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Can I take relief if a sprinkler head affects my follow-through?

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Your ball isn’t in it, and it doesn’t affect your stance. Do you have to play it as it lies or is there a way to get free relief?

Could this sprinkler head interfere with the area of intended swing | Source: Adobe Stock sprinkler head rules

Don’t sprinkler heads just have a habit of getting in the way? They seem to be a magnet for my ball at any rate.

They are sometimes tricky in the rules too. There’s no line-of-play relief, for example, unless a Local Rule is in place and that can lead to a situation where a sprinkler head can be a big focal point around a shot. But, you’ve just got to put up with it.

What about if the sprinkler head doesn’t affect your backswing, but could come into play on your follow-through? Is it just tough luck, or can the rules help you out? Let’s take a look…

When can you take relief from a sprinkler head? | Source: NCG sprinkler head rules
When can you take relief from a sprinkler head? | Source: NCG

Sprinkler head rules: When can I get free relief

A sprinkler head is a classic immovable obstruction and Rule 16.1a says you can take relief from those if your ball touches it or if it physically interferes with your stance.

Where people sometimes get a bit confused with this rule is where it affects the area of intended swing and when the sprinkler head is just a distraction. 

Most of you will know if the sprinkler head is merely close enough to distract you but doesn’t interfere, you can’t take relief.

But the area of intended swing doesn’t just include the backswing or the point of impact. It also applies to the follow-through.

So if you’re going to hit the sprinkler head at any stage of the swing, that would be physical interference, and you would be entitled to free relief.

Find the nearest point of complete relief, no closer to the hole, and then drop in a one club-length relief area.

Got a question for our expert?

Despite the changes to the Rules of Golf in 2019 and 2023, there are still some that leave us scratching our heads. I’ll try to help by featuring the best of your queries in this column.

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What do you think of these sprinkler head rules? Let me know by leaving a comment below, email me at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or get in touch on X.

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About the author

Steve Carroll
Steve Carroll

A journalist for more than 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long.

A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A’s prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.

Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men’s Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.

A part of NCG’s Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He’d like to tell you he floats around 10. The reality is more like 13.

Steve plays at Sandburn Hall, in York, and is a country member at Close House in Newcastle. He has served on various club committees during his time in the game, and is the current Rules Secretary at Sandburn.

Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NCTJ exams at Darlington College of Technology. He began his career working on weekly papers in Newcastle, before joining the York Press in 2001. After five years as a news reporter, he joined the sports desk – specialising in horse racing and snooker – and was Digital Sports Editor when he joined National Club Golfer in 2016.

What’s in Steve’s bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; Caley 01T irons 4-PW; TaylorMade Hi-Toe wedges, Odyssey 2Ball Microhinge putter.

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