Superintendents don’t love them, but most golfers are happy to share their greenspace with the fauna of the area. Still, there are times when that occupation might interfere with your round. Crows steal golf balls. Alligators make retrieving one from a penalty area a little more daring.
Then there’s the occasional situation when you find your ball in an animal hole or your stance or swing is interfered by one. When that happens, you can take free relief under Rule 16.1 (abnormal course conditions). That rule covers a lot of stuff such as immovable obstructions and temporary water. But sticking to the topic, if your ball, stance or swing is interfered with, find the nearest point of complete relief that is no closer to the hole and take a free knee-height drop. You’re good to go.
Chris Ricco/PGA of America
Incidentally, if the hole is on the green, you also get line-of-putt relief.
Where things get a little confusing is defining the boundaries of an animal hole. The hole itself might be tiny, but the dirt taken out of the hole might create a much bigger area. Does that dirt count as part of the relief area?
According to Definitions in the Rules of Golf, the answer is yes.
Here’s how animal holes are defined: “Any hole dug in the ground by an animal, except for holes dug by animals that are also defined as loose impediments (such as worms or insects). The term includes the loose material dug out of the hole, any worn-down track or trail leading into the hole, and any area on the ground pushed up or altered as a result of the animal digging the hole underground.”
However, keep in mind that an animal hole does not include footprints that are not part of a worn-down track or trail leading into an animal hole.
So if your ball is sitting on a pile of dirt clearly caused by a gopher building its home, go ahead and take free relief. Reminder: Make sure your drop is no closer to the hole.
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