The ruling in plain English
Normally yes, if an animal hole affects the ball, your reasonable stance or your intended swing and the ball is outside a penalty area. In the general area, find the nearest point of complete relief and drop within one club-length there, no nearer the hole.
Apply the Rule on the course
Confirm the condition and physical interference before measuring the nearest point of complete relief.
- 1
Look for a hole dug by an animal, its excavated soil, a worn track leading into it, or ground raised by the digging. Worm or insect holes and isolated footprints do not count.
- 2
Check whether the ball, reasonable stance or intended swing physically meets the condition.
- 3
Confirm the ball is outside a penalty area and that another circumstance does not make the stroke clearly unreasonable.
- 4
In the general area, find the nearest point of complete relief and drop in its one-club-length relief area, no nearer the hole.
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What else matters
Valid Rule 16.1 relief is free; an incorrect drop or playing from a wrong place may bring a penalty.
Exceptions
- The definition excludes holes by animals defined as loose impediments, such as worms or insects.
- No Rule 16.1 relief is available for a ball in a penalty area.
- There is no free relief when the shot is clearly unreasonable for a reason other than the animal hole.
Common mistakes
- Calling any insect hole or bare patch an animal hole without checking the definition.
- Taking free Rule 16.1 relief when the ball lies in a penalty area.
- Choosing the best lie rather than the nearest point of complete relief.
Remember: Qualifying animal hole, real interference, outside a penalty area.
R&A Rule 16.1
Independent plain-English guide. The current Rules, Interpretations and applicable Local Rules control.
Watch animal-hole relief
A recent animal-hole example from England Golf. The current R&A Rule 16.1 above gives the full relief procedure and exceptions.