The term “abnormal course condition” is an umbrella term that includes four different conditions that occur on the course:
- An Animal Hole, which includes the loose material dug out of the hole, a track or trail into the hole or any other ground altered by the animal in digging the hole underground.
- Ground Under Repair, which includes any area marked as ground under repair by the Committee plus three types of things by default: 1) holes made by the maintenance staff in setting up or maintaining the course (not including aeration holes), 2) material piled for later removal, and 3) an animal habitat that might be damaged by the player in playing the stroke.
- Immovable Obstructions, which includes artificially surfaced paths and other artificial objects that cannot be moved without unreasonable effort or causing damage to the course.
- Temporary Water, which is what it sounds like – a temporary accumulation of water that can be seen on the ground before or after taking a stance.
Collectively, you take relief from all of these conditions in the same way – by using the nearest point of complete relief.
