Rule of the Month: Mistakes While Taking Complete Relief
Faye Lee | Published on 3/1/2026
Please note these potential mistakes while taking relief:
- Don't touch or move your ball until you determine the nearest point of complete relief since you may want to play it as it lies. There is a one stroke penalty for replacing the ball.
- Point of complete relief is not necessarily the nicest point of relief. One needs to measure the nearest point of complete relief. This point may differ for right or left handed golfers.
- Measure your one club length from the complete relief stance and not for example from the edge of the abnormal conditions, such as the cart path.
See USGA Video below:
Mistakes While Taking Complete Relief