Written by: Darin Green, Senior Director of Rules & Competitions
Golfers and new volunteer officials commonly ask what is the best way to start learning the Rules of Golf. I always answer with “read and study the definitions.”
The Rules of Golf book consists of 25 Rules and 74 definitions. Even though the definitions are in the back of the book, that is where you should start reading. The Rules of Golf have some very common words that we use in normal speech; however, when applying the Rules, some of these words have different and more specific meanings. Some examples include “stance,” “replace,” “wrong place,” “animal,” and “moved.”
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o point out how important and helpful it is to know the definitions, I will provide an example that is common in Florida.
You are probably aware of large birds that roam golf courses called sandhill cranes. You are also probably aware that they use their beaks to dig into the ground searching for food while tearing up parts of the course. We are frequently asked if players get free relief from those disturbed areas on the course by sandhill cranes. To find the answer, we need to first to go to Rule 16 – Relief from Abnormal Course Conditions. Rules 16 explains that free relief is allowed from interference by animal holes, ground under repair, immovable obstructions and temporary water.
Secondly, do the Rules of Golf consider a sandhill crane an animal?
When applying the Rules of Golf, the definition of “animal” clarifies, an animal is “any living member of the animal kingdom (other than humans), including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates (such as worms, insects, spiders, and crustaceans.”
So, a sandill crane is an animal (seemed simple right?)
Next, what is an animal hole?
The definition of “animal hole” states “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 and insects). The term animal hole includes the loose material the animal 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.”
So, not only are the holes that the sandhill cranes dug an animal hole, but the dirt and grass disturbed from the digging of the hole is also part of the animal hole.
So lets put this all together:
- Sandhill crane is an animal
- The holes and debris from them digging for food are all animal holes
- Animal holes are an abnormal course condition
- Rule 16 states if a player has interference from an abnormal course condition (lie of ball, stance or area of intended swing), and the ball does not lie in a penalty area, the player is entitled to free relief.
Next time you have interference from an area of damage caused by a sandhill crane, and your ball is not in a penalty area, go ahead and take free relief if you like. Free relief is taken by finding the nearest point of complete relief that is not closer to the hole in the same part of the course (general area, bunker, or putting green) and drop a ball within one club-length (place a ball if taking relief on the putting green).
