Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abnormal Course Conditions. In general, the procedures for this Rule are very similar to what you have been used to operating under for some time now and there will still be no penalty for taking relief in the general area.

 

An Abnormal Course Condition is now a blanket term for the following instances that are on the golf course (i.e. no relief for an abnormal course condition that is out of bounds): Animal Hole, Ground Under Repair, Immovable Obstruction and Temporary Water. Each one of those four listed terms has its own definition. When a player encounters these instances on the golf course, a single relief application will apply for most of what will be necessary to obtain proper relief.
 

You will be allowed relief from an Abnormal Course Condition when interference occurs from when:
 

1. Your ball touches the Abnormal Course Condition
2. Your stance or area of intended swing will touch the Abnormal Course Condition
    

Note that this does not include mental interference or line of play interference unless there is temporary water on your line of play on the putting green.

 

 

Nearest Point of Complete Relief. That is the estimated point where the ball would lie that is:
 

• Nearest to the ball’s original spot, but not nearer the hole than that spot

• In the required area of the course, and

• Where the condition does not interfere with the stroke you would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there. This means that your stance and area of intended swing must be completely free of the abnormal course condition you are taking relief from in the first place.
   

Estimating this reference point requires the player to identify the choice of club, stance, swing and line of play you would have used for that stroke. You do not need to simulate that stroke by taking an actual stance and swinging with the chosen club (but it is recommended that you normally do this to help in making an accurate estimate). Click HERE to see a video explanation.
 

 

Establishing the Relief Area. When taking relief from an abnormal course condition, you will find the nearest point of complete relief (listed above) and establish your reference point. From this reference point, you will establish your relief area, which will be one (1) club length no closer to the hole and must be completely free of the abnormal course condition that you are taking relief from. This relief area must also be in the correct area of the course (listed below).
 

 

Dropping in the Correct Area of the Course. (Rule 16.1b) When taking relief from an abnormal course condition that is in the general area, you will drop a ball also in the general area. So if you are taking relief from an abnormal course condition in the general area but there is a bunker that is also in your relief area to drop a ball, you may not drop the ball in or have the ball come to rest in the bunker. The ball must land in and come to relief in the relief area that is in the general area.
 

 

Abnormal Course Condition in a Bunker. (Rule 16.1c) If your ball is in a bunker, you are entitled to relief from an abnormal course condition with the same stipulations that are listed above except that relief must be taken and a ball must be dropped within the bunker.

However, you may take relief outside the bunker for a one stroke penalty if you choose to. This requires you to establish a line from the flagstick and the position of the ball in the bunker and use that line going behind the bunker as far back as you want to go and drop a ball using the back on a line procedure.
 

 

When Relief is not Allowed. (Rule 16.1a(2)) Relief is not allowed when a ball is inside a penalty area, which does not mean your stance. For instance, if your ball lies in the general area just outside of a penalty area and you are standing on a sprinkler head that is inside a penalty area, you would be allowed relief. Relief is also not allowed when playing the ball would be clearly unreasonable (i.e. your stance is on a cart path but the ball is dead behind a tree and is impossible to play). Also, you would not be allowed relief if interference occurs from an abnormal course condition that is out of bounds.
 

 

 

Substituting a Ball. (Rule 14.3a) Whenever you are operating under this Rule, the original ball does not necessarily have to be the ball used when taking relief. So when taking relief from a cart path, you may change out their ball for any reason if you want to use another one. However, this only applies when you are dropping a ball to take relief under a Rule. When you are replacing a ball on an original spot (i.e. the putting green), you may not change out a ball in that circumstance. Click HERE to see a video explanation.