Nina Caldwell
Golfers can take relief when their ball lands in a penalty area, such as a lake, pond, river, or sea, or on a cart path, wrong putting green, or rough. Relief allows golfers to take a free drop without penalty at the nearest point of relief, which is the spot on the golf course closest to the ball but not nearer to the hole, that offers complete relief from the condition interfering with the shot.
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What You'll Learn
Relief from a penalty area
When your ball ends up in a penalty area, you have the option to either play it as it lies or take relief outside the penalty area for one penalty stroke. Penalty areas are one of the five defined areas of a golf course and are marked by red or yellow stakes, lines, etc.
If you choose to take relief, you have the following options:
- Stroke-and-distance relief: You can play a ball from a relief area based on where your previous stroke was made.
- Back-on-the-line relief: You can drop a ball outside the penalty area, keeping the point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped. There is no limit to how far back you can drop, but it must be within one club length of the relief area on either side of that line and cannot be closer to the hole than where the original ball crossed the penalty-area boundary.
- Lateral relief: This option is only available for red penalty areas. You can drop the original or another ball within two club lengths of where it last crossed the margin of the penalty area. The ball cannot be nearer the hole after the drop or come to rest in the penalty area.
It is important to note that you cannot take relief from abnormal course conditions, such as a bridge or sprinkler control box, when your ball lies in a penalty area. Additionally, you cannot deem your ball unplayable or play a provisional ball when you think your ball will be lost only in a penalty area.
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Embedded ball relief
In golf, "relief" refers to a spot on a golf course that is closest to the golfer's ball but no closer to the hole, from which the golfer can take a free drop without penalty when the golf ball is in one of several specific circumstances. One of these circumstances is when a ball is embedded.
When a ball is embedded in the general area, a player is entitled to free relief. The reference point for taking relief is the spot in the general area right behind where the ball is embedded. The relief area should be one club-length from the reference point, not nearer to the hole than the reference point, and must be in the general area. A ball must be dropped and come to rest in the relief area.
It is important to note that if a ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, it is not considered embedded, and free relief is not allowed. In such cases, the player can lift the ball and tee it up again anywhere inside the teeing area without penalty.
Additionally, free relief for an embedded ball is not allowed in sand. If a player chooses to treat an embedded ball as unplayable, they can take penalty relief. This involves dropping the ball under one of the four options in Rule 19.3, three of which incur a one-penalty stroke, and the other a two-penalty stroke.
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Relief from a wrong putting green
Relief in golf refers to the nearest point of relief, which is the 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. This comes into play when a golfer's ball is sitting in one of several specific circumstances, often outlined in Rule 16 of the official rule book.
If your ball ends up on the wrong putting green, you are required to take relief under Rule 13.1f. This rule states that you must not play the ball as it lies but instead, take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in the relief area. The relief area is the "nearest point of complete relief on the same area of the course where the original ball came to rest".
It's important to note that you must establish that your ball is interfered with by the wrong green before taking relief. Interference by a wrong green exists when your ball is on a green other than the putting green for the hole you are playing. Wrong greens are considered part of the general area. Additionally, you won't get relief if the interference is deemed "clearly unreasonable". For example, if you are right-handed and tried to play left-handed because the wrong green is on your right, your club choice, stance, swing, or direction may not be considered reasonable under those circumstances.
To take relief, first determine the nearest point of relief. Then, using any club, measure one club-length over and one club-length behind the nearest point of relief. This area, with a radius of one club-length and no closer to the hole, is where you must take your free drop. Remember, always determine the nearest point of relief and decide to proceed with the drop before lifting your golf ball. If you lift your ball first and then decide not to take relief, you will incur a penalty.
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Relief from a cart path
In golf, "relief" refers to a spot on a golf course that is closest to a golfer's ball but is no closer to the hole, allowing the golfer to take a free drop without penalty. This is known as the "nearest point of relief" or "NPR".
If your ball falls near a cart path, you are not required to take relief, even if it was on the path itself. However, if you do want to take relief from a cart path, you must first determine the nearest point of relief. To do this, take your stance as close to the cart path without your feet touching it. Use the club you would have used if the cart path wasn't there. Set up for a shot with this club in your hand at both sides of the cart path, as if you were pretending to hit from where the clubhead rests. Place a tee at where the clubhead sits on the ground on both sides of the path. Then, measure each tee from where your ball originally lies to determine the nearest point.
From this nearest point of relief, you get a full club length in any direction that is not closer to the hole. Mark this area with another tee, then lift your club off the ground and make your drop from shoulder height. If the ball settles no closer to the hole after it lands, it is now in play. If it is closer to the hole, you must re-drop. If the second drop is also closer to the hole, you may place the ball exactly at the spot where it landed.
It is important to note that you must determine the nearest point of relief and decide to proceed with the drop before lifting your golf ball. If you lift your ball first and then decide not to take relief, you will incur a penalty.
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Relief from a bunker
In golf, "relief" refers to the nearest spot to a golfer's ball that is not any closer to the hole, from which the golfer can take a free drop without penalty. This is known as the "nearest point of relief".
If your ball is in a bunker, you may take relief from a puddle of water. You can also take relief if there is interference from an abnormal course condition such as a drain, steps, temporary water, or ground under repair. In this case, you must find the nearest point of complete relief from the abnormal course condition and drop your original ball or another ball within one club length of that point, not nearer to the hole.
If complete relief is not available, you may take free maximum available relief in the bunker and drop within one club-length of the point of maximum available relief. You also have the option to take relief outside the bunker, but this will incur a penalty stroke.
It's important to note that you must determine your nearest point of relief and decide to proceed with the drop before lifting your golf ball. If you lift your ball first and then decide not to take relief, you will incur a penalty.
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Frequently asked questions
Relief in golf refers to the act of moving your golf ball from an unplayable position to a more favourable one. This is usually in reference to a ball coming to rest in a penalty area, such as a bunker or a body of water, but can also refer to interference from other conditions, such as a cart path, or a sprinkler.
A golfer is entitled to relief when their ball is in a penalty area, or when the ball's position interferes with their lie, stance, or swing.
The nearest point of relief is the spot on a golf course closest to the golfer's ball that is no closer to the hole, and from which the golfer can take a free drop without penalty.
To find the nearest point of relief, first identify the condition that is interfering with your shot (e.g. a cart path). Then, select the club you would use if that condition wasn't there, and set up your stance and shot as if you were going to play the ball from that position. The nearest point of relief is where your feet would be if you took that shot, without the interfering condition.
