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When taking relief from an area of temporary water you must drop the ball no nearer the hole and?

Author

Rachel Ellis

Published Jan 23, 2026

The nearest point of complete relief should be identified and a ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area. The relief area is one club-length from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.

What is the nearest point of relief in golf?

The nearest point of relief is the spot the shortest distance away from where your ball lies that is not closer to the hole and where if your ball was there, you could make a stroke at it without any interference from the thing you are taking relief from.

What does no closer to the hole mean?

Andrews. The "nearest point of relief" in golf is a spot on a golf course closest to the golfer's ball but no. closer to the hole from which the golfer can take a free drop (without penalty) when that golf ball is. sitting in one of several specific circumstances covered in Rule 24and Rule 25.

What is the correct way to determine the nearest point of relief from a abnormal course condition such as a cart path?

So if your ball on the cart path is 150 yards from the hole and you would normally hit a 7-iron, that is the club that you should use to determine your nearest point of relief. The NPR will always be to the left, the right or behind where your ball lies (it can't be in front because that would be closer to the hole).

Can nearest point of relief be on the green?

As usual, a good starting point is the definition. The definition states in part that “the nearest point of relief is the reference point for taking relief without penalty from interference by an immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), an abnormal ground condition (Rule 25-1) or a wrong putting green (Rule 25-3).”

15 related questions found

What is relief golf?

If a ball is embedded in the rough, golfers are entitled to relief. If ball is embedded in a bunker, golfers can drop the ball out of the sand (while taking a two-stroke penalty). Icon Sportswire. RELATED: A comprehensive guide to the Rules of Golf.

What is complete relief?

Complete relief means that your stance and your swing are no longer affected by the obstruction. Technically, there is only one nearest point of relief possible. From this point, you are entitled to drop your ball within one club length. If your ball happens to be dirty, you can also clean it before taking this drop.

What if nearest point of relief is in a hazard?

The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is not in a hazard and not on a putting green."

What if nearest point of relief is in a bunker?

A drain in a bunker interferes with the stance of a player whose ball lies in the bunker. The ball may be dropped within one club-length of the nearest point of relief. Both the nearest point of relief and the spot of the drop must be within the bunker.

Can you ever drop closer to the hole?

There is a one-shot penalty and you can't drop closer to the hole, unless your ball carries over the water and rolls back in. In that instance, you can take a drop from across the hazard.

Can you drop from out of bounds?

You may drop your ball anywhere between or behind where your ball came to rest out of bounds (or where you believe it came to rest, if you lost it) and within two club-lengths inside of the fairway. As you walk to drop your ball, make sure that you're not moving anywhere closer to the pin than you already are.

When can you drop in golf?

A golfer typically takes a drop after hitting his ball in an area from which he either can't play another shot or chooses not to play his next shot. As a general rule, if the ball is in a hazard or is out of bounds, the player is assessed a penalty stroke for taking the drop.

How is relief measured in golf?

Taking Relief

Longest club is used to measure the relief area: You use the longest club in your bag, other than a putter, to measure the relief area.

Where can I take a drop in golf?

Drops are now from knee height and the ball must come to rest within the relief area, without the additional two club-lengths. If it doesn't, you will need to drop once more before being allowed to place it.

What do you get free relief from in golf?

Free Relief: Playing from Inside Penalty Area. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b, except that the nearest point of complete relief.
...
Continued) through the spot of the original ball:

  • Reference Point: A point on the course. ...
  • Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length.

Can you take relief from a bunker?

(2) You may take back-on-the-line relief in the bunker (see Rule 19.2b). (3) You may drop in the bunker within two club-lengths of where your ball lies but not nearer to the hole (see Rule 19.2c).

What if there is water in the bunker?

A. When the bunker is filled with temporary water, you may play your ball as it lies or take free relief in the bunker. When taking free relief, you must find the nearest point of complete relief in the bunker and drop within the one club-length relief area (see Rule 16.1c(1)).

Do you get relief from a hazard?

Under Rule 17.3, you don't get free relief from an immovable object, such as a bridge with the ball in a red-staked penalty area. Your options are to play the ball as it lies or take relief from the penalty area for a one-stroke penalty.

Can you take a drop into a hazard?

Rule 20-2a details seven situations when a drop isn't satisfactory and the player should take a do-over: RE-DROP: If the ball is dropped in a hazard but rolls out and comes to rest outside the hazard. RE-DROP: If the ball is dropped outside a hazard but comes to rest inside a hazard.

Can you take relief in a hazard?

For a yellow penalty area, you may take relief by dropping into a relief area using (1) the spot at which your last stroke was made under stroke and distance (see Rule 17.1d(1)) or (2) the back-on-the-line relief procedure (see Rule 17.1d(2)).

Do you get relief from a drain in golf?

False. A ditch, even man-made, is a water hazard for which there is no relief without penalty (Definition of Water Hazard). French drains that have been installed for drainage may be declared by the Committee by a Local Rule to be Ground Under Repair.

Do you get relief from a building in golf?

These objects are considered obstructions (Rule 24), and you're entitled to relief without penalty if your ball, stance or swing is interfered with by an obstruction.

How do you drop a ball in golf?

The ball must be dropped straight down from knee height without touching player or equipment – Don't throw it, spin it, roll it or use “any other motion that might affect where the ball will come to rest”. It also can't touch any part of the player's body or equipment before it hits the ground.

How far must you be from a drop ball?

All players of either side, other than the designated player, must be 4 metres (4.4 yd) away from the ball until it touches the ground. The ball becomes in play as soon as it touches the ground. No player may touch the ball until it has touched the ground.