(Effective January 2023) Rule 16 covers when and how the player may take free relief by playing a ball from a different place, such as when there is interference by an abnormal course condition or a dangerous animal condition.

• These conditions are not treated as part of the challenge of playing the course, and free relief is generally allowed except in a penalty area.
• The player normally takes relief by dropping a ball in a relief area based on the nearest point of complete relief.

This Rule also covers free relief when a player's ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area.