
Ground Under Repair Rules in Golf
- When You Get Relief. You get relief from ground under repair when your ball, stance or intended swing is interfered with by the area.
- Relief Procedure. When dropping from ground under repair, you must take the nearest point of relief (stance) and one club length.
- In a Bunker. ...
- Playing from Ground Under Repair. ...
What does'ground under repair'mean in golf?
"Ground under repair" is a term used in the Rules of Golf and applied to certain conditions on a golf course. Ground under repair—golfers often spell it or say it as "GUR"—falls under the heading of an abnormal ground condition and is exactly what its name implies: ground that is being repaired by the course superintendent or maintenance crew.
Can you play a golf ball from the ground under repair?
“There is nothing in Rule 16.1 that requires him or her to maintain identical conditions after relief is taken”. But remember, you can also play it as it lies from ground under repair if you wish – unless prohibited by Local Rule. Have a question for our Rules of Golf expert?
What is the “ground under repair” area?
Down the left side of the fairway on the fifth hole of our course, a large areas is marked as ground under repair. Due to storms late last year and the lack of time to clean up the mess, our managing committee has declared this area as Ground Under Repair.
When do you get relief from ground under repair in golf?
When You Get Relief You get relief from ground under repair when your ball, stance or intended swing is interfered with by the area. When dropping from ground under repair, you must take the nearest point of relief (stance) and one club length.

What counts as ground under repair?
Ground Under Repair. Any defined ground under repair includes both:, Immovable ObstructionImmovable Obstruction: Any obstruction that:, 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: ...
What relief do you get from ground under repair?
Ground under repair is an area on the golf course considered unfit for play. A player can drop out of this area with no penalty. Ground under repair is normally marked by a white circle or stakes. The golf course or tournament committee is responsible for marking all such areas as ground under repair.
Do you have to find your ball in ground under repair?
If it is known, or virtually certain, that the ball is lost within the GUR — say, 95.012 percent likelihood or above, for you statistical types — then the player is entitled to free relief.
Where do I drop the ground under repair?
0:132:29How to Take a Drop From Ground Under Repair - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipToday we're going to talk about how to take a drop from ground under repair. We think Frank wellMoreToday we're going to talk about how to take a drop from ground under repair. We think Frank well Mike a lot of times what people think is if their ball is in a ground under repair area they can just
Can u play out of ground under repair?
But, generally speaking, you can choose to play the ball as it lies from ground under repair if you wish. I say generally because committees can prohibit the practice. They can declare it a No Play Zone, when they're normally looking to protect an area or habitat, or they can establish a Local Rule.
What happens if a bunker is Gur?
Bunkers which are marked as GUR are classified as 'through the green'. Play is prohibited from these areas and relief must be taken in accordance with Rule 25-1 b.i. Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the nearest point of relief shall be determined which is not in a hazard or on a putting green.
What does Gur mean in golf?
Ground under repairGround under repair (G.U.R) v Irrigation Local Rule (Abnormal ground conditions) - Sanctuary Cove Golf and Country Club.
Can you clean your ball in Gur?
When you lift your ball from anywhere else it may always be cleaned except when you lift it: To see if it is cut or cracked – cleaning is not allowed. To identify it – cleaning is allowed only as needed to identify it. Because it interferes with play – cleaning is not allowed.
What happens if a bunker is full of water?
In taking free relief, you must drop your ball within one club-length of, and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief that gives you complete relief from the water. If the casual water is in a bunker, then the nearest point of relief must also be in the bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker.
How many relief options are available for an unplayable ball?
three relief optionsWhen you decide that your ball is unplayable, you have three relief options, all for one penalty stroke. Your first option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke and play again (stroke and distance relief).
Do you get relief from a cart path?
Luckily, the Rules of Golf provide relief from artificial obstructions, which include cart paths. You are entitled to relief from the cart path if it impacts your stance, swing, or the lie of your ball.
What is nearest point of relief in golf?
The nearest point of relief is the spot the shortest distance away from where your ball lies that is not closer to the hole and where if your ball was there, you could make a stroke at it without any interference from the thing you are taking relief from.
What is Rule 16.1 B in golf?
DIAGRAM 16.1b: FREE RELIEF FROM ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION IN GENERAL AREA. Free relief is allowed when the ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition. The nearest point of complete relief should be identified and a ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.
What is ground under repair?
Ground under repair is an area on the golf course considered unfit for play. A player can drop out of this area with no penalty. Ground under repair is normally marked by a white circle or stakes. The golf course or tournament committee is responsible for marking all such areas as ground under repair.
When dropping from ground under repair, must you take the nearest point of relief?
