Rules Guy: Can You Take Free Relief from a Man-Made Object in the Rough?

Rules Guy: Can You Take Free Relief from a Man-Made Object in the Rough?

By: Rules Guy, May 19, 2026

What do the rules say about taking free relief when your ball is in the rough? Find out the answer to a burning question!

Once, my buddy pulled his approach shot pin-high but left of the elevated green. His ball was in the rough about 20 yards out near the bordering cart path. Though he had a clear stance, his backswing was threatened by a carved granite slab with the next hole’s number and distance info. I was about to suggest he take relief from this man-made object interfering with his swing when he somehow played a great shot that ended up inches from the pin.

When I asked why he hadn’t taken relief, he said it wasn’t possible because that only applied coming up to the green, not once around it — something about “through the green.” Since it wasn’t my ball and he pulled off the shot anyway, I didn’t follow up... but this doesn’t sound right to me.

Without wanting to sound at all smug — heaven forbid! — we note that this revolves around a rather amusing misunderstanding of a pre-2019 Rules term. “Through the green” is what today we call the “general area” and in fact had nothing to do with whether you had reached the green surrounding area or not.

Your buddy was allowed to take free relief before 2019 and was still allowed to do so now with his ball laying in the general area (and not through the green). Please refer to Rule 16.1 for all the specifics.

Need any more questions?

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