Ground Conditions
a.Interference
Interference by an abnormal ground condition occurs when a ball lies in ortouches the condition or when the condition interferes with theplayer's stance or the area of his intended swing. If theplayer'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 thisRule.
Note:The Committee may make a Local Rule stating thatinterference by an abnormal ground condition with a player's stance is deemed not to be, of itself, interferenceunder this Rule.
b.Relief
Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard, a player may take relief frominterference by an abnormal ground condition as follows:
(i) Throughthe Green: If the ball lies through the green, the player must lift the ball anddrop it, without penalty, within one club-length of and not nearerthe 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 oneclub-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike apart of the course at a spot that avoids interference by thecondition and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
(ii) In aBunker: If the ball is in a bunker, the player must lift the ball and drop iteither:
(a) Without penalty, in accordancewith 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 aspossible to the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer thehole, on a part of the course in the bunker that affords maximum available relief from thecondition; or
(b) Underpenalty of one stroke, outside the bunker, keeping the point where the ball lay directlybetween the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with nolimit to how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.
(iii) On thePutting Green: If the ball lies on the putting green, the player must lift the ball and placeit, without penalty, at the nearest point of relief that is not in a hazard or, if complete relief is impossible, at thenearest position to where it lay that affords maximum availablerelief from the condition, but not nearer the hole and not in a hazard. The nearest point of relief or maximum available relief maybe off the putting green.
(iv) On theTeeing Ground: If the ball lies on the teeing ground, the player must lift the ball and dropit, without penalty, in accordance with Clause(i) above.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted underRule 25-1b.
(Ball rolling to a position where there isinterference by the condition from which relief was taken - seeRule 20-2c(v).)
Exception: A player may not takerelief under this Rule if (a) it is clearly unreasonable for him tomake a stroke because of interference by anything other than anabnormal ground condition or (b) interference by anabnormal ground condition would occur only through useof 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 torelief without penalty from interference by an abnormal ground condition. The player must play the ballas it lies (unless prohibited by Local Rule) or proceed under Rule26-1.
Note 2: If a ball to be dropped orplaced under this Rule is not immediately recoverable, another ballmay be substituted.
c.Ball in Abnormal Ground Condition Not Found
It is a question of fact whether a ball thathas not been found after having been struck toward an abnormal ground condition is in such a condition. Inorder to apply this Rule, it must be known or virtually certainthat the ball is in the abnormal ground condition. In the absence of suchknowledge or certainty, the player must proceed under Rule 27-1.
If it is known or virtually certain that aball that has not been found is in an abnormal ground condition, the player may take reliefunder this Rule. If he elects to do so, the spot where the balllast crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground condition must be determined and, forthe purpose of applying this Rule, the ball is deemed to lie atthis spot and the player must proceed as follows:
(i) Throughthe Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits ofthe abnormal ground condition at a spot through the green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and takerelief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(i).
(ii) In aBunker: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of theabnormal ground condition at a spot in a bunker, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and takerelief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(ii).
(iii)In aWater Hazard (including a Lateral Water Hazard): If the balllast crossed the outermost limits of the abnormal ground condition at a spot in a water hazard, the player is not entitled to reliefwithout penalty. The player must proceed under Rule 26-1.
(iv) On thePutting Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost limitsof the abnormal ground condition at a spot on the putting green, the player may substitute another ball, without penalty, and takerelief as prescribed in Rule 25-1b(iii). |
