because he was using the longer club and that club was hitting the obstruction he was entitled to relief. Look, I kinda disagreed, but the ruling was final. There were 2 other witnesses besides me. I mean I got into it with a “so called rules guru” about playing a ricochet off a tree like above but in that case a stance was interfered with by a cart path. I say the player can get free relief, he said the player was not entitled to it because he was only playing the ricochet shot to gain relief at which time I pointed out that Jimenez played a ricochet of the Road Hole from 4 inches away from the wall in the 2010 OPEN. The player is allowed relief period if there is interference with his swing or stance by an immovable obstruction like a sign or cart path. The player has to take proper relief and make the decision is the relief a real option to better my chance at making a stroke or, is it better to use the unplayable lie options. It does depend. But what is a reasonable play is very subjective. I’ve never hit a ricochet, but I have played out of a water hazard with some of my ball showing and put it on a green several times. It’s not that hard of a shot, just really messy. The rule about what is a reasonable stance and stroke can and should be loosely interpreted. Players, especially creative ones, that hit into alot of trouble can see things that others can’t. I can do things with a 60 that my partners only see on TV. I’m being serious there. End of the day…if I have a shot, any shot, and I want to play it I should not be denied, If it so happens the shot I want to play is interfered with legititmately by an obstruction or gopher hole or alligator, if that relief is to my advantage, I get to take it.