If a player receives a better lieLie: The spot on which a ball is at rest and any growing or attached natural object, immovable obstruction, integral object, or boundary object touching the ball or right next to it.(...Continued), area of intended swing or line of playLine of Play: The line where the player intends their ball to go after a stroke, including the area on that line that is a reasonable distance up above the ground and on either side of that line.(...Continued) in taking relief under Rule 16.1, this is the player’s good fortune. There is nothing in Rule 16.1 that requires them to maintain identical conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. after relief is taken.
For example, in taking relief from a sprinkler head (immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued)) in the rough, the player’s nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) or relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) may be located in the fairway. If this results in the player being able to dropDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) a ball in the fairway, this is allowed.
In some situations, the conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. may be less advantageous to the player after relief is taken as compared with the conditionsConditions Affecting the Stroke: The lie of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance, the area of intended swing, the line of play and the relief area where the player will drop or place a ball. before relief is taken, such as when the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) or relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) is in an area of rocks.
If a player has interference by a second abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: after taking complete relief from an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:, the second situation is a new situation and the player may again take relief under Rule 16.1.
For example, in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued), there are two areas of temporary waterTemporary Water: Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:(...Continued) that are close together and the player has interference by one area but not the other. The player takes relief under Rule 16.1 and the ball comes to rest within the relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) at a spot where there is no longer interference by the first area of temporary waterTemporary Water: Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:(...Continued), but there is interference by the second area.
The player may play the ball as it lies or take relief from the second area under Rule 16.1.
The same outcome applies if there is interference by any other abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:.
There are situations where a player may have interference by two conditions at the same time and, in those situations, the player may choose to take relief from either condition. If, after taking relief from one condition, interference by the second condition exists, the player may then take relief from the second condition.
Some examples of this include when:
In the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued), an immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued) interferes with the area of the player’s intended swing and the ball lies within an area defined as ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:(...Continued).
The player may first take relief from the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued) under Rule 16.1, dropDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) the ball in the ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:(...Continued) if this is part of the relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued), and then have the option of playing the ball as it lies in the ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:(...Continued) or taking relief under Rule 16.1b.
Conversely, the player may take relief from the ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:(...Continued) and, if there is still interference by the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued), take relief from the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued).
A player’s ball is embeddedEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued) in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) in ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:(...Continued).
The player has the option of taking relief under Rule 16.1 for interference by the ground under repairGround Under Repair: Any part of the course the Committee defines to be ground under repair (whether by marking it or otherwise). Any defined ground under repair includes both:(...Continued) or under Rule 16.3 for the embedded ballEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued).
However, in such situations, the player may not, in a single procedure, concurrently take relief from two conditions by droppingDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) a ball in a single relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) determined by a combined nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) from both conditions, except in the situation where the player has successively taken relief for interference from each condition and is essentially back where the player started.
When a ball lies on an elevated part of an immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued), the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) is on the ground under the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued). This is to make it easier to establish the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) and to avoid it from being located on the branch of a nearby tree.
For example, a ball comes to rest in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) on the elevated part of an immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued), such as a walkway or bridge over a deep hollow.
If the player elects to take relief in this situation, vertical distance is disregarded, and the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) is the point (Point X) on the ground directly beneath where the ball lies on the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued), provided that the player does not have interference, as defined in Rule 16.1a, at this point. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b by dropping a ball within the relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) determined using Point X as the reference point.
If there is interference from some part of the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued) (such as a supporting column) for a ball located at Point X, the player may then take relief under Rule 16.1b by using Point X as the spot of the ball for purposes of finding the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued).
See Clarification 16.1/5 for when a ball lies underground and has interference from an immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued).
The procedure when a ball lies underground in an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: (such as a tunnel) is different from when it is elevated. In such a case, determining the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) must account for vertical and horizontal distance. In some cases, the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) could be at the entrance to the tunnel, and in other cases it could be on the ground directly above where the ball lies in the tunnel.
See Clarification 16.1/4 for when a ball lies on elevated part of an immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued).
When a ball is moving in temporary waterTemporary Water: Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:(...Continued), whether a player chooses to lift the moving ball or substituteSubstitute: To change the ball the player is using to play a hole by having another ball become the ball in play.(...Continued) another ball in taking relief under Rule 16.1, the player is allowed to let the ball move to a better spot before determining the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) so long as they do not unreasonably delay play (Exception 3 to Rule 10.1d and Rule 5.6a).
