Cart path relief, done right — and it's always free
Yes — a cart path is an immovable obstruction, so when it interferes with your stance or swing you get free relief under Rule 16.1 with no penalty. Drop within one club-length of the nearest point of complete relief, no nearer the hole.
Does a cart path give you free relief?
Yes — cart path relief is always free. A cart path is an immovable obstruction under Rule 16.1, so when it interferes with your lie, stance, or the area of your intended swing, you're entitled to relief with no penalty.
This is the rule most golfers get wrong in one of two ways: either they drop a full club-length in the wrong direction, or they take relief when the path isn't actually in their swing path.
When you qualify for free relief
You only get relief when the cart path interferes with your stance or the area of your intended swing. If the path is merely in your line of play, you don't get a drop — you play it as it lies.
Cart path relief checklist
- The path interferes with your stance (a foot on or near it)
- Or the path is in your intended swing path
- You choose the nearest point of complete relief
- That point is not nearer the hole
How to take the drop, step by step
- Confirm interference. Check that the path affects your stance or swing, not just your line.
- Find the nearest point of complete relief. This is the spot where the path no longer interferes, closest to where your ball lies — and it must not be nearer the hole.
- Mark that reference point and drop within one club-length of it, no nearer the hole.
- Let it roll. The ball may roll up to two club-lengths from where it first lands. If it rolls into a bad spot or back onto the path, you may re-drop.
The most common cart path mistakes
| Mistake | The rule |
|---|---|
| Dropping nearer the hole than reference point | Relief must be no nearer the hole (Rule 16.1b) |
| Dropping more than one club-length away | Max one club-length from the reference point |
| Moving the ball when the path only affects your line | No free relief if stance and swing are clear |
| Taking relief from a path inside a penalty area | Penalty-area relief rules apply instead |
Special situations
Ball in a penalty area: If your ball is in a penalty area and the cart path is also inside it, you don't get free relief from the path — you treat it under the penalty area rules (Rule 17).
Ball embedded: If your ball is embedded in its own pitch mark in the general area, you may get free relief under Rule 16.3, separate from any cart path question.
Save this for the course
This is one of the ten situations in our Save Strokes quick reference — a laminated-style guide you can keep in your bag to settle these calls instantly. Want it free? Grab the Drop Rules Cheat Sheet, or read the related guide on unplayable lies for your other big relief decision.
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