Purpose: A portion of the course that has been repaired with cut turf is often marked as ground under repair until it is stable enough for play.

But when the area of turf itself no longer needs to be marked as ground under repair, the Committee may still choose to allow relief when:

• A ball lies in one of the cut turf seams (also known as sod seams).
• A seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing.

When such seams only interfere with the player’s stance, there is no need to allow relief.

Model Local Rule F-7

If a player’s ball lies in or touches a seam of cut turf or a seam interferes with the player’s area of intended swing:

(a) Ball in General Area. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1b.

(b) Ball on Putting Green. The player may take relief under Rule 16.1d.

But interference does not exist if the seam only interferes with the player’s stance.

All seams within the area of cut turf are treated as the same seam in taking relief. This means that if a player has interference from any seam after dropping the ball, the player must proceed as required under Rule 14.3c(2) even when the ball is still within one club-length of the reference point.

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

Rule 8f-7