For example, a player’s ball is moving in temporary waterTemporary Water: Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:(...Continued) across the fairway. The player arrives at the ball when it is at Point A and realizes that when it gets to Point B, which is five yards away, their nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) will be in a much better spot than would be the case if relief is taken from Point A.
So long as the player does not unreasonably delay play (Rule 5.6a), they are allowed to delay starting the relief procedure until the ball reaches Point B.
In some situations a player may have to adopt an abnormal swing, stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or direction of play in playing their ball to accommodate a given situation. If the abnormal strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is not clearly unreasonable given the circumstances, the player is permitted to take free relief under Rule 16.1.
For example, in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued), a right-handed player’s ball is so close to a boundary objectBoundary Object: Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) on the left side of a hole that they must make a left-handed swing to play towards the hole. In making the left-handed swing, the player’s stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) is interfered with by an immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued).
The player is allowed relief from the immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued) since use of a left-handed swing is not clearly unreasonable in the circumstances.
After the relief procedure for the left-handed swing is complete, the player may then use a normal right-handed swing for the next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued). If the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued) interferes with the right-handed swing, the player may take relief for the right-handed swing under Rule 16.1b or play the ball as it lies.
A player may not use a clearly unreasonable strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) to get relief from an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:. If the player’s strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is clearly unreasonable given the circumstances, relief under Rule 16.1 is not allowed, and they must either play the ball as it lies or take unplayable ball relief.
For example, in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued), a right-handed player’s ball is in a bad lie. A nearby immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued) would not interfere with the player’s normal right-handed strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), but would interfere with a left-handed strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued). The player states that they are going to make the next strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) left-handed and believes that, since the obstructionObstruction: Any artificial object except for integral objects and boundary objects.(...Continued) would interfere with such a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), Rule 16.1b allows relief.
However, since the only reason for the player to use a left-handed strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is to escape a bad lie by taking relief, use of the left-handed strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) is clearly unreasonable and the player is not allowed to take relief under Rule 16.1b (Rule 16.1a(3)).
The same principles would apply to the use of a clearly unreasonable stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued), direction of play or the choice of a club.
In deciding whether relief should be denied under Rule 16.1a(3) for a ball lying underground in an animal hole, the decision is made based on the lie the ball would have at the entrance to the hole as opposed to the ball’s position underground in the hole.
For example, in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued), a player’s ball comes to rest underground in a hole made by an animalAnimal: Any living member of the animal kingdom (other than humans), including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (such as worms, insects, spiders and crustaceans).. A large bush is immediately next to and overhanging the entrance to the animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued).
The nature of the area at the entrance of the animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) is such that, if the animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) was not there, it would be clearly unreasonable for the player to make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) at the ball (because of the overhanging bush). In such a situation, the player is not allowed to take relief under Rule 16.1b. The player must play the ball as it lies or proceed under Rule 19 (Ball Unplayable).
If the ball lies in an animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) but is not underground, the spot of the ball is used to determine whether it is clearly unreasonable to play the ball and if Rule 16.1a(3) applies. If Rule 16.1a(3) does not apply, the player is allowed relief without penalty under Rule 16.1b. The same principles would apply to a ball that is underground in an immovable obstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued).
When a ball enters an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: and comes to rest underground (and Rule 16.1a(3) does not apply), the relief procedure that applies depends on whether the ball lies in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) (Rule 16.1b), in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) (Rule 16.1c), in a penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) (Rule 17.1c) or out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued) (Rule 18.2b).
Examples of whether relief is available and how to take relief are as follows:
A ball enters an animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) through an entrance that is in a greenside bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) and is found at rest underneath the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued). As the ball is not in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) or on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), relief is taken under Rule 16.1b for a ball in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued). The spot where the ball lies in the animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) is used to determine the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) and the relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) must be in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued).
A ball enters an animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) through an entrance that is in a spot that is out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued). Part of the hole is in bounds and in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued). The ball is found at rest in bounds, underground and in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued). Relief is taken under Rule 16.1b for a ball in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued). The spot where the ball lies in the animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) is used to determine the nearest point of complete reliefNearest Point of Complete Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.(...Continued) and the relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) must be in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued).
