What Is Ground Under Repair in Golf?
Ground Under Repair: A marked area on the course where you get free relief — no penalty.
Ground Under Repair — full definition
Any area on the course marked by the maintenance staff (usually with blue stakes or white lines) as ground under repair (GUR). If your ball lies in GUR, you are entitled to free relief — drop the ball at the nearest point of complete relief, no closer to the hole, within one club-length.
Ground Under Repair — frequently asked
Ground Under Repair — how do you identify it?
- Marked by blue stakes or white lines painted on the ground
- Also called GUR
Ground Under Repair — what relief do you get?
- Free relief — no penalty stroke
- Drop at the nearest point of complete relief, no closer to the hole, within one club-length
More on Ground Under Repair
GUR usually appears after weather or maintenance work, so it moves around the calendar.
- Golf weatherConditions by state — wet weeks are when the blue stakes come out.
- Golf course directoryCourse contact details, for asking about current course conditions.
Other rules & penalties
Stymie
A historic golf term for when an opponent’s ball blocked your path to the hole on the putting green.
Lateral Hazard
Now called a red penalty area — a hazard running alongside the line of play.
Out of Bounds
The area beyond the course boundary, marked by white stakes or a fence.
Provisional Ball
A second ball played from the same spot when you think your original may be lost or out of bounds.
Unplayable Lie
You can declare your ball unplayable anywhere except in a penalty area, with three relief options.
Embedded Ball
A ball stuck in its own pitch-mark in the general area — you get free relief.
Free Relief
Relief without penalty, available in specific situations defined by the Rules of Golf.