Rule 24 – Obstructions

24-1. Movable Obstruction
A player may take relief without penalty from a movable
obstruction as follows:
a. If the ball does not lie in or on the obstruction, the
obstruction may be removed. If the ball moves, it must be
replaced, and there is no penalty provided that the
movement of the ball is directly attributable to the removal
of the obstruction. Otherwise, Rule 18-2a applies.
b. If the ball lies in or on the obstruction, the ball may be
lifted and the obstruction removed. The ball must through
the green or in a hazard be dropped, or on the putting
green be placed, as near as possible to the spot directly
under the place where the ball lay in or on the obstruction,
but not nearer the hole.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.
When a ball is in motion, an obstruction that might influence
the movement of the ball, other than an attended flagstick or
equipment of the players, must not be removed.

24-2. Immovable Obstruction
a. Interference
Interference by an immovable obstruction occurs when a ball
lies in or on the obstruction, or when the obstruction interferes
with the player’s stance or the area of his intended swing. If the
player’s ball lies on the putting green, interference also occurs
if an immovable obstruction on the putting green intervenes on
his line of putt. Otherwise, intervention on the line of play is
not, of itself, interference under this Rule.
b. Relief
Except when the ball is in a water hazard or a lateral water
hazard, a player may take relief from interference by an
immovable obstruction as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball lies through the green, the
player must lift the ball and drop it without penalty within
one club-length of and not nearer the hole than the nearest
point of relief. The nearest point of relief must not be in a
hazard or on a putting green. When the ball is dropped
within one club-length of the nearest point of relief, the
ball must first strike a part of the course at a spot that
avoids interference by the immovable obstruction and is
not in a hazard and not on a putting green.
(ii) In a Bunker: If the ball is in a bunker, the player must lift
the ball and drop it either:
(a) Without penalty, in accordance with Clause (i) above,
except that the nearest point of relief must be in the
bunker and the ball must be dropped in the bunker; or
(b) Under penalty of one stroke, outside the bunker
keeping the point where the ball lay directly between
the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped,
with no limit to how far behind the bunker the ball
may be dropped.
(iii) On the Putting Green: If the ball lies on the putting green,
the player must lift the ball and place it without penalty at
the nearest point of relief that is not in a hazard.
The nearest point of relief may be off the putting green.
(iv) On the Teeing Ground: If the ball lies on the teeing
ground, the player must lift the ball and drop it without
penalty in accordance with Clause (i) above.
The ball may be cleaned when lifted under this Rule.
(Ball rolling to a position where there is interference by the
condition from which relief was taken – see Rule 20-2c(v))
Exception: A player may not take relief under this Rule if (a)
it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of
interference by anything other than an immovable obstruction
or (b) interference by an immovable obstruction would occur
only through use of an unnecessarily abnormal stance, swing
or direction of play.
Note 1: If a ball is in a water hazard (including a lateral water
hazard), the player may not take relief from interference by an
immovable obstruction. The player must play the ball as it lies
or proceed under Rule 26-1.
Note 2: If a ball to be dropped or placed under this Rule is not
immediately recoverable, another ball may be substituted.
Note 3: The Committee may make a Local Rule stating that
the player must determine the nearest point of relief without
crossing over, through or under the obstruction.

24-3. Ball Lost in Obstruction
It is a question of fact whether a ball lost after having been
struck toward an obstruction is lost in the obstruction. In
order to treat the ball as lost in the obstruction, there must be
reasonable evidence to that effect. In the absence of such
evidence, the ball must be treated as a lost ball and Rule
27 applies.
a. Ball Lost in Movable Obstruction
If a ball is lost in a movable obstruction, a player may, without
penalty, remove the obstruction and must through the green or
in a hazard drop a ball, or on the putting green place a ball, as
near as possible to the spot directly under the place where the
ball last crossed the outermost limits of the movable
obstruction, but not nearer the hole.
b. Ball Lost in Immovable Obstruction
If a ball is lost in an immovable obstruction, the spot where the
ball last crossed the outermost limits of the obstruction must
be determined and, for the purpose of applying this Rule, the
ball is deemed to lie at this spot and the player may take relief
as follows:
(i) Through the Green: If the ball last crossed the outermost
limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot through the
green, the player may substitute another ball without
penalty and take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(i).
(ii) In a Bunker: If the ball last crossed the outermost limits of
the immovable obstruction at a spot in a bunker, the
player may substitute another ball without penalty and
take relief as prescribed in Rule 24-2b(ii).
(iii) In a Water Hazard (including a Lateral Water Hazard): If
the ball last crossed the outermost limits of the immovable
obstruction at a spot in a water hazard, the player is not
entitled to relief without penalty. The player must proceed
under Rule 26-1.
(iv) On the Putting Green: If the ball last crossed the
outermost limits of the immovable obstruction at a spot
on the putting green, the player may substitute another
ball without penalty and take relief as prescribed in Rule
24-2b(iii).