In our Quick Intro to the Rules of Golf, we summarize Rule 16 as follows:
- Relief is allowed from animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water.
- Interference exists if your ball touches any of these areas, or if they interfere with your intended stance or area of intended swing.
- You may drop your ball away from an immovable obstruction if it interferes with your swing or stance. ...
What do you need to know about relief in golf?
Sep 19, 2016 · 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 is the relief area of a golf ball?
Relief is allowed from animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water. Interference exists if your ball touches any of these areas, or if they interfere with your intended stance or area of intended swing. Rules of Golf: ~ from Bunkers Few golfers want to see their ball land in a bunker.
Who determines the nearest point of complete relief in golf?
Jan 14, 2022 · At any time during the round, a player may take stroke and distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing from where the previous stroke was made. This can be taken no matter where the ball is on the course and even when a rule requires the player to take relief in a certain way (e.g. when in a penalty area ).
How do you take relief on a tee shot in golf?
The relief area is one club-length from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point, but may be in any area of the course. In choosing this reference point, the player should indicate the point by using an object (such as a tee). (2) Penalty Relief: Playing from Outside Bunker (Back-On-the-Line Relief).
How does relief work 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.Sep 19, 2016
When can you get 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). You can make practice strokes next to your ball on a putting green without fear.Nov 18, 2020
What is a relief area in golf?
• The Relief Area is the area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. This area is measured from a Reference Point, the starting point for measuring every relief area. • The Relief Area is a defined area that is measured with the longest club carried by a player, other than a putter.
Is relief a penalty in golf?
When you take relief from a penalty area, you get one penalty stroke. For yellow penalty areas, you have two relief options. For red penalty areas, you have three relief options (the same two relief options as you do for yellow, plus one additional option.)
Can you take relief onto the green?
When a ball is on the putting green and there is interference by an abnormal course condition, free relief may be taken by placing a ball on the spot of the nearest point of complete relief. The nearest point of complete relief must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
Do you get free relief from a tree?
If this is the case, and the tree interferes with your stance or the area of your intended swing, relief can be taken without penalty, akin to an immovable obstruction. Just drop the ball within one club-length of—and not nearer the hole than— the nearest point of relief.Feb 21, 2016
What is a relief area?
Relief. "Relief" is essentially the opposite of "flatness". Relief is typically defined as the difference in height between the high point and the low point on a landscape, in feet or in meters. It could also be defined more qualitatively: like "low relief plains" or "high relief rolling hills".
What are red stakes in golf?
The red stakes on a golf course indicate a lateral water hazard. A lateral water hazard is different from a normal water hazard for it is lateral or it runs alongside the line of play. Simply put, a normal water hazard runs across the line of play while the lateral water hazard runs adjacent to the line of play.Jun 21, 2020
What do yellow posts mean in golf?
When it is known or virtually certain that a ball is in a yellow penalty area and the player wishes to take relief, the player has two options, each for one penalty stroke: (1) The player may take stroke-and-distance relief by playing the original ball or another ball from a relief area based on where the previous ...
How do you take relief?
0:541:55Taking complete relief in the general area - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSee if it comes to rest okay that came to rest in my relief. Area in the general. Area even though iMoreSee if it comes to rest okay that came to rest in my relief. Area in the general. Area even though i'm not in this bad lie i've taken complete relief correctly.
Can you take relief in a hazard?
Under Rule 17.3, you don't get free relief from an immovable object, such as a bridge with the ball in a red-staked penalty area. Your options are to play the ball as it lies or take relief from the penalty area for a one-stroke penalty.Feb 4, 2022
Where can I take relief?
Your nearest point of relief will be the spot on the golf course nearest to where your ball lies is that is not nearer to the hole and that gives you complete relief from the cart path. To determine that spot, you should use the club that you would have used if the cart path was not there.
What are the rules of golf?
What if I just think the ball is in there? 1 Rules of Golf: Are you still dropping the ball incorrectly? 2 Rules of Golf: Ball moved by an animal? Here’s what to do… 3 Rules of Golf: What can you do if your ball is on a path?
How to play a penalty stroke?
For one penalty stroke, you can take: 1. 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 ...
What is a penalty area?
But a penalty area isn’t necessarily just a body of water. They can be other areas defined by the committee where a ball is often lost or is unable to be played. So a penalty area could be a lake, pond, river, or even the sea, but it can also be a surface drainage ditch, and it doesn’t necessarily have to contain water.
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.
What does "known or virtually certain" mean?
Known or virtually certain means there is either conclusive evidence it happened – so you or other witnesses saw it – or even though there’s a very small degree of doubt “all reasonably available information shows that it is at least 95% likely that the event in question happened”.
Can you play the ball as it lies?
You can play it as it lies. The 2019 Rules revisions brought a change here so you can play the ball exactly as you would if it was in the general area. That means you can ground your club. 2. Play a ball from outside the penalty area by taking penalty relief.
What is free relief in golf?
Free relief is allowed for interference by an abnormal course condition (ACC), including an immovable obstruction, when the ball touches or lies in or on the condition (B1), or the condition interferes with the area of intended stance (B2) or swing.
What is relief area?
The relief area is one club-length from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area. When taking relief, the player must take complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.
What is Rule 16?
Purpose: 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.
What is interference in golf?
