Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
A common question I get asked is “what is the rule of thumb of whether it is one or two club-lengths when taking relief?” I wish there was a simple answer, but there isn’t. Generally, free relief is one club-length and penalty relief is two club-lengths, but that is not always true. Below are nearly all of the relief scenarios and whether relief is one or two club-lengths.
One Club-Length – Free Relief Scenarios
Relief from an Immovable Obstruction (cart path, sprinkler head, etc.) – relief is one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole, same part of the course.
Relief from Ground Under Repair (general area and bunkers) - relief is one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole, same part of the course.
Relief from Temporary Water (general area and bunkers) - relief is one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole, same part of the course.
Relief from an Animal Hole (general area and bunkers) - relief is one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole, same part of the course.
Relief for an Embedded Ball (general area only) – relief is one club-length from the spot immediately behind the ball.
Relief from a Dangerous Animal Condition (general area, bunkers, and penalty areas) - relief is one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole, same part of the course.
Relief When Ball is in or on a Moveable Obstruction (general area, bunkers, and penalty areas) - relief is one club-length from the estimated point on the ground under where the ball was at rest in or on the movable obstruction, not nearer the hole, same part of the course.
Relief from a Wrong Green – mandatory relief is one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief in the general area, not nearer the hole.
Relief from a No Play Zone that is Ground Under Repair – mandatory relief is one club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, not nearer the hole.
Ball in Motion Purposely Deflected or Stopped by a Person (general area, bunkers, and penalty areas) – player must estimate where the ball would’ve come to rest if it was not deflected or stopped to determine the reference point, one club-length from the reference point, not nearer the hole, same part of the course.
Playing a Provisional Ball (anywhere except putting green and teeing area) – player may estimate the spot where the previous stroke was made and drop a ball one club-length, no nearer the hole, and the same part of the course.
Preferred Lies – if the Model Local Rule for preferred lies (lift, clean and place) is in effect, the Committee might set the relief area to one club-length from the ball, no nearer the hole.
One Club-Length – Penalty Relief
Stroke and Distance Relief for a Lost Ball, Unplayable Ball, or Out of Bounds (anywhere except putting green and teeing area) – player may estimate the spot where the previous stroke was made and drop a ball one club-length, no nearer the hole, and the same part of the course.
Two Club-Lengths – Penalty Relief Scenarios
Lateral Relief from a Red Penalty Area – one relief option is the player may estimate where the ball last crossed into the red penalty and drop a ball within two club-lengths of that spot no nearer the hole.
Lateral Relief from a No Play Zone that is a Red or Yellow Penalty Area – one option under mandatory relief is two club-lengths from the where the ball last entered into the No Play Zone.
Relief from an Unplayable Ball (not in a penalty area) – one relief option is to measure two club-lengths from the ball, or the spot on the ground below the ball, and drop a ball no nearer the hole.
That should be nearly all of the scenarios; if I missed any, please let me know
What is a club-length? It is the longest club in your bag except a putter. The maximum length of a golf club that is not a putter is 48 inches.
