Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions

Purpose of Rule: 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.

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.

This Rule also covers free relief when a player’s ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area.

Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions), Dangerous Animal Condition, Embedded Ball

16.1

Abnormal Course Conditions (Including Immovable Obstructions)

This Rule covers free relief that is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions or temporary water:

These are collectively called abnormal course conditions, but each has a separate definition.
This Rule does not give relief from movable obstructions (a different type of free relief is allowed under Rule 15.2a) or boundary objects or integral objects (no free relief is allowed).

16.1a

When Relief Is Allowed

(1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition. 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
Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play.

If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule. See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-6 (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule denying relief from an abnormal course condition that only interferes with the area of intended stance).

DIAGRAM 16.1a: WHEN RELIEF IS ALLOWED FOR ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION

The diagram assumes the player is right-handed.
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.
The nearest point of complete relief for B1 is P1, and is very close to the condition.
For B2, the nearest point of complete relief is P2, and is farther from the condition as the stance has to be clear of the ACC.

(2) Relief Allowed Anywhere on Course Except When Ball Is in Penalty Area. Relief from interference by an abnormal course condition is allowed under Rule 16.1 only when both:

The abnormal course condition is on the course (not out of bounds), and
The ball is anywhere on the course, except in a penalty area (where the player’s only relief is under Rule 17).

(3) No Relief When Clearly Unreasonable. There is no relief under Rule 16.1:

When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush), or
When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.

See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-23 (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing free relief from interference by temporary immovable obstructions on or off the course).

16.1b

Relief for Ball in General Area

If a player’s ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

Reference Point: The nearest point of complete relief in the general area.
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must be in the general area,
- Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
- There must be complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.

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.
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.

16.1c

Relief for Ball in Bunker

If a player’s ball is in a bunker and there is interference by an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may take either free relief under (1) or penalty relief under (2): (1) Free Relief: Playing from Bunker. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b, except that:

The nearest point of complete relief and the relief area must be in the bunker.
If there is no such nearest point of complete relief in the bunker, the player may still take this relief by using the point of maximum available relief in the bunker as the reference point.

DIAGRAM 16.1c: RELIEF FROM ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION IN BUNKER

The diagram assumes a right-handed player.
When there is interference from an abnormal course condition in a bunker, free relief may be taken in the bunker under Rule 16.1b or back-on-the-line relief may be taken outside the bunker for one penalty stroke.
Relief outside the bunker is taken by dropping a ball on a spot that keeps the spot of the original ball between the hole and that spot.
The relief area is one club-length in any direction from the spot where the ball first touches the ground when dropped.

(2) Penalty Relief: Playing from Outside Bunker (Back-on-the-Line Relief). For one penalty stroke, the player may drop the original ball or another ball (see Rule 14.3) outside that bunker, keeping the spot of the original ball between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped (with no limit on how far back the ball may be dropped). The spot on the line where the ball first touches the ground when dropped creates a relief area that is one club-length in any direction from that point, but with these limits:

Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must not be nearer the hole than the spot of the original ball, and
- May be in any area of the course except the same bunker, but
- Must be in the same area of the course that the ball first touched when dropped.

16.1d

Relief for Ball on 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.

The nearest point of complete relief must be either on the putting green or in the general area.
If there is no such nearest point of complete relief, the player may still take this free relief by using the point of maximum available relief as the reference point, which must be either on the putting green or in the general area.

DIAGRAM 16.1d: FREE RELIEF FROM ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION ON PUTTING GREEN

The diagram assumes the player is left-handed.
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 nearest point of complete relief.
The nearest point of complete relief must be either on the putting green or in the general area.

16.1e

Relief for Ball Not Found but in or on Abnormal Course Condition

If a player’s ball has not been found and it is known or virtually certain that the ball came to rest in or on an abnormal course condition on the course, the player may use this relief option instead of taking stroke-and-distance relief:

The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b, c or d, using the estimated point where the ball last crossed the edge of the abnormal course condition on the course as the spot of the ball for purposes of finding the nearest point of complete relief.
Once the player puts another ball in play to take relief in this way:
- The original ball is no longer in play and must not be played.
- This is true even if it is then found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b).

But if it is not known or virtually certain that the ball came to rest in or on an abnormal course condition and the ball is lost, the player must take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 18.2.

16.1f

Relief Must Be Taken from Interference by No Play Zone in Abnormal Course Condition

In each of these situations, the ball must not be played as it lies: (1) Relief When Ball Is in No Play Zone Anywhere on Course Except Penalty Area. If the player’s ball is in a no play zone in or on an abnormal course condition in the general area, in a bunker or on the putting green:

No Play Zone in General Area. The player must take free relief under Rule 16.1b.
No Play Zone in Bunker. The player must take free relief or penalty relief under Rule 16.1c(1) or (2).
No Play Zone on Putting Green. The player must take free relief under Rule 16.1d.

