Ground under repair (G.U.R) v Irrigation Local Rule (Abnormal ground conditions)

It is compulsory to take relief from ground under repair but relief from Irrigation works and abnormal ground conditions is optional.

Ground under repair (GUR) Rule 16

• Please note relief from ground under repair is compulsory

1. Areas encircled by white stakes and/or white paint. The white paint may appear in any of the following ways – dots, broken lines, or unbroken lines. Players must take relief.
2. Turf painted sponsor signage, relief available for lie of ball only.
3. Clearly defined wheel ruts.
4. If a player’s ball in the general area lies in or touches a seam of cut turf, or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing, the player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance. All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief.
5. Bunkers that are GUR will be marked with a white stake.
6. Any area of damaged ground (e.g. caused by crowd or vehicle movement) that is considered by a Rules Official to be abnormal.
7. Kangaroo paw prints in bunkers (lie of ball only).
8. Erosion channels – should a player’s ball come to rest in an eroded area within a bunker caused by rain or other external elements, a player may take relief within one club length of the nearest point of relief remaining within the bunker, not nearer the hole.  Ball is to be dropped.

Irrigation Local Rule

• Please note this relief is optional
• If a player’s ball lies in or touches an area of irrigation works or if irrigation works interferes with the player’s ball, stance or area of intended swing:
  (a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b. Abnormal Course Conditions (Nearest point of relief no nearer the hole, then one club length from that point)
  (b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d. Abnormal Course Conditions (Interference includes, on the line of putt)

  All irrigation works within the area are treated as the same area in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any irrigation works after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.