Rules of Golf - Rule 25: Abnormal Ground Conditions,
Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green
25-1. Abnormal Ground Conditions
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 denying the player relief from
interference with his stance by an abnormal ground condition.
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 (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.
c. Ball Lost
It is a question of fact whether a ball lost after having been struck
toward an abnormal ground condition is lost in such a condition. In
order to treat the ball as lost in the abnormal ground condition, there
must be reasonable evidence to that effect. In the absence of such
evidence, the ball must be treated as a lost ball and Rule 27 applies.
If a ball is lost in an abnormal ground condition, the spot where the
ball last crossed the outermost limits of the condition must be
determined and, for the purpose of applying this Rule, the ball is
deemed to lie at this spot and the player may take relief 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 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
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.
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.
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