Rules of Golf

Golf Rule 25 - Abnormal Ground Conditions & Wrong Green

ABNORMAL GROUND CONDITIONS AND WRONG PUTTING GREEN:

PENALTY for breaching this rule--Match Play-loss of hole and Stroke Play-two strokes

The following are different abnormal ground conditions:
(i) casual water--water (any temporary accumulation) on the course which is visible before or after the player takes his stance and is not in a water hazard. Interference exists when a ball lies in or touches the casual water, or the player's stance or area of intended swing is interered with by the condition.
NOTE--on the putting green interference exists if the condition intervenes on the player's line of putt.
Relief From Casual Water--the player does not have to take relief. If he chooses relief without penalty,
(a) through the green-- he must determine the nearest point of relief that is no nearer the hole, not on a putting green or in a hazard, and avoid the interference by the casual water.
(b) in a hazard--the ball must be dropped as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay on a part of the hazard which affords maximum available relief from the casual water. Or, with penalty of one stroke, the player can drop the ball outside the hazard on an imaginary line as far back as he likes keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is to be dropped.
(c) On the putting green--the player must place the ball after lifting it in without penalty in the nearest position to where it lay that affords maximum available relief which is no nearer the hole and not in a hazard. This spot might be off the putting green, and the ball may be cleaned.
NOTE--a ball may be substituted if the original ball to be placed or dropped is not immediately recoverable.
NOTE--the exception in which a player is not entitled to relief is if it's unreasonable for the player to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than a condition of abnormal ground conditions, or that interference would only occur through an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play.
NOTE--if there is reasonable evidence that the ball was lost in casual water, the steps above are followed with the point of relief determined by the where the ball last crossed the margin of the casual water.
NOTE--dew, frost, and manufactured ice are not casual water or an abnormal ground condition; natural ice and snow are either loose impediments or casual water at the player's option.

(ii)ground under repair--any part of the course marked by the Committee. Even if not marked, it includes a hole made by a groundskeeper and material piled for removal. It also includes a hole, cast or runway made by a burrowing animal. Lines and stakes used to mark the ground under repair is considered in the ground under repair. A ball is in ground under repair if any part of the ball touches it. Interference also exists if the condition interferes with the player's stance or area of intended swing.
Relief From Ground Under Repair--the player does not have to take relief. If he chooses relief without penalty,
(a) through the green-- he must determine the nearest point of relief that is no nearer the hole, not on a putting green or in a hazard, and avoid the interference by the ground under repair.
(b) in a hazard--the ball must be dropped as near as possible to the spot where the ball lay on a part of the hazard which affords maximum available relief from the ground under repair. Or, with penalty of one stroke, the player can drop the ball outside the hazard on an imaginary line as far back as he likes keeping the point where the ball lay directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is to be dropped.
(c) On the putting green--the player must place the ball after lifting it in without penalty in the nearest position to where it lay that affords maximum available relief which is no nearer the hole and not in a hazard. This spot might be off the putting green, and the ball may be cleaned.
NOTE--material left on the course such as grass clippings that are not intended to be removed are not considered ground under repair unless marked.
NOTE----EXCEPTIONS in which relief is not granted. (aa) if a ball is in a water hazard and there is interference from a cast, hole or runway made by a burrowing animal. (bb) if it's unreasonable for the player to play a stroke because of interference by anything other than a condition of abnormal ground conditions, or that interference would only occur through an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing or direction of play.
NOTE---a ball may be substituted if the original ball to be placed or dropped is not immediately recoverable.
NOTE--if there is reasonable evidence that the ball was lost in ground under repairr, the steps above are followed with the point of relief determined by the where the ball last crossed the margin of the ground under repair.

(iii)the wrong putting green--a player is not allowed to play a ball which lies on the wrong putting green. The ball must be lifted and the player plays without penalty within one club length of the nearest point of relief no nearer the hole that is not on the putting green or in a hazard.
NOTE--the play is entitled to clean his ball when lifted.
NOTE--the wrong putting green includes a practice putting green, pitching green on the course, or any other green other than that of the hole being played.

(iv) Embedded Ball--a player is entitled to relief without penalty from a ball embedded in its own pitch mark in any closely mown area through the green (example-fairway). The player can lift, clean and drop his ball as nearly as possible to the spot where the ball lay but no nearer the hole.
NOTE--most courses in the Unitited States have adopted a local rule allowing relief without penalty through the green, not just in closely mown areas.