Animal Hole Golf Rule

Animal Holes on the Golf Course

Free Relief from Animal Holes

According to the Rules of Golf, you are entitled to free relief from interference by animal holes. This means that if your ball comes to rest in or near an animal hole, you can take relief without penalty.

Procedure for Taking Relief

To take relief from an animal hole, you must follow these steps:

1. Identify the nearest point of relief that is not nearer the hole and:
• Within one club-length of the reference point (the point where the ball lay), or
• Not nearer the hole than the reference point.
2. Drop the ball at the point of relief.
3. Play the ball from the new location.

Important Notes

There are a few important notes to keep in mind when taking relief from an animal hole:

• You are not entitled to relief if the animal hole is in a hazard.
• You are not entitled to relief if the animal hole is so large that it would be impossible to play your ball from its original location.
• You must take relief before playing your next stroke.

Conclusion

Animal holes are a common hazard on golf courses. By understanding the Rules of Golf governing relief from animal holes, you can avoid penalties and keep your round moving smoothly.