It is the point on the course,nearest to where the ball lies, which is not nearer the hole and at which,if the ball were so positioned,no interference (as defined)would exist.

Note:The player should determine his nearest point of elief by using the club with which he expects to play his next stroke to simulate the address position and swing for such strok

e.

An obstruction is anything artificial,including the artificial surfaces and sides of oads and paths and manufactured ice,except:

a.Objects defining out of bounds ,such as walls,fences, stakes and ailings;

b.Any part of an immovable artificial object which is out of bounds ;and

c.Any construction declared by the Committee to be an integral part of the cours

e.

An obstruction is a movable obstruction if it may be moved without unreasonable effort,without unduly delaying play and without causing damag

e.Otherwise,it is an immovable obstruction.

Note:The Committee may make a Local Rule declaring a movable obstruction to be an immovable obstruction.


24-1. Movable Obstruction

UA player may obtain elief from a movable obstruction as follows:

a.If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction ,the obstruction may be emove

d.If the ball mov s ,it shall be eplaced,and there is no penalty provided that the movement of the ball is directly attributable to the emoval of the obstruction.Otherwise,Rule 18-2a applies.

b.If the ball lies in or on the obstruction ,the ball may be lifted,without penalty,and the obstruction emove

d.The ball shall through the green or in a hazard be dropped,or on the putting green be placed,as near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the ball play in or on the obstruction,but not nearer the hol

e. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 24-1. When a ball is in motion,an obstruction which might influence the movement of the ball,other than an attended flagstick or equipment of the playe s,shall not be emove

d. (Exe ting influence on the ball -see Rule 1-2.)

Note:If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not immediately ecove able,another ball may be substitute

24-2.Immovable Obstruction

a.

a.Interference Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball lies in or on the obstruction,or so close to the obstruction that the obstruction 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 immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on his line of putt .Otherwise,intervention on the line of play is not,of itself,interference under this Rul

e.

b.Relief Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water hazard ,a player may obtain elief from interference by an immovable obstruction,without penalty,as follows:
(i)Through the Green:If the ball lies through the green , the near st point of r lief shall be determined which is not in a hazard or on a putting green .The player shall lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of elief,on a part of the course which avoids interference (as defined)by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard or on a putting green.
(ii)In a Bunker:If the ball is in a bunker,the player shall lift and drop the ball in accordance with Clause (i) above,except that the near st point of r lief must be in the bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker.
(iii)On the Putting Green:If the ball lies on the putting green,the player shall lift the ball and place it at the nearest point of r lief which is not in a hazard .The nearest point of elief may be off the putting green. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 24-2

b. (Ball olling to a position where there is interference by the condition from which elief was taken –see Rule 20-2c(v).)
Exception: A player may not obtain elief under Rule 24 –2by if (a)it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than an immovable obstruction or (b)interference by an immovable obstruction 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 elief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction .The playe shall play the ball as it lies or proceed under Rule 26-1.
Note 2:If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not immediately ecove able,another ball may be substitute

Note 3:The Committee may make a Local Rule stating that the player must determine the near st point of r lief without crossing over,through or under the obstruction .

c.Ball Lost It is a question of fact whether a ball lost after having been struck toward an immovable obstruction is lost in the obstruction.In order to treat the ball as lost in the obstruction,there must be easonable 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 immovable obstruction,the spot where the ball last entered the obstruction shall be determined and,for the purpose of applying this Rule,the ball shall be deemed to lie at this spot.
(i)Through the Green:If the ball last entered the immovable obstruction at a spot through the green ,the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take elief as p escribed in Rule 24-2b(i).
(ii)In a Bunker:If the ball last entered the immovable obstruction at a spot in a bunker ,the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take elief as p escribed in Rule 24-2b(ii).
(iii)In a Water Hazard (including a Lateral Water Hazard):If the ball last ente ed the immovable obstruction at a spot in a water hazard ,the player is not entitled to elief without penalty.The player shall proceed under Rule 26-1.
(iv)On the Putting Green:If the ball last entered the immovable obstruction at a spot on the putting green , the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take elief as p escribed in Rule 24-2b(iii). PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE: Match play — Loss of hole;Stroke play — Two strokes.


25. Abnormal Ground Conditions, Embedded Ball and Wrong Putting Green

Definitions:

"An abnormal ground condition is any casual water ,ground under repair or hole,cast or unway on the course made by a burrowing animal ,a reptile or a bir

A burrowing animal is an animal that makes a hole for habitation or shelte ,such as a abbit,mole,g ound hog, gopher or salamander.

