Abnormal Course Conditions/Embedded Ball

Question 1

Abnormal course conditions/embedded ball

Answer 1

• not treated as part of the challenge of the course

- free relief is given

Question 2

Abnormal Course Conditions

Answer 2

• animal hole
• ground under repair
• immovable obstruction
• temporary water

Question 3

Animal Hole

Answer 3

• animal hole dug in the ground by an animal
• loose material animal dug out
• warn down area/altered area by animal

Question 4

Ground Under Repair

Answer 4

• area defined by committee as unplayable
• hole from committee/grounds crew
• stuff piled up for removal
• birds nest

Question 5

Immovable Obstruction

Answer 5

artificial and can’t be removed without unreasonable effort that damages the course

Question 6

Temporary water

Answer 6

• accumulation of water on ground outside marked area
• can not be in penalty area
• must be seen before/after taking stance

Question 7

When is relief allowed

Answer 7

• ball is touching/in/on an abnormal course condition
• physically interferes with stance, swing, lie
• interferes with line of play while on the green (sprinkler head)

Question 8

When is relief not allowed

Answer 8

• abnormal course condition is OB
• ball is in penalty area
• playing the ball is clearly unreasonable (ball is wedged in tree root)
• interference because club choice, stance type, swing type, direction of play (is clearly unreasonable)

Question 9

Relief procedure

Answer 9

• always a two step process
  1) find nearest point of complete relief
  2) in general area/bunkers you drop and play from one club length relief area and on putting green you place ball at nearest point of complete relief

Question 10

Nearest point of complete relief

Answer 10

• estimated point where ball would lie
• where abnormal course condition does not interfere
• nearest to balls original spot no closer to the hole
• not always the nicest point of relief (could be under a tree)
• complete relief on the green can take a player off the green

Question 11

Relief in a bunker

Answer 11

• not always possible/desirable
• free relief must be one club length inside the bunker
• can also take a one stroke penalty to go outside the bunker
• penalty relief is back on the line procedure

Question 12

Embedded Ball

Answer 12

• ball is in own pitch mark
• with part of the ball below the top of the ground
• must be defined as embedded ball in general area to get relief

Question 13

Embedded ball relief procedure

Answer 13

• reference point is spot right behind ball
• drop is within one club length no nearer the hole
• you can get relief from a sand divot