Rule 25. Abnormal Ground Conditions,
Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green
Definitions
All defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in
the Definitions section — see pages 5-18.
25-1. Abnormal Ground Conditions
g a. Interference
Interference by an abnormal ground condition occurs when a ball
lies in or touches the condition or when the condition interferes
with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing.
If the player’s ball lies on the putting green, interference also
occurs if an abnormal ground condition on the putting green intervenes
on his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of
play is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.
Note: The Committee may make a Local Rule stating that interference
by an abnormal ground condition with a player’s stance is
deemed not to be, of itself, interference under this Rule.
g b. Relief
Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard,
a player may take relief from interference by an abnormal
ground condition as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the
player must lift the ball and drop it, without penalty,
within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than
the nearest point of relief. The nearest point of relief must
not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball
is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of
relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a
spot that avoids interference by the condition and is not
in a hazard and not on a putting green.
(ii) In a Bunker: If the ball is in a bunker, the player must lift
the ball and drop it either:
(a) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause (i) above,
except that the nearest point of relief must be in the
bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker or,
if complete relief is impossible, as near as possible to
the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole,
on a part of the course in the bunker that affords maximum
available relief from the condition; or
(b) Under penalty of one stroke, outside the bunker, keeping
the point where the ball lay directly between the
hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with
no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be
dropped.
(iii) On the Putting Green: If the ball lies on the putting
green, the player must lift the ball and place it, without
penalty, at the nearest point of relief that is not in a hazard
or, if complete relief is impossible, at the nearest position
to where it lay that affords maximum available
relief from the condition, but not nearer the hole and
not in a hazard. The nearest point of relief or maximum
available relief may be off the putting green.
(iv) On the Teeing Ground: If the ball lies on the teeing
ground, the player must lift the ball and drop it, without
penalty, in accordance with Clause (i) above.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 25-1b.
(Ball rolling to a position where there is interference by the
condition from which relief was taken — see Rule 20-2c(v).)
Exception: A player may not take relief under this Rule if
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(a) it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because
of interference by anything other than an abnormal ground condition
or (b) interference by an abnormal ground condition would
occur only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance,
swing or direction of play.
Note 1: If a ball is in a water hazard (including a lateral water
hazard), the player is not entitled to relief without penalty from
interference by an abnormal ground condition. The player must
play the ball as it lies (unless prohibited by Local Rule) or proceed
under Rule 26-1.
Note 2: If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not
immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
g c. Ball in Abnormal Ground Condition Not Found
It is a question of fact whether a ball that has not been found
after having been struck toward an abnormal ground condition
is in such a condition. In order to apply this Rule, it must
be known or virtually certain that the ball is in the abnormal
ground condition. In the absence of such knowledge or certainty,
the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.
If it is known or virtually certain that a ball that has not been
found is in an abnormal ground condition, the player may take
relief under this Rule. If he elects to do so, the spot where the
ball last crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground
condition must be determined and, for the purpose of applying
this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player
must proceed as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost
limits of the abnormal ground condition at a spot through the
green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty,
and take relief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(i).
(ii) In a Bunker: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits
of the abnormal ground condition at a spot in a bunker, the
player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and
take relief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(ii).
(iii) In a Water Hazard (including a Lateral Water Hazard): If
the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal
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ground condition at a spot in a water hazard, the player is
not entitled to relief without penalty. The player must
proceed under Rule 26-1.
(iv) On the Putting Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost
limits of the abnormal ground condition at a spot on
the putting green, the player may substitute another ball,
without penalty, and take relief as prescribed in Rule
25-1b(iii).
25-2. Embedded Ball
A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any
closely mown area through the green may be lifted, cleaned and
dropped, without penalty, 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. “Closely mown area”
means any area of the course, including paths through the
rough, cut to fairway height or less.
25-3. Wrong Putting Green
g a. Interference
Interference by a wrong putting green occurs when a ball is on
the wrong putting green.
Interference to a player’s stance or the area of his intended
swing is not, of itself, interference under this Rule.
g b. Relief
If a player’s ball lies on a wrong putting green, he must not play
the ball as it lies. He must take relief, without penalty, as follows:
The player must lift the ball and drop it within one club-length
of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of relief. The
nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting
green. When dropping the ball within one club-length of the
nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course
at a spot that avoids interference by the wrong putting green and
is not in a hazard and not on a putting green. The ball may be
cleaned when lifted under this Rule.
Penalty for Breach of Rule :
Match play — Loss of hole; Stroke play — Two strokes.