(2) Relief 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 and is in the general area, in a bunker or on the putting green, and a no play zone (whether in an abnormal course condition or in a penalty area) interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, the player must either:

Take relief if allowed under Rule 16.1b, c or d, depending on whether the ball is in the general area, in a bunker or on the putting green, or
Take unplayable ball relief under Rule 19.

For what to do when there is interference by a no play zone for a ball in a penalty area, see Rule 17.1e. Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 16.1: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

16.2

Dangerous Animal Condition

16.2a

When Relief Is Allowed

A “dangerous animal condition” exists when a dangerous animal (such as venomous snakes, stinging bees, alligators, fire ants or bears) near a ball could cause serious physical injury to the player if they had to play the ball as it lies. A player may take relief under Rule 16.2b from interference by a dangerous animal condition no matter where their ball is on the course. This Rule does not apply to other situations on the course that could cause physical harm (such as a cactus).

16.2b

Relief for Dangerous Animal Condition

When there is interference by a dangerous animal condition: (1) When Ball Is Anywhere Except Penalty Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b, c or d, depending on whether the ball is in the general area, in a bunker or on the putting green. (2) When Ball Is in Penalty Area. The player may take free relief or penalty relief:

Free Relief: Playing from Inside Penalty Area. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b, except that the nearest point of complete relief and the relief area must be in the penalty area.
Penalty Relief: Playing from Outside Penalty Area.
- The player may take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d.
- If there is interference by a dangerous animal condition where the ball would be played after taking this penalty relief outside the penalty area, the player may take further relief under (1) without additional penalty.

(3) No Free Relief When Clearly Unreasonable. There is no free relief under Rule 16.2b:

When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush).
When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.

For purposes of this Rule, the nearest point of complete relief means the nearest point (not nearer the hole) where the dangerous animal condition does not exist. Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 16.2: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

16.3

Embedded Ball

16.3a

When Relief Is Allowed

(1) Ball Must Be Embedded in General Area. Relief is allowed under Rule 16.3b only when a player’s ball is embedded in the general area.

There is no relief under this Rule if the ball is embedded anywhere except in the general area.
But if the ball is embedded on the putting green, the player may mark the spot of the ball and lift and clean the ball, repair the damage caused by the ball’s impact, and replace the ball on its original spot (see Rule 13.1c(2)).

Exceptions – When Relief Not Allowed for Ball Embedded in General Area: There is no relief under Rule 16.3b:

When the ball is embedded in sand in a part of the general area that is not cut to fairway height or less, or
When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush).

(2) Determining Whether Ball Is Embedded. A player’s ball is embedded only if:

It is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke, and
Part of the ball is below the level of the ground.

If the player cannot tell for sure whether the ball is in its own pitch-mark or a pitch-mark made by another ball, the player may treat the ball as embedded if it is reasonable to conclude from the available information that the ball is in its own pitch-mark. A ball is not embedded if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke, such as when:

The ball is pushed into the ground by someone stepping on it,
The ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, or
The ball was dropped in taking relief under a Rule.

DIAGRAM 16.3a: WHEN A BALL IS EMBEDDED

16.3b

Relief for Embedded Ball

When a player’s ball is embedded in the general area and relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

Reference Point: The spot in the general area right behind where the ball is embedded.
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must be in the general area, and
- Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.

See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-2 (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing relief only for a ball embedded in an area cut to fairway height or less). Penalty for Playing a Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 16.3: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a.

DIAGRAM 16.3b: FREE RELIEF FOR EMBEDDED BALL

When a ball is embedded in the general area, free relief may be taken.
The reference point for taking relief is the spot in the general area right behind where the ball is embedded.
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.
A ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.

16.4

Lifting Ball to See If It Lies in Condition Where Relief Allowed

If a player reasonably believes that their ball lies in a condition where free relief is allowed under Rule 15.2, 16.1 or 16.3, but cannot decide that without lifting the ball:

The player may lift the ball to see if relief is allowed, but:
The spot of the ball must first be marked, and the lifted ball must not be cleaned (except on the putting green) (see Rule 14.1).

If the player lifts the ball without having this reasonable belief (except on the putting green where the player may lift under Rule 13.1b), they get one penalty stroke. If relief is allowed and the player takes relief, there is no penalty even if the player did not mark the spot of the ball before lifting it or cleaned the lifted ball. If relief is not allowed, or if the player chooses not to take relief that is allowed:

The player gets one penalty stroke if they did not mark the spot of the ball before lifting it or cleaned the lifted ball when not allowed, and
The ball must be replaced on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 16.4: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

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