Rules – Dangerous Animal Condition (Rule 16.2)

Many members have been asking what the rule is if there is an aggressive kangaroo or a group of swooping plovers close to your golf ball.

16.2 Dangerous Animal Condition

a. When Relief Is Allowed

A “dangerous animal condition” exists when a dangerous animal (such as venomous snakes, stinging bees, alligators, fire ants or bears) near a ball could cause serious physical injury to the player if they had to play the ball as it lies.

A player may take relief under Rule 16.2b from interference by a dangerous animal condition no matter where their ball is on the course.

This Rule does not apply to other situations on the course that could cause physical harm (such as a cactus).

b. Relief for Dangerous Animal Condition

When there is interference by a dangerous animal condition:

(1) When Ball Is Anywhere Except Penalty Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b, c or d, depending on whether the ball is in the general area, in a bunker or on the putting green.

(2) When Ball Is in Penalty Area. The player may take free relief or penalty relief:

Free Relief: Playing from Inside Penalty Area. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b, except that the nearest point of complete relief and the relief area must be in the penalty area.

Penalty Relief: Playing from Outside Penalty Area.

The player may take penalty relief under Rule 17.1d.

If there is interference by a dangerous animal condition where the ball would be played after taking this penalty relief outside the penalty area, the player may take further relief under (1) without additional penalty.

(3) No Free Relief When Clearly Unreasonable to Play Ball. There is no free relief under Rule 16.2b:

When playing the ball as it lies is clearly unreasonable because of something from which the player is not allowed to take free relief (such as when a player is unable to make a stroke because of where the ball lies in a bush).

When interference exists only because a player chooses a club, type of stance or swing or direction of play that is clearly unreasonable under the circumstances.

For purposes of this Rule, the nearest point of complete relief means the nearest point (not nearer the hole) where the dangerous animal condition does not exist.

Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 16.2: General Penalty Under Rule 14.7a.