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what is the rule on a plugged golf ball

by Dr. Triston Ratke Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Under the embedded ball rule, which is Rule 16.3 of the Rules of Golf, golfers are entitled to free relief from a situation in which their ball becomes embedded in the general area (also known as "through the green"), which includes everywhere on the course that's not teeing ground, putting surfaces, bunkers and ...Jan 30, 2021

Full Answer

What is the embedded ball rule in golf?

Under the embedded ball rule, which is Rule 16.3 of the Rules of Golf, golfers are entitled to free relief from a situation in which their ball becomes embedded in the general area (also known as "through the green"), which includes everywhere on the course that's not teeing ground, putting surfaces, bunkers and hazards.

Can You Drop a golf ball that is plugged in the ground?

When most golfers find a ball plugged in the turf on a golf course, they pull the ball out and take relief without thinking about it. If the ball is in the ground, it's pretty darn hard to hit it out, so these golfers figure the Rules of Golf allow them to drop without penalty.

Can a ball be plugged in the hazard?

yes the ball was plugged ( or embedded, same thing, in its own pitch mark) in the hazard. Rule 25-2 along with definition of closely mown area covers it I think.

What is a plugged lie in golf?

Within the rules of golf a plugged lie is known as an embedded ball. The good news is that unless you are in a bunker or penalty area, you do now get relief without penalty.

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What happens if your golf ball is plugged?

According to the rules of golf, not much. “Relief is allowed only when your ball is embedded in the general area,” Rule 16.3 states. “But if your ball is embedded on the putting green, you may mark the spot of your ball, lift and clean it, repair the damage, and replace your ball on its original spot.”

Can you get relief from a plugged ball?

Within the rules of golf a plugged lie is known as an embedded ball. The good news is that unless you are in a bunker or penalty area, you do now get relief without penalty.

Can you move a plugged ball?

The Rule states, “A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole.”

How do you take relief from an embedded ball?

In taking relief, the player drops the original ball or a substituted ball within one club-length of (but not nearer the hole than) the spot right behind where the ball was embedded.

Can you clean a plugged golf ball in the rough?

Before a golfer is about to take relief, a golfer can clean the ball. This includes any situation where you are taking relief: from a hazard, from an unplayable lie, from a plugged lie. Before a golfer starts a new hole, a golfer can clean the ball.

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. .

Is out of bounds a 2 stroke penalty?

Regardless of whether you choose to take relief, you must take a 2-stroke penalty. For example, if your drive went out of bounds, that is your first shot. Now, add two strokes for your penalty and your next shot after your new placement will be your fourth shot.

When can you take free relief in golf?

You're allowed free relief, under Rule 16.1, if your ball touches or is on an abnormal course condition, if it physically interferes with the area of intended stance and swing, or “only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes in the line of play”.

Can you clean your golf ball on the fairway?

Obviously golfers are allowed to mark and clean golf balls on the putting surfaces, so preferred lies rules don't apply there. Everywhere else on the golf course that isn't the fairway or green of the hole the golfer is currently playing, the golfer has to play the ball down, as it lies, without cleaning or moving it.

Can you tee up your ball when next to a bunker?

1. The stacked turf face of a bunker is not considered to be in the bunker, therefore the ball is lying in the general area. 2. Whilst the ball may be embedded (although this one doesn't look to be), the player would be entitled to free relief.

What is a plugged lie?

Bunker Shots: Plugged Lie For the uninitiated, a plugged lie is when the ball sits half-buried in the sand. This can happen if the ball flies straight into the bunker from quite a long, high shot, or it might roll into a natural crater in the sand.

What is embedded ball rule?

What is the embedded ball rule? Under the embedded ball rule, which is Rule 16.3 of the Rules of Golf, golfers are entitled to free relief from a situation in which their ball becomes embedded in the general area (also known as "through the green"), which includes everywhere on the course that's not teeing ground, putting surfaces, ...

What happens when you play golf in wet conditions?

That means golf balls, which generate thousands of RPMs of spin on each shot, and pierce the ground when the land and become an embedded ball in the ground.

Where can you take relief from an embedded ball?

Prior to the current edition of the Rules of Golf that first went into effect in 2019, golfers were only able to take relief from an embedded ball in closely-mowed areas of the course, meaning fairways and the surrounds of greens.

Can you get free relief from an embedded golf ball?

