
Complete relief means that your stance and your swing are no longer affected by the obstruction. Technically, there is only one nearest point of relief possible. From this point, you are entitled to drop your ball within one club length.
What does'nearest point of complete relief'mean?
Important: The "relief" in "nearest point of complete relief" is relief from the original condition interfering with your shot. It is NOT relief from interference or issues caused by any other condition. What does that mean?
What is the nearest point of relief in golf?
The "nearest point of relief" in golf is a spot on a golf course closest to the golfer's ball but no closer to the hole from which the golfer can take a free drop (without penalty) when that golf ball is sitting in one of several specific circumstances that are mostly covered in Rule 16 .
What is the new relief procedure in golf?
The two key requirements of the new relief procedure (which are first dropping your ball from any height and second ensuring that it is dropped in and comes to rest in the relief area) would eliminate the need to know the seven specific scenarios under the current Rules that require a re-drop.
What are the rules of golf for taking advantage of relief?
Rules of Golf – Take Advantage of Free Relief. There are actually quite a few instances in golf where you are entitled to relief without penalty. Generally, this includes areas that are sensitive such as new grass, young trees, flowers, or otherwise, or areas under repair on the golf course. This also includes what we call casual water,...

What does complete relief mean in golf?
Complete relief means that your stance and your swing are no longer affected by the obstruction. Technically, there is only one nearest point of relief possible. From this point, you are entitled to drop your ball within one club length. If your ball happens to be dirty, you can also clean it before taking this drop.
What does complete relief mean?
Complete relief means a reasonably adequate substitute for the damages available in a breach action.
Do you have to take full relief from a cart path?
For a cart path, under Rule 16.1(b) interference includes the lie of the ball, the area of stance and swing. Even if only one of those things creates the original interference, you have to take relief from all of them to create the required complete (!) relief.
What qualifies for relief in golf?
If a ball is embedded in the rough, golfers are entitled to relief. If ball is embedded in a bunker, golfers can drop the ball out of the sand (while taking a two-stroke penalty).
Do you get relief from an out of bounds fence?
Interference from Boundary Objects I have interference from an out of bounds fence, stake or wall – what are my options? A. You do not get free relief from objects that define or mark the course boundary.
Do you get relief from tree roots in golf?
Is there any free relief, or is it just play it as it lies? Answer: The Rules of Golf stipulate that this is play it as it lies, similar to a ball being up a tree, or on top of a rock. If you don't wish to play it as it lies, then you can take an unplayable, which will cost you a one stroke penalty. .
What is the rule for taking relief from a cart path?
Under Rule 24-2b Immovable Obstruction – If your ball lies on or near the cart path or when the obstruction interferes with your stance or the area of intended swing you may take free relief – you must determine the nearest point of relief no closer to the hole with in one club length and the ball must be dropped.
How many club lengths is free relief?
Your relief area is either one or two club-lengths, measured from the reference point (based on the Rule you are taking relief under). Measure club-lengths using the longest club in your bag other than your putter. You cannot replace any club that you damage during the round.
What if nearest point of relief is unplayable?
A player must drop within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, on whichever side of the path that is – even if it would mean dropping into an unplayable lie in a hedge or bush. If that were the case most golfers would elect to play the ball from off the path.
Is a lost ball a 2 stroke penalty?
Local rule for out of bounds, lost ball If a player hits a ball out of bounds or loses a ball, the general rules still require the player to return to the spot of the previous stroke and take a one-stroke penalty - a standard stroke-and-distance scenario.
Do you get relief from a sprinkler head in your line?
A sprinkler head is an immovable obstruction and is covered by Rule 24-2. That Rule states that you are entitled to relief for a ball that lies in or on the obstruction or when the obstruction interferes with your area of intended stance or swing.
Can you take relief from a tree?
When a player's ball lies above the ground (such as in a bush or a tree), the player may take lateral relief by using the point on the ground directly below the spot of the ball as his or her reference point: The relief area.
