GOLF RULES – RULE 25-1

ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS

The basic rule of golf is that ‘The ball shall be played as it lies, except as otherwise provided in the rules’ – Rule 13-1.

However, there are some instances where relief is granted for ‘Abnormal Ground Conditions’. (Rule 25-1)

‘Abnormal ground conditions’ include:-

‘Casual water (this does not exist in a water hazard) is a temporary accumulation of water on the course which is visible before or after the player takes his stance. (Dew and frost ARE NOT casual water and neither is soft, mushy earth).’

‘Ground under repair is any portion of the course so marked by order of the committee or so declared by its authorised representative. It includes material piled for removal and a hole made by a greenkeeper, even if not so marked.’ Grass cuttings which have been piled for removal ARE GUR but cuttings which have been strewn in the long grass ARE NOT GUR.

‘Holes made by burrowing animal, reptile or a bird.’ Typical examples at NCGC include a hole made by a rabbit or the ‘pecked’ areas on fairways and in the semi-rough by a crow or magpie. Footprints in bunkers made by birds or deer ARE NOT such examples and no free relief is granted for these.

Relief from an ‘Abnormal Ground Condition’ is available when the condition interferes with the lie of the ball (the ball lies in or touches the condition) or when such a condition interferes with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing. If the ball lies on the putting green interference also occurs if such a condition on the putting green intervenes on the line of putt.

RELIEF PROCEDURE

You are allowed to take free relief from ‘Abnormal Ground Conditions’ (though not compulsory) and the procedure is simple.

A) Through the Green (any part of the course except the tee and
green of the hole being played or any hazard).

1) ** Before lifting the ball, locate and mark the ‘Nearest Point of Relief’. This is the nearest point on the course where, if the ball was so situated, interference (as defined) would not exist.

** Always mark out the drop area before lifting your ball. The area in which you are dropping may result in a worse position for the ball than the spot from which you are lifting. Once you lift the ball, you are committed to taking relief or, replacing the ball with a 1 stroke penalty (Rule 18-2a).

The player should use the club with which he expects to play his next shot to simulate the address position to locate the ‘Nearest Point of Relief’.

2) Having located the ‘Nearest Point of Relief’ and, WITH ANY CLUB, mark out one club length in any direction but NOT NEARER THE HOLE.

3) Drop the ball within the area marked.

The ball is now in play provided that:-

1) the ball has not rolled into and come to rest in a hazard
2) has not rolled out of and come to rest outside of a hazard
3) has not rolled on to and come to rest on a putting green
4) has not rolled and come to rest out of bounds
5) has not rolled to and come to rest in a position from which relief was taken
6) has not rolled more than 2 club lengths from where it first touched the ground when dropped
7) the ball has not rolled closer to the hole than the ‘Nearest Point of Relief’.

These points are covered under Rule 20-2c and further reading is highly recommended.

B) In a Bunker

Without penalty as in 1,2 & 3 above except that the ball must be dropped in the bunker OR under penalty of one stroke outside the bunker keeping the point where the ball lay directly in line with the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped, as far back as required.

C) On the putting green

If the ball lies on the putting green it shall be placed at the ‘Nearest Point of Relief’ (or maximum relief if full relief not possible). The ‘Nearest Point of Relief’ may be off the putting green.

Please note that the procedure is almost identical for relief from ‘Immovable Obstructions’ (Rule 24-2). Typical examples of Immovable Obstructions at NCGC would be the roads and paths identified under the Local Rules.