TheRules
By CHRIS LANG
A Quick Primer on Free Relief
FREE IS GOOD , whether it ’ s when you stumble on a good 2-for-1 deal at the grocery store , or when your buddy buys you a post-round beverage . Free is good when playing golf , too , especially when you find yourself in unfair situations .
Rules 15 and 16 of the Rules of Golf cover free relief scenarios that you may encounter during a typical round . We won ’ t break down both rules in full here , but any golfer should be aware of common situations in which the player is afforded free relief during a round . A quick look :
MOVABLE OBSTRUCTIONS It ’ s happened to all of us . You ’ re 150 yards out , hit your approach shot and watch it go toward a greenside bunker . Instead of dropping into the sand , though , the ball settles against the base of a rake left outside of the bunker . What to do ?
The rake is defined as a movable obstruction , and as such , you are afforded free relief from that obstruction under Rule 15.2a . Take note of the spot of the ball and move the rake . If the ball moves , no problem . Just replace it on the original spot and play on .
There is a different relief procedure involved when your ball lands on a movable obstruction . Perhaps a player from the group ahead of you dropped a towel near the green , and your approach shot lands on the towel . Per Rule 15.2a , free relief may be taken by lifting the ball , removing the movable obstruction , and dropping a ball , except on the putting green where the ball is placed .
The reference point for taking relief is the estimated point directly under where the ball was at rest , in or on the moveable obstruction . The relief area is one clublength from reference point , not nearer to the hole as the reference point , and must be in the same area of the course as the reference point .
It ’ s imperative to not confuse movable obstructions with loose impediments , such as a large leaf . You are allowed to remove loose impediments anywhere on or off the
14 V IRGINIA G OLFER | J u ly / A u g u s t 2024 vsga . org