Purpose of Rule: Rule 16 covers when and how the player may take free relief by playing a ball from a different place, such as when there is interference by an abnormal course condition or a dangerous animal condition.
These conditions are not treated as part of the challenge of playing the course, and free relief is generally allowed except in a penalty area.
The player normally takes relief by dropping a ball in a relief area based on the nearest point of complete relief.
This Rule also covers free relief when a player’s ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area.
This Rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holesAnimal 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), 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), immovable obstructionsImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:(...Continued) or 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):
These are collectively called abnormal course conditionsAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:, but each has a separate definition.
This Rule does not give relief from movable obstructionsMovable Obstruction: An obstruction that can be moved with reasonable effort and without damaging the obstruction or the course.(...Continued) (a different type of free relief is allowed under Rule 15.2a) or boundary objectsBoundary Object: Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds, such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) or integral objectsIntegral Object: An artificial object defined by the Committee as part of the challenge of playing the course from which free relief is not allowed.(...Continued) (no free relief is allowed).
The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:,
An abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or area of intended swing, or
Only when the ball is on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: on or off the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) intervenes on the 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).
If the abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule.
The abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: is on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) (not 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)), and
The ball is anywhere on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), except 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) (where the player’s only relief is under Rule 17).
When playing the ball as it lies would be clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) because of where the ball lies in a bush), or
When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.
If a player’s ball 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) and there is interference by an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), the player may take free relief 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) the original ball or another ball in this 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) (see Rule 14.3):
Reference Point: 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) 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).
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-lengthClub-Length: The length of the longest club of the 14 (or fewer) clubs the player has during the round (as allowed by Rule 4.1b(1)), other than a putter.(...Continued), but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
Must not be nearer the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) than the reference point, and
There must be complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions:.
If a player’s ball is in a bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) and there is interference by an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), the player may take either free relief under (1) or penalty relief under (2):
The nearest point of complete reliefAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: 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 bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued).
If there is no such 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) in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued), the player may still take this relief by using the point of maximum available reliefPoint of Maximum Available Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition in a bunker (Rule 16.1c) or on the putting green (Rule 16.1d) when there is no nearest point of complete relief.(...Continued) in the bunkerBunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) as the reference point.
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
Must not be nearer the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) than the spot of the original ball, and
May be in any area of the courseAreas of the Course: The five defined areas that make up the course: except the same bunker, but
Must be in the same area of the courseAreas of the Course: The five defined areas that make up the course: that the ball first touched when 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).
If a player’s ball is on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) and there is interference by an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), the player may take free relief by placing the original ball or another ball on the spot of 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), using the procedures for replacingReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
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 be either on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) or 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).
If there is no such 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), the player may still take this free relief by using the point of maximum available reliefPoint of Maximum Available Relief: The reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition in a bunker (Rule 16.1c) or on the putting green (Rule 16.1d) when there is no nearest point of complete relief.(...Continued) as the reference point, which must be either on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) or 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).
If a player’s ball has not been found and it is 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 came to rest in or on an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued), the player may use this relief option instead of taking 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:
The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b, c or d, using the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge of the abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) 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).
Once the player puts another 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) to take relief in this way:
The original ball is no longer 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) and must not be played.
This is true even if it is then found on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued) before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b)
But if 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 came to rest in or on an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: and 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), 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 under Rule 18.2.
In each of these situations, the ball must not be played as it lies:
No Play Zone in General Area. The player must take free relief under Rule 16.1b.
No Play Zone in Bunker. The player must take free relief or penalty relief under Rule 16.1c(1) or (2).
No Play Zone on Putting Green. The player must take free relief under Rule 16.1d.
Take relief if allowed under Rule 16.1b, c or d, depending on whether the ball 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), in a 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), or
Take unplayable ball relief under Rule 19.
For what to do when there is interference by a no play zoneNo Play Zone: A part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play. A no play zone must be defined as part of either an abnormal course condition or a penalty area.(...Continued) for a ball 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), see Rule 17.1e.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) in Breach of Rule 16.1: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. Under Rule 14.7a.
A “dangerous 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). condition” exists when a dangerous 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). (such as snakes, stinging bees, alligators, fire ants or bears) near a ball could cause serious physical injury to the player if they had to play the ball as it lies.
A player may take relief under Rule 16.2b from interference by a dangerous 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). condition no matter where their ball is on the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued).
This Rule does not apply to other situations on the course that could cause physical harm (such as a cactus).
When there is interference by a dangerous 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). condition:
Free Relief: Playing from Inside Penalty Area. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b, except that 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 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).
Penalty Relief: Playing from Outside Penalty Area.
The player may take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d.
If there is interference by a dangerous 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). condition where the ball would be played after taking this penalty relief outside 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 may take further relief under (1) without additional penalty.
When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) because of where the ball lies in a bush).
When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued) or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.
For purposes of this Rule, 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) means the nearest point (not nearer the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued)) where the dangerous 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). condition does not exist.
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) in Breach of Rule 16.2: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. Under Rule 14.7a.
There is no relief under this Rule if 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) anywhere except 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 if 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) on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued), the player may markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of the ball and lift and clean the ball, repair the damage caused by the ball’s impact, and replaceReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) the ball on its original spot (see Rule 13.1c(2)).
Exceptions – When Relief Not Allowed for Ball Embedded in General Area: There is no relief under Rule 16.3b:
When 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 sand in a part of 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 cut to fairway height or less, or
When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued) because of where the ball lies in a bush).
It is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), and
Part of the ball is below the level of the ground.
If the player cannot tell for sure whether the ball is in its own pitch-mark or a pitch-mark made by another ball, the player may treat the ball as 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) if it is reasonable to conclude from the available information that the ball is in its own pitch-mark.
A ball is not 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) if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous strokeStroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball.(...Continued), such as when:
The ball is pushed into the ground by someone stepping on it,
The ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, or
The ball was 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 taking relief under a Rule.
When 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) and relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, the player may take free relief 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) the original ball or another ball in this 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) (see Rule 14.3):
Reference Point: The 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) right 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).
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-lengthClub-Length: The length of the longest club of the 14 (or fewer) clubs the player has during the round (as allowed by Rule 4.1b(1)), other than a putter.(...Continued), but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
Must not be nearer the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) than the reference point.
Penalty for Playing a Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) in Breach of Rule 16.3: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. Under Rule 14.7a.
If a player reasonably believes that their ball lies in a condition where free relief is allowed under Rule 15.2, 16.1 or 16.3, but cannot decide that without lifting the ball:
The player may lift the ball to see if relief is allowed, but:
The spot of the ball must first be markedMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued), and the lifted ball must not be cleaned (except on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued)) (see Rule 14.1).
If the player lifts the ball without having this reasonable belief (except on the putting greenPutting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that:(...Continued) where the player may lift under Rule 13.1b), they get one penalty stroke.
If relief is allowed and the player takes relief, there is no penalty even if the player did not markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of the ball before lifting it or cleaned the lifted ball.
If relief is not allowed, or if the player chooses not to take relief that is allowed:
The player gets one penalty stroke if they did not markMark: To show the spot where a ball is at rest by either:(...Continued) the spot of the ball before lifting it or cleaned the lifted ball when not allowed, and
The ball must be replacedReplace: To place a ball by setting it down by hand and letting it go, with the intent for it to be in play.(...Continued) on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).
Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong PlaceWrong Place: Any place on the course other than where the player is required or allowed to play their ball under the Rules.(...Continued) in Breach of Rule 16.4: General PenaltyGeneral Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play. Under Rule 14.7a.