The question can be boiled down to: “Is there a penalty regarding discs below ground in the PDGA rules?
Discussion: While the PDGA rules do specifically cover situations where discs are suspended ABOVE the playing surface, there are currently no rules (or allowances) for discs BELOW the playing surface. Since the rules do not address these situations it is up to the course pro/TD/course designer to determine how to handle these situations. This would be done in accordance with rule 804.01 Special Conditions. (Or the TD could declare that the cracks were Out-of-Bounds areas and play such occurrences accordingly.) Without a decision being made along these lines by the TD, problems quickly will arise because such a shot can not be legally marked in accordance with PDGA rules. (Currently, 803.03, A, Marking the Lie, indicates that a shot must be marked with the mini marker touching the thrown disc.) Conclusion: The PDGA Rules do not address this issue. The burden to provide for a solution in this situation would fall on the TD. In terms of casual, recreational play…there should be no real