What are the two key requirements of the new relief procedure?
The two key requirements of the new relief procedure (which are first dropping your ball from any height and second ensuring that it is dropped in and comes to rest in the relief area) would eliminate the need to know the seven specific scenarios under the current Rules that require a re-drop.
Where to place a golf ball if it won't stay at rest?
And, just like today, if your ball won’t stay at rest where you try to place it, you would then find the nearest spot where it will stay at rest, no closer to the hole, even if outside the relief area .
Where do you drop your golf ball in the fairway?
This means that you could drop your ball in the fairway from just above the grass, from shoulder-height, or from any other height. If you are taking a drop in longer grass, you will be required to drop from higher off the ground to avoid touching the grass when you let go of your ball.
Is shoulder height dropping a golf swing?
Most golfers today are very familiar with the current arm’s-length, shoulder- height dropping method. There is no dispute that this is a simple and easy-to-follow process. However, there are numerous other complexities that are part of the current relief procedure that the proposed procedure seeks to simplify.
What is the closest point of relief in golf?
The "nearest point of relief" in golf is a spot on a golf course closest to the golfer's ball but no closer to the hole from which the golfer can take a free drop (without penalty) when that golf ball is sitting in one of several specific circumstances that are mostly covered in Rule 16 . On this page we'll outline those circumstances, ...
What is the closest point of complete relief?
Important: The "relief" in "nearest point of complete relief" is relief from the original condition interfering with your shot. It is NOT relief from interference or issues caused by any other condition.
What happens when a golf ball comes to rest?
If your ball comes to rest in one of the following circumstances, and one of these situations inteferes with your lie, stance or area of intended swing, you may take relief without penalty: Intereference from an immovable obstruction: Any obstruction that can't be moved, such as a cart path or maintenance road.
Can you lift your golf ball after you use the NPR?
So remember: Only lift your ball after you've decided to use the NPR.
When did the nearest point of relief change?
First, note that in the edition of the rule book that went into effect on Jan. 1, 2019, the term "nearest point of relief" was replaced by "nearest point of complete relief.". That is the term now in use in the Rules of Golf.
Can you take relief if your putting green is wrong?
Note that you must take relief if your ball is on a wrong putting green, and that "interference to a player’s stance or the area of his intended swing is not, of itself, interference" by a wrong putting green. In the other circumstances, however, interference with your lie or your stance or your area of intended swing entitles you to free relief, ...
Can you play the ball off the cart path?
You have the option to play the ball as it lies, except for a wrong putting green (and, typically, GUR). If your nearest point of relief is in a terrible spot, then you can choose to (sticking with our example) play the ball off the cart path rather than take the free relief.
What is the penalty for hitting a friend's shot in the water?
Your friend’s shot may have found water or OB, but because no one knows where the ball went, he must hit again from a spot as near as possible to where the original ball was last played, and take a one-stroke penalty, per Rule 27-1.
What is the rule for greenside shotmaking?
Rule 19-2 states that if a player’s ball in motion is deflected by his own equipment, he or she incurs a one-stroke penalty and must play the ball as it lies.
Can you play a ball on a bridge without penalty?
But because a water hazard extends vertically, a ball on the bridge may be within the confines of the hazard. If it’s in the hazard, per Rule 24-2b, you aren’t entitled to free relief, but you can play it as it lies without penalty.
Can you take relief if your ball is in water?
So you get a free drop within one clublength of your nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.
What is stroke and distance relief?
Stroke-and-distance relief: Either play the original ball or another ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made. 2. Back-on-the-line relief: Drop the original, or another, ball in a relief area that is based on a reference line “going straight back from the hole through the estimated point where ...
Can you take relief in a penalty area?
You can only take relief in a penalty area under these options contained in Rule 17. So no trying to claim an abnormal course condition is interfering with your ball, or it’s embedded or unplayable.
