146 (2) Determining Whether Ball Is Embedded. A player’s ball is embedded only if: • It is in its own pitch-mark made as a result of the player’s previous stroke, and • Part of the ball is below the level of the ground. If the player cannot tell for sure whether the ball is in its own pitch-mark or a pitch-mark made by another ball, the player may treat the ball as embedded if it is reasonable to conclude from the available information that the ball is in its own pitch-mark. A ball is not embedded if it is below the level of the ground as a result of anything other than the player’s previous stroke, such as when: • The ball is pushed into the ground by someone stepping on it, • The ball is driven straight into the ground without becoming airborne, or • The ball was dropped in taking relief under a Rule. Level of Ground Ball is embedded Part of the ball (embedded in its own pitch-mark) is below the level of the ground. Ball is NOT embedded Even though the ball is sitting down in the grass, relief is not available because no part of the ball is below the level of the ground. Ball is embedded Despite the fact that the ball is not touching the soil, part of the ball (embedded in its own pitch-mark) is below the level of the ground. DIAGRAM 16.3a: WHEN A BALL IS EMBEDDED 16.3b Relief for Embedded Ball When a player’s ball is embedded in the general area and relief is allowed under Rule 16.3a, the player may take free relief by dropping the original ball or another ball in this relief area (see Rule 14.3): Rule 16
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