However, that is no longer true, and an embedded ball in pretty much any kind of grass (outside of a penalty area or hazard) entitles a golfer to free relief.

What are the new golf rules?

New Rule: The previous default position in the Rules is reversed: Rule 16.3 allows relief for a ball embedded anywhere in the “general area” (that is, the area previously known as “through the green”), except when embedded in sand.

Where does the ball drop in relief?

In taking relief, the player drops the original ball or a substituted ball within one club-length of (but not nearer the hole than) the spot right behind where the ball was embedded. This is an appropriate exception to the principle of playing the ball as it lies because having to play a ball that is stuck in soft or wet ground ...

Is it appropriate to play the ball as it lies?

This is an appropriate exception to the principle of playing the ball as it lies because having to play a ball that is stuck in soft or wet ground (whether in the fairway or the rough) should not be considered part of the normal challenge of playing a course.

What is the general area of golf?

The "general area" is what was once called "through the green," which is the area of the golf course that isn't the tee box and putting green of the hole being played, hazards or bunkers. This means golfers can now take free plugged-ball relief in the rough.

Can you take relief on a golf course?

However, the golf rules for embedded-ball relief have long held that a golfer can only take relief when the ball is in a closely mowed area -- that is , a part of the course where the grass is at fair way height or lower.

Can you take a ball out of the green?

New golf rules 2019: Golfers can take embedded ball relief ‘through the green’. When most golfers find a ball plugged in the turf on a golf course, they pull the ball out and take relief without thinking about it. If the ball is in the ground, it's pretty darn hard to hit it out, so these golfers figure the Rules of Golf allow them ...

What is the rule for a ball that is embedded in a green?

This is the current rule for reference#N#25-2. Embedded Ball#N# If a player's ball is embedded in any closely-mown area through the green, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

What happens if you drop a golf ball in a green?

If a player's ball is embedded in any closely-mown area through the green, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. Sep 20, 2018. #5.

Can you clean a ball when it is lifted?

New rule 14.1.c says you can clean a ball at any time it lifted - with certain exceptions. Embedded ball is not one othe exceptions, so i think, yes you can clean it.

False hopes

So I hit a shot on a par 3 today from about 165. Long story short, the ball plugged into the fringe, literally there was only a 1/4 of the ball showing. It took me 3 swings to get it out. What type of swing and what club do you use for a shot like this? All advice is welcome, I appreciate it.

25-2. Embedded Ball

If a player's ball is embedded in any closely-mown area through the green, it may be lifted, cleaned and dropped, without penalty, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.

David in FL

You are allowed relief from a ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in any closely mown area through the green. The fringe counts as such.

False hopes

Awesome, thanks for the clarification guys. I actually asked my playing partners about this and they were not aware of any rule that would let me drop. I think I need to spend some time studying the rule book.

Martyn W

Awesome, thanks for the clarification guys. I actually asked my playing partners about this and they were not aware of any rule that would let me drop. I think I need to spend some time studying the rule book.

Fourputt

Isn't " as near as possible (not closer to the hole) to the spot where it embedded on the second drop" in the pitch mark that I wasn't able to repair?

Hackpro

Didn’t this happen to Arnie Palmer during one of his early Majors. He played it both ways and had to wait until the end of the round to find out if he pared or double boogied the hole. Ken Venture was whining about it, because it cost him the win.

What happens when a player drops a ball?

We know when a player drops a ball it has to come to rest in the relief area. If it doesn’t, Rule 14.3c (2) says a player must drop the ball in the right way a second time. If it still refuses to yield, the player must then “place a ball on the spot where the ball dropped the second time first touched the ground”.

What hole did Ian Poulter drive his iron into?

But, sometimes, even the world’s best struggle. So Ian Poulter’s attempt to get out of a fairway bunker on the 1st hole at Renaissance, in the final round of last week’s Scottish Open, was a situation many of us hacks know only too well. He drove his iron straight into the lip of the bunker and embedded the ball tightly into the grass.

Feedback

Tee shot on a par 3 plugs in the mud along the edge of water hazard, clearly inside the stakes. Is there a rule/decision that clearly states that there is no free relief from this condition?

Feedback

yes the ball was plugged ( or embedded, same thing, in its own pitch mark) in the hazard. Rule 25-2 along with definition of closely mown area covers it I think.

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