The Committee continues to receive reports of players taking incorrect relief drops. Please ensure you and your playing partners follow the procedures below:
Free Relief
When taking free relief from an immovable obstruction (cart paths, protective fences, irrigation heads, drainage grates, red stakes, etc.) or an abnormal course condition (no-play zones, ground-under-repair, temporary water, etc.):
- Determine the nearest point of complete relief reference point.
- Drop the ball within 1 club-length of that point (use your driver to measure).
Penalty Relief
When taking penalty relief (from a penalty area, or lateral relief for an unplayable ball, etc.):
- Drop the ball within 2 club-lengths of the reference point (use your driver to measure).
- Penalty: 1 stroke.
Dropping the Ball
- The ball must be dropped within the relief area, both hitting the ground inside the area and coming to rest inside the area.
- If the ball rolls outside the relief area, re-drop.
- If it again rolls outside the relief area, place the ball on the spot where the second drop first touched the ground, inside the relief area.
- Playing a dropped ball from outside the relief area is playing from a wrong place and incurs a 2-stroke penalty.
No Closer to the Hole
- The entire relief area, including where the ball comes to rest, must not be nearer the hole than the nearest point of complete relief reference point.
Orange Drop Pegs (9th & 19th holes)
- These pegs provide an additional penalty relief option for balls crossing over into the nearby penalty area. Using this as a relief option is never compulsory.
- Identify the nearest peg from where the ball crossed over into the penalty area (the ball reference point) and drop a ball within 1 club-length of the peg, for a 1-stroke penalty. This can be nearer the hole than the ball reference point.
- The pegs may also be used by greens staff for an additional temporary free relief option for designated renovated areas of the course.
Disputes
If players cannot agree on the correct relief:
- Play two balls to complete the hole.
- Check with the Pro Shop or a Committee member before submitting scores.