Cart Path Relief (Immovable Obstructions)
Also known as: cart path relief, free drop from the cart path, ball on the cart path, relief from the cart path, cart path drop, immovable obstruction, immovable obstructions, sprinkler head relief
An artificially surfaced cart path is an immovable obstruction, so relief from it is free. You get it when your ball is on the path or the path affects your stance or swing. Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole. You can't choose the side of the path, and the drop must give complete relief.
The Rules of Golf define an obstruction as any artificial object other than integral objects and boundary objects. Their examples include artificially surfaced roads and paths, buildings and rain shelters, sprinkler heads, drains and control boxes. An immovable obstruction is one that can't be moved without unreasonable effort or damage. It is one of the four abnormal course conditions in Rule 16.1, so relief is free.
You have interference when your ball touches or lies on the path. You also have it when the path gets in the way of your intended stance or swing. Being distracted by it, or having it on your line of play, is not enough, except on the putting green. To take relief in the general area, estimate the nearest point of complete relief. That is the spot nearest your ball, not nearer the hole, with no interference for the stroke you would have played. It is often on the side of the path you don't prefer. Your relief area extends one club-length from that point and must be in the general area. It must not be nearer the hole, and it must give complete relief. Lift the ball (you may clean it) and drop it from knee height into that area.
Relief is not allowed when playing the ball would be clearly unreasonable anyway, for example because a bush blocks any stroke. It is also not allowed when the interference only exists because you chose an unreasonable club, stance or direction of play. The committee can also change how particular obstructions are treated by local rule, so read the scorecard.
Tips by skill level
Find the closest spot, not nearer the hole, where your ball and your feet are both off the path. Mark it with a tee and drop within one club-length.
To find the nearest point accurately, take the stance and club you would have used at the candidate spots. The nearest one may require a stance that feels awkward, but that is still the reference point.
Example
A right-handed golfer's ball stops on a paved cart path on the right of the fairway. The nearest spot that clears both ball and stance, no nearer the hole, is in the rough on the far side of the path. She marks it with a tee, measures one driver length and drops from knee height inside that area.
Why it matters
Cart paths, sprinkler heads and drains come into play on almost every course. Taking the correct free drop saves strokes, and dropping in the wrong place can bring a penalty.
Common mistakes
- Picking the side of the path with the better lie instead of the nearest point of complete relief
- Dropping where the stance is still on the path, which isn't complete relief
- Measuring the club-length with the putter
- Claiming relief because a sprinkler head is on your line of play off the green
- Dropping from shoulder height instead of knee height
Frequently asked questions
Do I get a free drop from the cart path?
Yes, if the path is artificially surfaced and your ball is on it or it interferes with your stance or swing. Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole.
Can I choose which side of the cart path to drop on?
No. You must use the nearest point of complete relief, which is often on the side you would not choose. You could instead play the ball as it lies if you prefer.
Do I get relief from a sprinkler head on my line?
Not under the general rule when you are off the green. Rule 16.1 relief needs the obstruction to touch your ball or affect your stance or swing. Line-of-play interference counts only on the putting green.
How far can I drop from a cart path?
One club-length from the nearest point of complete relief, and no nearer the hole. Measure it with the longest club in your bag other than your putter.
Sources
Related terms
- Free ReliefFree relief is moving the ball to a better spot without a penalty. It covers cases like an immovable obstruction, ground under repair, or an embedded ball.
- Drop ProcedureThe modern drop releases the ball from knee height, straight down, into the relief area. It is simpler than the old shoulder-height drop but often done wrong.
- Temporary Water (Casual Water)Casual water, now called temporary water in the Rules of Golf, gives you a free drop. If a puddle outside a penalty area touches your ball or affects your stance or swing, you get relief. Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole. Ground that is only wet, soft or muddy doesn't count; the water must be visible before or after your stance.
- Local RuleA local rule is a course- or competition-specific change adopted by the committee running play. It commonly covers embedded balls, temporary conditions like winter rules, or unique course features the standard Rules of Golf do not address.
- Unplayable LieA golfer may declare their ball unplayable anywhere except a penalty area and take relief for one penalty stroke. Only the golfer makes that call.
- Loose ImpedimentsLoose impediments are unattached natural objects such as leaves, twigs, stones and loose grass, and you may move them without penalty. That applies anywhere on the course, including bunkers and penalty areas. But if moving one makes your ball move, you get one penalty stroke and must replace the ball. The exception is a ball on the putting green or teeing area, where there is no penalty.
Related guides & benchmarks
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