In stroke play, a player's ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark after a stroke in the general area. The player takes relief under the embedded ball relief Rule (16.3b) but, before dropping a ball, the player repairs the pitch-mark and other indentations behind where the ball was embedded. What is the ruling?

A. There is no penalty.

B. There is a one stroke penalty.

C. The player gets the general penalty.

If the player cannot tell for sure whether the ball is in its own pitch-mark or a pitch-mark made by another ball, the player may treat the ball as embedded if it is reasonable to conclude from the available information that the ball is in its own pitch-mark.

A ball is not embedded if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke, such as when:

• The ball is pushed into the ground by someone stepping on it,
• The ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, or
• The ball was dropped in taking relief under a Rule.

b. Relief for Embedded Ball

When a player’s ball is embedded in the general area and relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3):

• Reference Point: The spot in the general area right behind where the ball is embedded.
• Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, but with these limits:
• Limits on Location of Relief Area:

• Must be in the general area, and

• Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.

See Committee Procedures, Section 8; Model Local Rule F-2  (the Committee may adopt a Local Rule allowing relief only for a ball embedded in an area cut to fairway height or less).

Penalty for Playing a Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 16.3: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.

The key here is that the ball must be located in the general area. This area is one of the five defined areas of the course and is defined as:

The area of the course that covers all of the course except for the other four defined areas: (1) the teeing area the player must play from in starting the hole they are playing, (2) all penalty areas, (3) all bunkers, and (4) the putting green of the hole the player is playing.

The general area includes:

• All teeing locations on the course other than the teeing area, and
• All wrong greens.

Once we have determined that relief is allowed then we must be careful not to violate any of the conditions in Rule 8.1 which determines the actions that a player can take before dropping a ball in the proper relief area.

8.1 Player’s Actions That Improve Conditions Affecting the Stroke

To support the principle of “play the course as you find it,” this Rule restricts what a player may do to improve any of these protected “conditions affecting the stroke ” (anywhere on or off the course) for the next stroke the player will make:

• The lie of the player’s ball at rest,
• The area of the player’s intended stance,
• The area of the player’s intended swing,
• The player’s line of play, and
• The relief area where the player will drop or place a ball.

This Rule applies to actions taken both during a round and while play is stopped under Rule 5.7a.

It does not apply to:

• The removal of loose impediments or movable obstructions, which is allowed to the extent provided in Rule 15, or
• An action taken while a player’s ball is in motion, which is covered by Rule 11.

a. Actions That Are Not Allowed

Except in the limited ways allowed in Rules 8.1b, c and d, a player must not take any of these actions if they improve the conditions affecting the stroke:

(1) Move, bend or break any:

• Growing or attached natural object,
• Immovable obstruction, integral object or boundary object, or
• Tee-marker for the teeing area when playing a ball from that teeing area.

(2) Move a loose impediment or movable obstruction into position (such as to build a stance or to improve the line of play).

(3) Alter the surface of the ground, including by:

• Replacing divots in a divot hole,
• Removing or pressing down divots that have already been replaced or other cut turf that is already in place, or
• Creating or eliminating holes, indentations or uneven surfaces.

(4) Remove or press down sand or loose soil.

(5) Remove dew, frost or water.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 8.1a: General Penalty.

In this week’s question we can now determine that our player has violated Rule 8.1a(3) by repairing the pitch mark and other indentations behind where the ball was located.  As stated, a player cannot repair divots or indentations in the relief area before dropping the ball as described in 8.1 5thbullet point. As a result, the player receives the general penalty making “C” this week’s correct answer.

Do you have a rules question that you have often wondered about? If so, please send it to dmiller@mvgolf.org for an answer and who knows it could very well be our next “Rules Question of the Week”.