4. Course Conditions — Mud, Extreme Wetness,
Poor Conditions and Protection of the Course
g a. Relief for Embedded Ball
Rule 25-2 provides relief, without penalty, for a ball embedded
in its own pitch-mark in any closely mown area through the green.
On the putting green, a ball may be lifted and damage caused by
the impact of a ball may be repaired (Rules 16-1b and c). When
permission to take relief for an embedded ball anywhere through
the green would be warranted, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark
in the ground may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and
dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the
hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course
through the green.
Exceptions:
1. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if the
ball is embedded in sand in an area that is not closely
mown.
2. A player may not take relief under this Local Rule if it is
clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of
interference by anything other than the condition covered
by this Local Rule.
PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
108 Appendix I
g b. Cleaning Ball
Conditions, such as extreme wetness causing significant
amounts of mud to adhere to the ball, may be such that permission
to lift, clean and replace the ball would be appropriate. In
these circumstances, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“(Specify area) a ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without
penalty.
Note: The position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted
under this Local Rule — see Rule 20-1.
PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
g c. “Preferred Lies” and “Winter Rules”
Ground under repair is provided for in Rule 25, and occasional
local abnormal conditions that might interfere with fair play
and are not widespread should be defined as ground under repair.
However, adverse conditions, such as heavy snows, spring thaws,
prolonged rains or extreme heat can make fairways unsatisfactory
and sometimes prevent use of heavy mowing equipment.
When these conditions are so general throughout a course that
the Committee believes “preferred lies” or “winter rules” would
promote fair play or help protect the course, the following Local
Rule is recommended:
“A ball lying on a closely mown area through the green [or specify
a more restricted area, e.g., at the 6th hole] may be lifted without
penalty and cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must
mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he must place it on a
spot within [specify area, e.g., six inches, one club-length, etc.] of
and not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that is not
in a hazard and not on a putting green.
A player may place his ball only once, and it is in play when it
has been placed (Rule 20-4). If the ball fails to come to rest on the
spot on which it was placed, Rule 20-3d applies. If the ball when
placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed and it
subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be
played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.
Appendix I 109
If the player fails to mark the position of the ball before lifting it
or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a
club, he incurs a penalty of one stroke.
Note: “Closely mown area” means any area of the course, including
paths through the rough, cut to fairway height or less.
*PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
*If a player incurs the general penalty for a breach of this Local
Rule, no additional penalty under the Local Rule is applied.”
g d. Aeration Holes
When a course has been aerated, a Local Rule permitting relief,
without penalty, from an aeration hole may be warranted. The
following Local Rule is recommended:
“Through the green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration
hole may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped 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.
On the putting green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration
hole may be placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole
that avoids the situation.
PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
g e. Seams of Cut Turf
If a Committee wishes to allow relief from seams of cut turf, but
not from the cut turf itself, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“Through the green, seams of cut turf (not the turf itself) are
deemed to be ground under repair. However, interference by
a seam with the player’s stance is deemed not to be, of itself,
interference under Rule 25-1. If the ball lies in or touches the
seam or the seam interferes with the area of intended swing,
relief is available under Rule 25-1. All seams within the cut turf
area are considered the same seam.
110 Appendix I
PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
5. Stones in Bunkers
Stones are, by definition, loose impediments and, when a player’s
ball is in a hazard, a stone lying in or touching the hazard
may not be touched or moved (Rule 13-4). However, stones in
bunkers may represent a danger to players (a player could be
injured by a stone struck by the player’s club in an attempt to
play the ball) and they may interfere with the proper playing
of the game.
When permission to lift a stone in a bunker is warranted, the
following Local Rule is recommended:
“Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).”
6. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green
Rule 24-2 provides relief, without penalty, from interference
by an immovable obstruction, but also provides that, except on
the putting green, intervention on the line of play is not, of itself,
interference under this Rule.
However, on some courses, the aprons of the putting greens are
so closely mown that players may wish to putt from just off
the green. In such conditions, immovable obstructions on the
apron may interfere with the proper playing of the game and
the introduction of the following Local Rule providing additional
relief, without penalty, from intervention by an immovable
obstruction would be warranted:
“Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be
taken under Rule 24-2. In addition, if a ball lies off the putting
green but not in a hazard and an immovable obstruction on or
within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two
club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between
the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:
The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to
where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids
intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green.
