# Ball in Drain: Fairway Relief Rules

> Can you take relief above a drain on fairway?
- Title: Ball in Drain: Fairway Relief Rules · Golf | Shortify
- Summary: Can you take relief above a drain on fairway? A player can take free relief vertically if their ball enters a culvert under fairway, but relief depends on…
- Keywords: golf, rules, culvert, fairway, relief, drain, sports, Ball
- Source: Golf — https://golf.com/instruction/rules/rules-guy-ball-comes-rest-drain-relief-fairway
- Published: 2026-10-06T09:08:24+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: golf, rules, culvert, fairway, relief, drain, sports
## Ball in culvert
A creek runs along left side of hole, enters a culvert under fairway, then exits right side.
## Red stakes mark creek
Red stakes mark both sides of creek but terminate at culvert entrance where creek goes underground.
## Player claims relief
W. Scott Clark says ball in culvert allows free relief directly above it onto fairway.
## Rules Guy responds
Ball in culvert is abnormal course condition, so free relief is allowed.
## Relief depends on location
Nearest point of relief might be directly above ball or near culvert entrance.
## Key takeaway

A player can take free relief vertically if their ball enters a culvert under fairway, but relief depends on nearest point of complete relief.