A player’s ball lies just off the green in the general area. Temporary water on the putting green intervenes between the player’s ball and the hole. Is the player allowed free relief under the abnormal course conditions relief Rule?
No.
Rule 16.1a When Relief Is Allowed
(1) Meaning of Interference by Abnormal Course Condition. Interference exists when any one of these is true:
• The player’s ball touches or is on an abnormal course condition,
• An abnormal course condition physically interferes with the player’s area of intended stance or area of intended swing, or
• Only when the ball is on the putting green, an abnormal course condition on or off the putting green intervenes on the line of play.
If the abnormal course condition is close enough to distract the player but does not meet any of these requirements, there is no interference under this Rule.
Here is this month’s golf etiquette tip: It is not good etiquette for a player to walk on a fellow player’s line as it can guide their putt offline. Not only do you want to avoid their original line, but also their through line. The through line is where their ball would go if the ball misses the hole and goes long.