When dropping from ground under repair, you must take the nearest point of relief (stance) and one club length. Make sure you drop the ball no closer to the hole. The ball must be dropped from knee-height. This is a change from the previous rule where you were allowed to drop from shoulder height.
What happens if you drop the ball in the ground?
Your ball is in play after you have dropped and there is no interference from the ground under repair.
Can you drop a golf ball from ground under repair?
Playing from Ground Under Repair. It is not mandatory to drop from ground under repair. You always have the option to play a ball from ground under repair unless the golf course or committee prohibits it.
What is the edge of ground under repair?
The edge of ground under repair should be defined by stakes, ropes, lines painted on the ground or physical features . There is no specific color of stakes or lines in the Rules of Golf to be used for marking areas of ground under repair. However, in practice, the blue stakes or white or blue lines are most often used. The way in which ground under repair is marked should be specified in the Local Rules.
What is a GUR in golf?
Ground under repair (GUR) is a term applied to an area on the golf course considered unfit for play. As its name suggests, it is a site that is a ground that is damaged and/or being repaired by the course maintenance crew. In the Rules of Golf it is treated as part of the Abnormal Course Conditions.
What is a no play zone on putting green?
The player must take free relief under Rule 16.1d . (2) 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 zone No Play Zone: A part of the course where the Committee has prohibited play.
What happens if a ball is not found?
(...Continued) that the ball came to rest in or on an abnormal course condition Abnormal Course Condition: Any of these four defined conditions: on the course Course: 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-distance Stroke 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:
What is an unplayable ball relief?
Take unplayable ball relief under Rule 19 . For what to do when there is interference by a no play zone No 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. (...
What is the penalty for playing the wrong ball?
(... Continued) in Breach of Rule 16.1: General Penalty General Penalty: Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play.
What is a GUR hole?
Any hole dug by greenskeeping staff or piles of material left for removal are GUR even if not marked as such . Animal holes: Holes made by burrowing animals, reptiles and birds are abnormal ground conditions, as is the dirt thrown out of the holes in their digging.
What are the conditions of a golf course?
Let's break down that rule book definition. Abnormal course conditions are: 1 Temporary water: What used to be called "casual water" is any temporary accumulation of water on the golf course, for example, puddles of water left after a rain. You must be able to see water either before or after you take your stance to get relief from temporary water. Snow or natural ice can be considered casual water. 2 Ground under repair: Exactly what it sounds like. If the course superintendent or maintenance staff are working on a part of the course turf, that area is called "ground under repair" and should be designated as such ( white lines on the ground, or staking or roping off the area). Any hole dug by greenskeeping staff or piles of material left for removal are GUR even if not marked as such. 3 Animal holes: Holes made by burrowing animals, reptiles and birds are abnormal ground conditions, as is the dirt thrown out of the holes in their digging. 4 Immovable obstruction: Any obstruction that can't be moved (or at least without undue effort); the cart path and sprinkler heads are examples.
What is grass clippings left in place after mowing?
Grass clippings left in place after mowing (i.e., not piled for removal). Wet ground, spongy ground, mushy ground that does not have any water showing above ground even after you take your stance. Dew or frost on the ground.
Is the ball dropped on the putting green?
And on the putting green, the ball is placed rather than dropped in taking relief from an abnormal course condition. Always keep in mind the nearest point of relief cannot be closer to the hole. Also, if your ball is inside the boundary of a penalty area, or out of bounds, no free relief from an abnormal course condition applies. ...
Do holes in putting greens count as ACC?
Aeration holes on putting greens are not covered by the phrase "holes made by greenkeepers" as mentioned in the definition of ground under repair, and, therefore, are not ACC.
Can you drop a golf ball outside of a bunker?
Outside of bunkers and the putting green, a ball in an abnormal course condition can be lifted and dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. There is no penalty. Free relief applies in bunkers only if the ball is dropped inside the bunker; the golfer can drop outside the bunker with a 1-stroke penalty.

Definition of The Ground Under Repair
When Relief Is allowed?
- Relief is allowed if the ball is anywhere on the golf course (not OB) and not in the Penalty Area. When the player is interfered with by GUR, there are always two options: to play the ball as it lies or to take relief without penalty (at the nearest point of relief in the same area of the course or a designated Dropping Zone). A player always has the option to play from GUR unless it has been …
Marking of The Ground Under Repair
- The edge of ground under repair should be defined by stakes, ropes, lines painted on the ground or physical features. There is no specific color of stakes or lines in the Rules of Golf to be used for marking areas of ground under repair. However, in practice, the blue stakes or white or blue lines are most often used. The way in which ground under repair is marked should be specified in the …