Appendix I 111
The ball may be cleaned when lifted.
Relief under this Local Rule is also available if the player’s ball
lies on the putting green and an immovable obstruction within
two club-lengths of the putting green intervenes on his line of
putt. The player may take relief as follows:
The ball must be lifted and placed at the nearest point to
where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids
intervention and (c) is not in a hazard. The ball may be
cleaned when lifted.
PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
7. Temporary Obstructions
When temporary obstructions are installed on or adjoining the
course, the Committee should define the status of such obstructions
as movable, immovable or temporary immovable obstructions.
g a. Temporary Immovable Obstructions
If the Committee defines such obstructions as temporary immovable
obstructions, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“I. Definition
A temporary immovable obstruction (TIO) is a non-permanent
artificial object that is often erected in conjunction
with a competition and is fixed or not readily movable.
Examples of TIOs include, but are not limited to, tents,
scoreboards, grandstands, television towers and lavatories.
Supporting guy wires are part of the TIO, unless the
Committee declares that they are to be treated as elevated
power lines or cables.
II. Interference
Interference by a TIO occurs when (a) the ball lies in front
of and so close to the TIO that the TIO interferes with the
player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, or (b) the
ball lies in, on, under or behind the TIO so that any part of
the TIO intervenes directly between the player’s ball and
112 Appendix I
the hole and is on his line of play; interference also exists if
the ball lies within one club-length of a spot equidistant
from the hole where such intervention would exist.
Note: A ball is under a TIO when it is below the outermost
edges of the TIO, even if these edges do not extend downwards
to the ground.
III. Relief
A player may obtain relief from interference by a TIO,
including a TIO that is out of bounds, as follows:
(a) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green,
the point on the course nearest to where the ball lies
must be determined that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b)
avoids interference as defined in Clause II and (c) is
not in a hazard or on a putting green. The player must
lift the ball and drop it, without penalty, within one
club-length of the point so determined on a part of
the course that fulfills (a), (b) and (c) above.
(b) In a Hazard: If the ball is in a hazard, the player must
lift and drop the ball either:
(i) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause III (a)
above, except that the nearest part of the course
affording complete relief must be in the hazard
and the ball must be dropped in the hazard, or,
if complete relief is impossible, on a part of the
course within the hazard that affords maximum
available relief; or
(ii) Under penalty of one stroke, outside the hazard as
follows: the point on the course nearest to where
the ball lies must be determined that (a) is not
nearer the hole, (b) avoids interference as defined
in Clause II and (c) is not in a hazard. The player
must drop the ball within one club-length of the
point so determined on a part of the course that
fulfills (a), (b) and (c) above.
Appendix I 113
The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Clause III .
Note 1: If the ball lies in a hazard, nothing in this Local
Rule precludes the player from proceeding under Rule 26
or Rule 28, if applicable.
Note 2: If a ball to be dropped under this Local Rule is not
immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
Note 3: A Committee may make a Local Rule (a) permitting or
requiring a player to use a Dropping Zone when taking relief
from a TIO or (b) permitting a player, as an additional relief
option, to drop the ball on the opposite side of the TIO from
the point established under Clause III , but otherwise in accordance
with Clause III .
Exceptions:
If a player’s ball lies in front of or behind the TIO (not in,
on or under the obstruction), he may not obtain relief under
Clause III if:
1. It is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke
or, in the case of intervention, to make a stroke such
that the ball could finish on a direct line to the hole,
because of interference by anything other than the
TIO;
2. Interference by the TIO would occur only through use
of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction
of play; or
3. In the case of intervention, it would be clearly unreasonable
to expect the player to be able to strike the
ball far enough toward the hole to reach the TIO.
A player not entitled to relief due to these exceptions may
proceed under Rule 24-2, if applicable.
IV. Ball in TIO Not Found
If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not
been found is in, on or under a TIO, a ball may be dropped
under the provisions of Clause III or Clause V, if applicable.
