Rule 16 - Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball

(1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition. Interference exists when any one of these is true:

• 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.

See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-6  (the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. may adopt a Local Rule denying relief from an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: that only interferes with the area of intended stanceStance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke.(...Continued)).

(2) Relief Allowed Anywhere on Course Except When Ball Is in Penalty Area. Relief from interference by an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: is allowed under Rule 16.1 only when both:

• 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).

(3) No Relief When Clearly Unreasonable to Play Ball. There is no relief under Rule 16.1:

• 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.

See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-23  (the CommitteeCommittee: The person or group in charge of the competition or the course. may adopt a Local Rule allowing free relief from interference by temporary immovable obstructions on or off the courseCourse: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee:(...Continued)).

(1) Free Relief: Playing from Bunker. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b, except that:

• 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.

(2) Penalty Relief: Playing from Outside Bunker (Back-on-the-Line Relief). For one penalty stroke, the player may 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 original ball or another ball (see Rule 14.3) outside that bunker,Bunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed.(...Continued) keeping the spot of the original ball between the holeHole: The finishing point on the putting green for the hole being played:(...Continued) and the spot where the ball is 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) (with no limit on how far back the ball may 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)). The spot on the line where the ball first touches the ground 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) creates 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) that is 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) in any direction from that point, 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 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). 

(1) Relief When Ball Is in No Play Zone Anywhere on Course Except Penalty Area. If the player’s ball is in 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) in or on an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: 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):

• 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.

(2) Relief When No Play Zone Interferes with Stance or Swing for Ball Anywhere on Course Except Penalty Area. If a player’s ball is outside 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) and 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), and 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) (whether in an abnormal course conditionAbnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: or 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)) 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, the player must either:

• 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.

(1) When Ball Is Anywhere Except Penalty Area. The player may take relief 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).

(2) When Ball Is in Penalty Area. The player may take free relief or penalty relief:

• 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.

(3) No Free Relief When Clearly Unreasonable to Play Ball. There is no free relief under Rule 16.2b:

• 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.

(1) Ball Must Be Embedded in General Area. Relief is allowed under Rule 16.3b only 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).

• 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).

(2) Determining Whether Ball Is Embedded. 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) only if:

• 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.