Interference exists when any one of these is true: The player’s ball touches or is in or on an abnormal course condition, An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, or.
What rules do you use to replace a ball on a putting green?
If a player’s ball is on the putting green and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by placing the original ball or another ball on the spot of the nearest point of complete relief, using the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b (2) and 14.2e.
What is the reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition in a bunker?
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. It is the estimated point where the ball would lie that is:
Is free relief allowed in golf?
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.
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.
Who is Brent Kelley?
Brent Kelley. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. our editorial process. Brent Kelley. Updated January 13, 2020. 01. of 03.
What is a lie lie in golf?
The lie Lie: The spot on which a ball is at rest and any growing or attached natural object, immovable obstruction, integral object, or boundary object touching the ball or right next to it. (...Continued) of the player’s ball at rest, the area of intended stance Stance: The position of a player’s feet and body in preparing for and making a stroke., the area of intended swing, the line of play Line of Play: The line where the player intends his or her 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) and the relief area Relief Area: The area where a player must drop a ball when taking relief under a Rule. Each relief Rule requires the player to use a specific relief area whose size and location are based on these three factors: (...Continued) where the player will drop Drop: 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) or place a ball.
What are the areas of golf?
The area of the course Areas of the Course: The five defined areas that make up the course: that covers all of the course Course: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee: (...Continued) except for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area Teeing Area: The area the player must play from in starting the hole he or she is playing. (...Continued) the player must play from in starting the hole he or she is playing, (2) all penalty areas Penalty Area: An area from which relief with a one-stroke penalty is allowed if the player’s ball comes to rest there. (...Continued), (3) all bunkers Bunker: A specially prepared area of sand, which is often a hollow from which turf or soil was removed. (...Continued), and (4) the putting green Putting Green: The area on the hole the player is playing that: (...Continued) of the hole the player is playing.
What is a hole in the ground?
Any hole dug in the ground by an animal Animal: Any living member of the animal kingdom (other than humans), including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (such as worms, insects, spiders and crustaceans)., except for holes dug by animals Animal: Any living member of the animal kingdom (other than humans), including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (such as worms, insects, spiders and crustaceans). that are also defined as loose impediments Loose Impediment: Any unattached natural object such as: (...Continued) (such as worms or insects).
When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s
When a player’s ball is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke Stroke: The forward movement of the club made to strike the ball. (...Continued) and where part of the ball is below the level of the ground.
What is an artificial object that is out of bounds?
Artificial objects defining or showing out of bounds Out 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), such as walls, fences, stakes and railings, from which free relief is not allowed.
What is the definition of a course?
The person or group in charge of the competition or the course Course: The entire area of play within the edge of any boundaries set by the Committee: (...Continued) .
What does "to hold the ball and let go of it" mean?
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 In 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) .
How to drop a ball in golf?
The new procedure means that there is greater consistency across all relief procedures, making it simpler for players to know where and how to drop a ball: 1 For example, many times under the previous Rules, a player was required to drop a ball as near as possible to a certain spot (such as where the previous stroke was made or where a ball was embedded) and questions often came up about whether it had been dropped near enough to that spot. 2 The new procedure when dropping with reference to a spot is to drop a ball anywhere in a relief area measured one or two club-lengths from (but not nearer the hole than) that spot.
What is club length?
The definition of a club-length as the longest club other than a putter means that a player cannot choose which club to measure with based on the situation. For example, players are no longer be able to make a strategic choice about the size of the relief area by choosing a longer club so that the player can reach a location ...
When Is Your Ball in A Penalty area?
- Seems obvious, right? After all, there was a big splash. But a penalty area isn’t necessarily just a body of water. They can be other areas defined by the committee where a ball is often lost or is unable to be played. So a penalty area could be a lake, pond, river, or even the sea, but it can also be a surface drainage ditch, and it doesn’t necessarily have to contain water. The Rules say a bal…
What If I Just Think The Ball Is in there?
- Not good enough. You need to know, or be virtually certain, that the ball came to rest in a penalty area. If it did, you then have the option to take penalty relief. If you don’t know you must take stroke-and-distance relief instead. Known or virtually certain means there is either conclusive evidence it happened – so you or other witnesses saw it – or even though there’s a very small de…
It Is in there. What Now?
- Congratulations, your ball is at rest or lost in a penalty area. What to do? You have two choices: 1. You can play it as it lies. The 2019 Rules revisions brought a change here so you can play the ball exactly as you would if it was in the general area. That means you can ground your club. 2. Play a ball from outside the penalty area by taking penalty relief.
I’ll Take Relief, Please…
- I don’t blame you – seems silly getting wet to advance it no more than 10 yards and ruin your clobber. What happens now depends on whether it’s a yellow or red penalty area. You’ll normally be able to tell the colour either from the posts that mark the area, or a painted line. If there’s neither post nor paint, it’s classed as red. Let’s start with yellow. For one penalty stroke, you can …
Anything else?
- 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. Dangerous animals? Well, that’s different. If an alligator is eyeing you up, take free relief in the penalty area (at the nearest point of complete relief from the offending beast) or penalty relief o…
All Clear?
- So next time you’ve dunked one in the H2O, don’t just drop willy-nilly wherever you feel like. Follow the procedures in Rule 17 and you won’t enrage your playing partners or pick up a nasty surprise on your scorecard.