Note: A hole made by a non-burrowing animal,such as a dog,is not an abnormal ground condition unless marked or declared as ground under repair . Casual water is any temporary accumulation of water on the course which is visible before or after the player takes his stance and is not in a water hazard .Snow and natural ice,25 other than frost,a e either casual water or loose impediments ,at the option of the playe .Manufactured ice is an obstruction.Dew and frost are not casual wate .A ball is in casual water when it lies in or any part of it touches the casual water. Ground under repair is any part of the course so marked by o de of the Committee or so declared by its authorised epresentativ

e.It includes material piled for emoval and a hole made by a g eenkeeper,even if not so marke

d. All ground and any grass,bush,t ee or other g owing thing within the g ound under epair is part of the g ound under epair.The margin of g ound under epair extends vertically downwa ds,but not upwards.Stakes and lines defining ground under epair are in such groun

d.Such stakes a e obstructions .A ball is in ground under epair when it lies in or any part of it touches the ground under epair. Note 1: Grass cuttings and other material left on the course which have been abandoned and are not intended to be emoved are not ground under epair unless so marke

d. Note 2: The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play f om ground under epair or an environmentally- sensitive a ea which has been defined as g ound under epair. The nearest point of relief is the eference point for taking elief without penalty f om interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2),an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1)or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3). It is the point on the course,nearest to where the ball lies,which is not nearer the hole and at which,if the ball we e so positioned,no interference (as defined)would exist. Note : The player should determine his nearest point of elief by using the club with which he expects to play his next stroke to simulate the address position and swing for such strok

e. A wrong putting green is any putting green other than that of the hole being playe

d.Unless otherwise p escribed by the Committee ,this term includes a practice putting green or pitching green on the course .


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 such a 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 such 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 Rul

e. Note :The Committee may make a Local Rule denying the player elief 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 obtain elief from interference by an abnormal ground condition as follows:
(i)Through the Green:If the ball lies through the green , the near st point of r lief shall be determined which is not in a hazard or on a putting green .The player shall lift the ball and drop it without penalty within one club- length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of elief,on a part of the course which avoids interference (as defined)by the condition and is not in a hazard or on a putting green.
(ii)In a Bunker:If the ball is in a bunker,the player shall lift and drop the ball either:
(a)Without penalty,in accordance with Clause (i) above,except that the near st point of r lief must be in the bunker and the ball must be d opped in the bunker, or if complete elief is impossible,in the bunker as25 near as possible to the spot where the ball play ,but not nearer the hole,on a part of the course which affords maximum available elief from the condition;o (b)Under penalty of one stroke,outside the bunker keeping the point where the ball play 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 d oppe

d.
(iii)On the Putting Green:If the ball lies on the putting green,the player shall lift the ball and place it without penalty at the near st point of r lief which is not in a hazard ,or if complete elief is impossible,at the nearest position to where it play which affords maximum available elief from the condition,but not nearer the hole nor in a hazar

d.The nearest point of elief or maximum available elief may be off the putting green . The ball may be cleaned when lifted under Rule 25-1

b. (Ball olling 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 obtain elief under Rule 25-1by if (a)it is clearly unreasonable for him to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than an abnormal ground condition or (b)interference by such a 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 elief without penalty from interference by an abnormal ground condition .The player shall 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 ecove able,another ball may be substitute

d.

c.Ball Lost It is a question of fact whether a ball lost after having been struck towa d an abnormal ground condition is lost in suchRule 25 condition.In order to treat the ball as lost in the abnormal ground condition,there must be easonable 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 entered the condition shall be determined and,for the purposes of applying this Rule,the ball shall be deemed to lie at this spot.
(i)Through the Green:If the ball last entered the abnormal ground condition at a spot through the green ,the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take elief as p escribed in Rule 25-1b(i).
(ii)In a Bunker:If the ball last entered the abnormal ground condition at a spot in a bunker ,the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take elief as p escribed in Rule 25-1b(ii).
(iii)In a Water Hazard (including a Lateral Water Hazard):If the ball last entered the abnormal ground condition at a spot in a water hazard ,the player is not entitled to elief without penalty.The player shall proceed under Rule 26-1.
(iv)On the Putting Green:If the ball last entered the abnormal ground condition at a spot on the putting green , the player may substitute another ball without penalty and take elief as p escribed in Rule 25-1b(iii).


