A ball is considered embedded when it is in its own pitch mark and below the level of the ground. To check if your ball is embedded, you can use a tee to mark and lift your ball. If it’s not embedded, you must replace the ball back to it’s original position without cleaning it.
How to Take Relief for an Embedded Ball
If your ball is embedded, you are entitled to free relief. To take relief, you must:
- Mark the spot where your ball lies.
- Lift the ball and you may clean it.
- Drop the ball within one club length of the marked spot, not nearer the hole.
There are a few exceptions to the embedded ball rule. You cannot take relief for an embedded ball if:
- It’s in a penalty area.
- It’s in a bunker.
- It’s in a divot made by another player and not its own pitch mark.
- It’s near a fence or tree, and the fence or tree is interfering with your area of intended stance or area of intended swing.
Local rules may also restrict where you can take relief for an embedded ball. For example, some courses may not allow you to take relief for an embedded ball in the stacked turf face above a bunker.
In the third episode of our rule’s series, “And Now You Know!” Joyce Lam, SGA Rules Official, covers what to do when your ball is embedded anywhere on the golf course. Check out the video!