Many golfers take penalty strokes they don't need, or play awkward shots from cart paths and puddles when they could have taken free relief. The Rules of Golf give you relief without penalty from a number of conditions that are not part of the challenge of the course. Knowing them can save you shots and make the game fairer. Here is a plain-English guide.
This guide summarises the main rules. Always check the full Rules of Golf and any local rules.
Abnormal course conditions
The rules define four types of abnormal course condition:
| Condition | Examples |
|---|---|
| Animal holes | Holes dug by burrowing animals, not worms or insects |
| Ground under repair | Areas marked by the course (often with blue stakes or white lines), plus holes made by greenkeepers |
| Immovable obstructions | Cart paths, sprinkler heads, drains, shelters, artificial steps |
| Temporary water | Puddles and standing water visible before or after you take your stance, not in a penalty area |
When you get relief
You get relief if the condition:
- Touches or lies under your ball, or
- Physically interferes with your stance or the area of your intended swing, or
- On the putting green, is on your line of play.
You don't get relief if the condition only interferes with your line of sight (except on the green), or if it is clearly unreasonable to play the ball because of something else (such as a tree).
How to take relief in the general area
- Find the nearest point of complete relief: the nearest spot, no nearer the hole, where the condition no longer interferes with your stance, swing or ball, for the stroke you would have made.
- Mark it with a tee if you like.
- Measure one club-length from that point, no nearer the hole, using the longest club in your bag other than your putter.
- Drop a ball from knee height within that relief area, in the general area.
- The ball must land in and come to rest in the relief area. If it doesn't, drop again; if it fails a second time, place it where it first touched the ground.
The nearest point of relief from a cart path is not always on the side you'd like. Sometimes it's in the rough. You may choose to play the ball as it lies instead.
Relief in a bunker
From an abnormal course condition in a bunker, such as temporary water, you may:
- Take free relief in the bunker, at the nearest point of complete relief, or the point of maximum available relief if complete relief isn't possible, or
- Take relief outside the bunker for one penalty stroke, on a line back from the hole.
Read golf bunker rules.
Relief on the putting green
On the green, you may take relief from abnormal course conditions (including temporary water) on your line of play. Place the ball at the nearest point of complete relief, which may be off the green. Read putting green rules.
No relief in penalty areas
You don't get free relief from abnormal course conditions in a penalty area. Your options are to play the ball as it lies or take penalty relief. Read penalty areas and out of bounds.
Embedded ball
If your ball is embedded in its own pitch mark in the general area (except in sand), you may take free relief.
- Reference point: the spot right behind where the ball is embedded.
- Relief area: within one club-length of the reference point, no nearer the hole, in the general area.
Some local rules restrict this to closely mown areas only; check the scorecard.
Wrong green
If your ball lies on a putting green other than the one for the hole you are playing, or a wrong green interferes with your stance or swing, you must take free relief: find the nearest point of complete relief and drop within one club-length.
Dangerous animal conditions
If a dangerous animal, such as a snake, bees or an alligator, near your ball would put you at risk, you may take free relief, even in a penalty area.
Loose impediments and movable obstructions
- Loose impediments (natural objects such as leaves, stones, twigs and insects) can be removed anywhere, including bunkers and penalty areas, as long as you don't move your ball. If you move your ball while removing one, except on the green, it is a one-stroke penalty and the ball must be replaced.
- Movable obstructions (artificial objects such as rakes, bottles and stakes that are not boundary objects) can be removed anywhere without penalty. If your ball moves while doing so, replace it without penalty.
- Boundary objects (such as out-of-bounds stakes) are not obstructions and cannot be moved.
Common mistakes
- Taking relief from an unmarked area that isn't ground under repair.
- Dropping nearer the hole.
- Measuring from the wrong point, such as where the ball lay rather than the nearest point of relief.
- Not taking complete relief, leaving the foot still on the cart path.
- Choosing a convenient point instead of the nearest one.
Frequently asked questions
Do I get free relief from a cart path?
Yes, if it interferes with your ball, stance or swing. Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole.
Can I take relief from a tree root?
No. Roots are part of the course. You could declare the ball unplayable for one penalty stroke. Read golf trouble shots.
What counts as temporary water?
Visible water on the surface, such as a puddle, before or after you take your stance, outside penalty areas.
Is ground under repair always marked?
Usually, but some areas count as ground under repair even when unmarked, such as holes made by greenkeepers. Check the local rules.
The bottom line
The rules give you free relief from cart paths, ground under repair, animal holes, temporary water, embedded balls and wrong greens. Find the nearest point of complete relief, drop from knee height within one club-length, no nearer the hole, and play on. Knowing your options can save shots every round. For more on the rules, read golf rules every golfer should know.