114 Appendix I
For the purpose of applying Clauses III and V, the ball is
deemed to lie at the spot where it last crossed the outermost
limits of the TIO (Rule 24-3).
V. Dropping Zones
If the player has interference from a TIO, the Committee may
permit or require the use of a Dropping Zone. If the player
uses a Dropping Zone in taking relief, he must drop the
ball in the Dropping Zone nearest to where his ball originally
lay or is deemed to lie under Clause IV (even though
the nearest Dropping Zone may be nearer the hole).
Note: A Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting the use
of a Dropping Zone that is nearer the hole.
PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
g b. Temporary Power Lines and Cables
When temporary power lines, cables or telephone lines are
installed on the course, the following Local Rule is recommended:
“Temporary power lines, cables, telephone lines and mats covering
or stanchions supporting them are obstructions:
1. If they are readily movable, Rule 24-1 applies.
2. If they are fixed or not readily movable, the player may,
if the ball lies through the green or in a bunker, obtain relief
as provided in Rule 24-2b. If the ball lies in a water hazard,
the player may lift and drop the ball in accordance with
Rule 24-2b(i), except that the nearest point of relief must be
in the water hazard and the ball must be dropped in the
water hazard or the player may proceed under Rule 26.
3. If a ball strikes an elevated power line or cable, the stroke
must be canceled and replayed, without penalty (see Rule
20-5). If the ball is not immediately recoverable, another
ball may be substituted.
Note: Guy wires supporting a temporary immovable
obstruction are part of the temporary immovable
obstruction, unless the Committee, by Local Rule,
Appendix I 115
declares that they are to be treated as elevated power
lines or cables.
Exception: A stroke that results in a ball striking an elevated
junction section of cable rising from the ground
must not be replayed.
4. Grass-covered cable trenches are ground under repair, even
if not marked, and Rule 25-1b applies.”
8. Dropping Zones
If the Committee considers that it is not feasible or practicable
to proceed in accordance with a Rule providing relief, it may
establish Dropping Zones in which balls may or must be
dropped when taking relief. Generally, such Dropping Zones
should be provided as an additional relief option to those available
under the Rule itself, rather than being mandatory.
Using the example of a Dropping Zone for a water hazard, when
such a Dropping Zone is established, the following Local Rule
is recommended:
“If a ball is in or it is known or virtually certain that a ball that
has not been found is in the water hazard (specify location), the
player may:
(i) proceed
under Rule 26; or
(ii) as an additional option, drop a ball, under penalty of
one stroke, in the Dropping Zone.
PEN ALTY FOR BREACH OF LOCAL RULE:
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.”
Note: When using a Dropping Zone the following provisions
apply regarding the dropping and re-dropping of the ball:
(a) The player does not have to stand within the Dropping
Zone when dropping the ball.
(b) The dropped ball must first strike a part of the course
within the Dropping Zone.
(c) If the Dropping Zone is defined by a line, the line is within
the Dropping Zone.
116 Appendix I
(d) The dropped ball does not have to come to rest within
the Dropping Zone.
(e) The dropped ball must be re-dropped if it rolls and comes
to rest in a position covered by Rule 20-2c(i-vi).
(f) The dropped ball may roll nearer the hole than the spot
where it first struck a part of the course, provided it comes
to rest within two club-lengths of that spot and not into
any of the positions covered by (e).
(g) Subject to the provisions of (e) and (f), the dropped ball
may roll and come to rest nearer the hole than:
• its original position or estimated position (see Rule
20-2b);
• the nearest point of relief or maximum available relief
(Rule 24-2, 24-3, 25-1 or 25-3); or
• the point where the original ball last crossed the margin
of the water hazard or lateral water hazard (Rule 26-1).
9. Distance-Measuring Devices
If the Committee wishes to act in accordance with the Note
under Rule 14-3, the following wording is recommended:
“Distance-Measuring Devices:
[Specify as appropriate, e.g., In this competition, or For all play
at this course, etc.], a player may obtain distance information
by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a
stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that
is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might
affect his play (e.g., gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.),
the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is
disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional
function is actually used.”
