Bonjour a tous,
Regarding terrain and rules of toss.

Must one be able to draw a straight line between the cochonnet and the circle and have that line remain in bounds of playable terrain when otherwise all the other rule requirements have been met in order for the throw to be correct?
This rule was allegedly brought to a player’s attention while playing in a tournament in Sonoma California by one of the umpires.
Imagine playing on a kidney shaped court and throwing the cochonnet from one end to the other while otherwise being the correct distance form any boundaries.

I have not found a statement to this effect in either the French Federation rule book nor the US Federation rule book (a translation without differences).

One may note that the written rules are specific concerning "delineated courts," although they state in their opening phrase that one can play in open areas.
So is there room for local interpretation? But is interpretation valid if it's not in written form? In a tournament on a delineated court it's not even a question but it is on an open court where you can toss the cochonnet over a bench, around an obstacle, all the while still meeting the written rules.
Thank you.

Article 9, item (6) states that, "When an out-of-bounds area is situated between the jack and the throwing circle." [the thrown jack is invalid].

Logic would seem to dictate that if no out-of-bounds areas have been specified, either in writing or verbally, by the event organizers, the above quoted rule would not apply. As you pointed out, this is often the case when contests are held on an "open" terrain, such as an unused baseball infield, parking lot, beach, etc.

Does anyone have a different interpretation?