25-2. Embedded Ball

UA ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground in any closely-mown a ea through the green may be lifted,cleaned and dropped,without penalty,as near as possible to the spot where it play but not nearer the hol

e.The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green. “Closely-mown area ”means any a ea of the course, including paths through the ough,cut to fairway height o less.


25-3. Wrong Putting Green

U

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 Rul

e.

b.Relief If a player has interference by a wrong putting green ,the player must take elief,without penalty,as follows: The near st point of r lief shall be determined which is not in a hazard or on a putting green .The player shall lift the ball and drop it within one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest point of elief,on a part of the course which avoids interference (as defined)by the wrong putting green and is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when so lifte

d. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE: Match play — Loss of hole;Stroke play — Two strokes.


26. Water Hazards (Including Lateral Water Hazards)

Definitions:

UA water hazard is any sea,lake,pond,river,ditch,surface drainage ditch or other open water course (whether or not containing water)and anything of a similar natur

e. All ground or water within the margin of a water hazard is part of the water hazar

d.The margin of a water hazard extends ve tically upwards and downwa ds.Stakes and lines defining the margins of water hazards a e in the hazards. Such stakes are obstructions.A ball is in a water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the water hazar

d. Note 1:Water hazards (other than lateral water hazards ) should be defined by yellow stakes or lines.

Note 1:The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play f om an environmentally-sensitive area which has been defined as a water hazar

d. A lateral water hazard is a water hazard or that part of a water hazard so situated that it is not possible or is deemed by the Committee to be impracticable to d op a ball behind the water hazard in accordance with Rule 26-1

b. That part of a water hazard to be played as a lateral water hazard should be distinctively marke

d.A ball is in a late al water hazard when it lies in or any part of it touches the late al water hazar

d.

Note 1:Lateral water hazards should be defined by ed stakes o lines.

Note 2:The Committee may make a Local Rule prohibiting play f om an environmentally-sensitive area which has been defined as a lateral water hazar

d.

Note 3:The Committee may define a late al water hazard as a water hazar

d.


26-1. Ball in Water Hazard

EIt is a question of fact whether a ball lost after having been struck towa d a water hazard is lost inside or outside the hazar

d.In order to treat the ball as lost in the hazard,there must be easonable evidence that the ball lodged in it.In the absence of such evidence,the ball must be treated as a lost ball and Rule 27 applies. If a ball is in or is lost in a water hazard (whether the ball lies in water or not),the player may under penalty of one stroke:

a.Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot f om which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5);or

b.Drop a ball behind the water hazard,keeping the point at which the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped,with no limit to how far behind the water hazard the ball may be dropped; or 26

c.As additional options available only if the ball last crossed the margin of a late al water hazard,d op a ball outside the water hazard within two club-lengths of and not nearer the hole than (i)the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or (ii)a point on the opposite margin of the water hazard equidistant from the hol

e. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rul

e. (Ball moving in water in a water hazard —see Rule 14-6.)


26-2. Ball Played Within Water Hazard

a.Ball Comes to Rest in the Hazard If a ball played from within a water hazard comes to est in the same hazard after the strok ,the player may:
(i)proceed under Rule 26-1;o (ii)under penalty of one stroke,play a ball as nea ly as possible at the spot f om which the last stroke from outside the hazard was played (see Rule 20-5).
If the player proceeds under Rule 26-1a,he may elect not to play the dropped ball.If he so elects,he may:
(a)proceed under Rule 26-1b,adding the additional penalty of one stroke prescribed by that Rule;or
(b)proceed under Rule 26-1c,if applicable,adding the additional penalty of one stroke prescribed by that Rule;o
(c)add an additional penalty of one stroke and play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot f om which the last stroke from outside the hazard was played (see Rule 20-5).

b.Ball Lost or Unplayable Outside Hazard or Out of Bounds
If a ball played from within a water hazard is lost or declared unplayable outside the hazard or is out of bounds ,the player, after taking a penalty of one stroke under Rule 27-1 or 28a, may:
(i)play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot in the hazard from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5);o (ii)proceed under Rule 26-1b,or if applicable Rule 26-1c,adding the additional penalty of one stroke prescribed by the Rule and using as the eference point the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the hazard before it came to est in the hazard;o (iii)add an additional penalty of one stroke and play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot f om which the last stroke from outside the hazard was played (see Rule 20-5).

