The most common rules situation golfers encounter is likely cart path relief. During golf tournament broadcasts, cart path relief situations frequently appear on screen. Each time, comment sections fill with debate among viewers over whether the relief point should be on the fairway side or the rough side. This is especially true when the ball lies in the middle of a cart path.
Many weekend golfers believe the drop location is determined by whether the ball is closer to the fairway or to the rough, but this is a misconception. The drop location is determined by where the reference point — the "nearest point of complete relief" in the general area — is located.
The procedure for finding the reference point is straightforward. First, using the same club, swing and line of play that would have been used for the shot from the cart path, take a stance at the nearest spot free of interference from the cart path and mark the spot where the clubhead rests. This is typically done in both directions — toward the fairway and toward the rough. Then measure the distance between the ball on the cart path and each marked spot. The closer spot becomes the reference point. The reference point must be nearest to the ball's original spot and must not be closer to the hole than the original spot.
Once the reference point is identified, the player can decide whether to take relief. If the reference point is in deep rough or on a severe slope such that playing from the cart path would actually be preferable, the player is not required to take relief.
There are cases, however, where players pick up the ball before even finding the reference point. If the player then takes relief, there is no issue. But if the player decides not to take relief and instead replaces the ball at its original spot to play from there, a one-stroke penalty applies for moving the ball. Therefore, to avoid trouble, the player must always identify the reference point and decide whether to take relief before lifting the ball.
The player can then set the relief area and drop. The size of the relief area is within one club-length of the reference point. "One club-length" refers to the longest club in the player's bag other than the putter, which is typically the driver.
The relief area must be in the general area and must not be closer to the hole than the reference point. Another important point is that it must be a position offering "complete relief" from all interference caused by the cart path. For example, if the player takes relief and plays a shot but the stance even slightly touches the cart path, the shot was not played from the relief area. In such cases, the player receives the general penalty (two strokes) for playing from a wrong place, so caution is required.
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