Playing the ball as it lies and the course as you find it are two of the most fundamental principles in the Rules of Golf. The Rules, however, have always granted free relief when the player has interference from something not considered part of the challenge of playing the golf course. The first Rules, written in 1744 by the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers, granted free relief from holes made for preserving the links, scholar’s holes and soldier’s lines. I’m not exactly sure what some of those are, but currently, Rule 16.1 similarly grants optional free relief from these four abnormal course conditions (ACC):
When is relief available? First, both the ball and the ACC must be located on the course. Second, the ball must not be in a penalty area. Third, the ACC must physically interfere with the lie of the ball, the player’s stance or their intended swing. This does not include mental interference because the ACC is close enough to distract the player.
Where is the relief area? It can never be closer to the hole and usually requires a drop within one club length from the nearest point of complete relief (NPCR), in the same area of the course as where your ball lies. In a bunker, free relief would be available inside the bunker. If complete relief is not available, you can take maximum available relief, which is where there is the least amount of interference with the ACC. For one penalty stroke, the player could also drop outside the bunker on a line extending from the hole, through the ball’s location, as far back as they choose. On the putting green, you place a ball at the NPCR, or maximum available relief, on either the putting green or in the general area. This is the only area that allows relief for the intended line of play, even if the ACC is off the green.
Do you have to find your ball? If you’re at least 95% certain your ball is within an ACC, you are still entitled to free relief even if the ball is not found. Drop a ball within one club length, no closer to the hole than where your original ball last crossed into the ACC.
Relief is not available when playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something other than the ACC. A common example is when your stance is in or on an ACC, but your ball lies in a bush and is impossible to hit. There would also be no free relief available when interference only exists because the player chooses a club, stance, swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable.
Relief from an ACC does not guarantee a desirable shot. The relief area may require a more difficult shot or contain interference from which there is no free relief.
Sometimes, playing the ball as it lies might be a better choice even if it’s in a scholar’s hole or a soldier’s line.