Category Dropping
Nearest Point of Complete Relief
- How do I find the nearest point of complete relief and when is it used?
- The nearest point of complete relief is used for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition, a dangerous animal condition, a wrong green or a no play zone. It is the estimated point where the ball would lie that is nearest to the ball’s original spot, not closer to the hole than that spot, in the required area of the course, and in a position where the condition you are taking relief from doesn’t interfere with the stroke you would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there (see Definition of Nearest Point of Complete Relief à Shown below).
Definition: Nearest Point of Complete Relief
Your reference point for taking free relief from an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1), dangerous animal condition (Rule 16.2), wrong green (Rule 13.1f) or no play zone (Rules 16.1f and 17.1e), or in taking relief under certain Local Rules.
It is the estimated point where your ball would lie that is:
- Nearest to your ball’s original spot, but not nearer the hole than that spot,
- In the required area of the course, and
- Where the condition does not interfere with the stroke you would have made from the original spot if the condition was not there.
Estimating this reference point requires you to identify the choice of club, stance, swing and line of play you would have used for that stroke.