Note 1:When proceeding under Rule 26-2b,the player is not equired to d op a ball under Rule 27-1 or 28

a.If he does d op a ball,he is not equired to play it.He may alternatively proceed under Clause (ii)or (iii).

Note 2:If a ball played from within a water hazard is declared unplayable outside the hazard,nothing in Rule 26-2by precludes the player f om proceeding under Rule 28by or

c. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE: Match play — Loss of hole;Stroke play — Two strokes.


27. Ball Lost or Out of Bounds; Provisional Ball Definitions A ball is lost if:

a.

a.It is not found or identified as his by the player within five minutes after the player ’s side or his or their caddies have begun to search for it;or

b.The player has put another ball into play under the Rul s , even though he may not have searched for the original ball; or

c.The player has played any stroke with a provisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or f om a point nearer the hole than that place,whereupon the provisional ball becomes the ball in play . Time spent in playing a wrong ball is not counted in the five- minute period allowed for search. Out of bounds is beyond the boundaries of the course or any part of the course so marked by the Committee . When out of bounds is defined by eference to stakes or a fence,or as being beyond stakes or a fence,the out of bounds line is determined by the nearest inside points of the stakes or fence posts at ground level excluding angled supports. Objects defining out of bounds such as walls,fences,stakes and ailings,are not obstructions and are deemed to be fixe

d. When out of bounds is defined by a line on the ground,the line itself is out of bounds. The out of bounds line extends ve tically upwards and downwards. A ball is out of bounds when all of it lies out of bounds. A player may stand out of bounds to play a ball lying within bounds. A provisional ball is a ball played under Rule 27-2 for a ball which may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds.


27-1. If a ball is lost
Or is out of bounds ,the player shall play a ball, under penalty of one stroke,as nearly as possible at the spot f om which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5).
Exceptions:
1.If there is easonable evidence that the original ball is lost in a water hazard ,the player shall proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1. If there is easonable evidence that the original ball is lost in an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2c)or an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1c)the player may proceed under the applicable Rul

e. PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 27-1: Match play — Loss of hole;Stroke play — Two strokes.


27-2.Provisional Ball

a.Procedure

S If a ball may be lost outside a water hazard or may be out of bounds ,to save time the player may play another ball provisionally in accordance with Rule 27-1.The player shall inform his opponent in match play or his marker or a fellow-competitor in stroke play that he intends to play a provisional ball ,and he shall play it before he or his partner goes forward to search for the original ball. If he fails to do so and plays another ball,such ball is not a provisional ball and becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1);the original ball is deemed to be lost. (Order of play f om teeing ground -see Rule 10-3.)

b.When Provisional Ball Becomes Ball in Play The player may play a provisional ball until he eaches the place where the original ball is likely to b

e.If he plays a strok with the p ovisional ball from the place where the original ball is likely to be or f om a point nearer the hole than that place,the original ball is deemed to be lost and the provisional ball becomes the ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1). If the original ball is lost outside a water hazard or is out of bounds ,the provisional ball becomes the ball in play,under penalty of stroke and distance (Rule 27-1). If there is easonable evidence that the original ball is lost in a water hazard,the player shall proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1.
Exception:
If there is easonable evidence that the original ball is lost in an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2c)or an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1c),the player may proceed under the applicable Rul

e.

c.When Provisional Ball to be Abandoned If the original ball is neither lost nor out of bounds ,the player shall abandon the provisional ball and continue play with the original ball.If he fails to do so,any further strokes played with the p ovisional ball shall constitute playing a wrong ball and the provisions of Rule 15 shall apply.

Note :Strokes taken and penalty strokes incurred solely in playing a provisional ball subsequently abandoned under Rule 27-2c shall be disregarde

d.


28.Ball Unplayable

EThe player may declare his ball unplayable at any place on the course except when the ball is in a water hazard .The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayabl

e. If the player deems his ball to be unplayable,he shall,under penalty of one stroke:

a.Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot f om which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5);o

b.Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball play ,but not nearer the hole;o

c.Drop a ball behind the point where the ball play ,keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped,with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be d oppe

d. If the unplayable ball is in a bunker ,the player may proceed under Clause a,by or

c.If he elects to p oceed under Clause by or c,a ball must be dropped in the bunker. The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rul

PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE: Match play — Loss of hole;Stroke play — Two strokes.