A ball enters an animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) through an entrance that is in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) but only about a foot from a boundary fence. The animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) slopes steeply down below the fence, so that the ball is found at rest beyond the boundary line. Since the ball lies out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued), the player must take stroke-and-distanceStroke and Distance: The procedure and penalty when a player takes relief under Rules 17, 18 or 19 by playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(...Continued) relief by adding one penalty stroke and play a ball from where the previous strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) was made (Rule 18.2b).
A ball might have entered an animal holeAnimal Hole: Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects).(...Continued) through an entrance that is in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) but it is not known or virtually certainKnown or Virtually Certain: The standard for deciding what happened to a player’s ball – for example, whether the ball came to rest in a penalty area, whether it moved or what caused it to move.(...Continued) that the ball that has not been found is in the abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:. In this situation, the ball is lostLost: The status of a ball that is not found in three minutes after the player or their caddie (or the player’s partner or partner’scaddie) begins to search for it. A ball does not become lost as a result of the player declaring it to be lost.(...Continued) and the player must take stroke-and-distanceStroke and Distance: The procedure and penalty when a player takes relief under Rules 17, 18 or 19 by playing a ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).(...Continued) relief by adding one penalty stroke and play a ball from where the previous stroke was made (Rule 18.2b).
If the player takes maximum available relief, they will still have interference from the abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: and may take further relief by using the back-on-the-line procedure for one penalty stroke. If the player decides to do this, the reference point for back-on-the-line relief is where the ball came to rest after taking maximum available relief.
If a player lifts their ball to take relief under Rule 16.1c, they are not committed to the intended relief option under Rule 16.1c until the original ball is put in playIn Play: The status of a player’s ball when it lies on the course and is being used in the play of a hole:(...Continued) or another ball is substitutedSubstitute: To change the ball the player is using to play a hole by having another ball become the ball in play.(...Continued) under that option.
For example, a player elects to take relief from temporary waterTemporary Water: Any temporary accumulation of water on the surface of the ground (such as puddles from rain or irrigation or an overflow from a body of water) that:(...Continued) in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) and lifts the ball with the intention of taking free relief in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) (Rule 16.1c(1)). The player then realizes that where the Rule requires the ball to be droppedDrop: To hold the ball and let go of it so that it falls through the air, with the intent for the ball to be in play.(...Continued) in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) will result in a very difficult shot.
After lifting the ball, but prior to putting a ball in playIn Play: The status of a player’s ball when it lies on the course and is being used in the play of a hole:(...Continued), the player may choose either of the two options of the Rule despite the original intention to take relief under Rule 16.1c(1).
It must be reasonable to conclude that the ball is in its own pitch-mark for the player to take relief under Rule 16.3b.
An example of when it is reasonable to conclude that the ball came to rest in its own pitch-mark is when a player’s approach shot lands on soft ground just short of the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued). The player sees the ball bounce forward and then spin back. When the player arrives at the ball, they see that it is embeddedEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued) in the only pitch-mark in the area. Since it is reasonable to conclude that the ball spun back into its own pitch-mark, the player may take relief under Rule 16.3b.
However, if a player’s tee shot lands in the fairway and the ball bounces over a hill to a position where it could not be seen from the tee but is found in a pitch-mark, it is not reasonable to conclude that the ball is embeddedEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued) in its own pitch-mark and the player is not allowed to take relief under Rule 16.3b.
When a player is allowed to take relief from a ball embeddedEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued) in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued), there are situations where the spot immediately behind where the ball is embeddedEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued) is not in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued).
When this occurs, the relief procedure requires the player to find the nearest spot in the general area that is not nearer the hole to the spot immediately behind where the ball embeddedEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued), and this spot becomes the reference point for establishing a relief areaRelief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. With the exception of back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3), each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors:(...Continued) under Rule 16.3b.
While this spot is normally very close to the spot behind where the ball embeddedEmbedded: When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.(...Continued), it could be some distance away (such as when a ball embeds just outside a penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued) and, based on the shape of the penalty areaPenalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there.(...Continued), the player would need to go some distance to the right or left in order to find a spot in the general areaGeneral Area: The area of the course that covers all of the courseexcept for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.(...Continued) that is not nearer the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued)).
This procedure also applies when a ball is in bounds but embeds right next to out of boundsOut of Bounds: All areas outside the boundary edge of the course as defined by the Committee. All areas inside that edge are in bounds.(...Continued) or when it embeds in the wall or face right above a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued). (New)