Relief Situations & Procedures

We will look at some situations where the ball comes to rest in, lets say not the perfect position and we look at your options and if you do get relief from these positions.

 Lets start with the protective screens we have on the Par 3's. These are classed as immovable obstructions. The immovable obstruction rule states-Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes with the player's stance or the area of his/her intended swing. intervention on the line of play is not, of itself, interference under this rule. Fig 1,2 & 3 show different situations, all of which have a different outcome.

 Fig 1 shows a ball left of the green with the screen between the ball and the flag. In this instance since the screen does not interfere with the players swing of stance, there is NO RELIEF. 

 Fig 2 shows a ball directly behind the same screen up to the left end of the screen. From this point the screen would be interfering with your swing so you would be entitled to relief. The diagram shows where the ball would need to be dropped. Point "X" is the nearest point of relief, from there you have one club length to drop the ball in. This is shown as the shaded area. NOTE under this ruling you would be dropping the ball behind the hoops that protect parts of the green. These are also immovable obstructions and since they would not be interfering with your swing or stance you would be required to chip over them. 

 Fig 3 shows the ball up close to the screen, but in the middle of the screen. In this example you can still get relief from the screen as it would be interfering with your swing, but from here your relief would only take you back far enough so as you were not hitting the screen with your club then one club length from there. That would still leave you behind the screen with no direct shot to the flag except over the screen. 

 Another area on the course where we have the same situation could be:- A green keepers storage shed That is marked as G.U.R, so if your ball ends up in that area as in Fig 4 you may take a free drop outside the G.U.R. Again you can only have one club length after you find your nearest point of relief as (per rule 25-1 b), which still leaves you behind the shed with few shot options. 

Other items you could come across at Golf Courses

Roped off areas -

Course Indicator Signs -

100 & 150 Mtr Markers -

All the above items are classed as Immovable Obstructions and as such relief can only be obtained if the ball lies on or in the obstruction or when the obstruction interferes with the player's stance or the area of his/her intended swing. 

There is no such rule as line of sight relief in the rule book, this is a local rule that only the professionals have the luxury of having for temporary fixtures such as grandstands etc.

Remember: Just because you get a free drop, this does not necessarily mean you have a clear shot to the flag.

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON RELIEF SITUATIONS CONSULT RULE 25 OF YOUR RULE BOOK.