a) Obstruction
Obstruction by an immovable obstruction is given if a ball lies in or on it, or if the player's stance or the space of his intended swing is affected by the obstruction. If the player's ball lies on the green, an obstruction is also deemed to exist if there is an immovable obstruction on the green on his putting line line. Otherwise, if it is only on the line of play, there is no obstruction under this rule.
b) Relief
Unless the ball is in a water hazard or lateral water hazard, a player may claim relief from obstruction by an immovable obstruction as follows:
(I) In the rough: If the ball is in the rough, the player must pick up the ball and drop it without penalty within one club length of the nearest point of relief no closer to the hole than that point. The nearest point of relief must not be in a hazard or on a green. If the ball is dropped within one club length of the nearest point of relief, it must first strike a spot on a part of the course that excludes the described obstruction by the immovable obstruction and is not in an obstruction or on a green.
(II) In the bunker: If the ball is in a bunker, the player must pick up and drop the ball either
a) without penalty in accordance with (I) above, but the nearest point of relief must be in the bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker, or
b) with a penalty stroke outside the bunker, the point where the ball lay must be in a straight line between the hole and the point where the ball is dropped, with no restriction on how far behind the bunker the ball may be dropped.
(III) On the green: If the ball is on the green, the player must pick up the ball and lay it down without penalty at the nearest point of relief that is not in an obstruction. The nearest point of relief may be outside the green.
(IV) On the tee: If the ball is on the tee, the player must pick up the ball and drop it without penalty in accordance with (I) above. The ball may be cleaned up if it has been picked up in accordance with this rule. (Ball rolls into a position where obstruction is caused by the circumstance from which relief was claimed -
see Rule 20-2c (V)).
Exception: A player may not claim relief under this rule if
(a) it would be wholly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of obstruction by anything other than an immovable obstruction; or
(b) the obstruction by an immovable obstruction would occur solely as a result of an unnecessarily abnormal type of stance, swing or direction of play.
Note 1: If a ball is in a water hazard (including a lateral water hazard), the player may not claim relief for obstruction by an immovable obstruction. He must play the ball as it lies or proceed in accordance with Rule 26-1.
Note 2: If a ball that is to be dropped or put down under this rule cannot be recovered immediately, another ball may be used.
Note 3: The court umpire may determine by court rule that the player may not establish the nearest point of relief by crossing under or over or through the obstruction.
Status: 2018