I read the following in the FAQ ...

Question: A player�s shot lands in a creek that has been declared casual. Can she place a rock or a broken limb behind her mark, in order to keep her feet dry?

Important Note (4/15/08): Previously we had ruled that this was permitted. This opinion reverses that ruling.

Response: Applicable Rules: 803.01 (General) 803.05, (Obstacles and Relief) C 803.04, (Stance, Subsequent to Teeing Off)A.1

803.01 (General) A states �The game of disc golf consists of throwing a flying disc from the teeing area to a target by a throw or successive throws. Players shall play the course as they find it and play the disc where it lies unless allowed otherwise by the Rules.�

Rocks and broken limbs are obstacles on the course, which can not be moved except as specified under 803.05 (Obstacles and Relief) C, pursuant to a safe stance and run up.

Additionally, 803.04 (Stance, Subsequent to Teeing Off) A 1, requires that one �Have at least one supporting point that is in contact with the playing surface on the line of play and within 30 centimeters directly behind the marker disc�.

Conclusion: You take a stance in the mud or casual water just as you would in the fairway. One should never expect to be able to move obstacles, except as narrowly defined under �Obstacles and Relief�.


Question on this ruling ... I thought you got relief from from casual obtacles and could place your lie at the nearest point directly in line with you disc and the basket where you where not in the casual obstacle.

Up to the nearest point within 5m yes, but only for casual obstacles (e.g standing water). The explanation quoted is to deal with someone that might build up their lie to be able to play without moving back (while keeping their feet dry). One cannot build a lie. You must be on the playing surface.

This is a good place for a TD to make a decision. Last week at CAC there was a huge pond of casual water right where many drives were expected to land. The TD set up a drop zone and told us we had the option of playinf from the drop zone w/o penalty or, if we wished, we could wander into the muck and play it from there. I have played Winter tournaments where the TD will allow players to go as far straight back from snow, ice, slop as they desire. I think there can be some gamesmanship in this as a player can go back until that tree is no longer in the way.

The TD can expressly allow for greater casual relief than five meters. We usually allow for infinite casual relief at IOS events, but I'm pretty sure no one ever takes that much casual relief. We also leave it to the player to define what consistency of muck constitutes water. If it gets you a small advantage to be further back from a tree at some point, better that than you break a hand.

It is important to remember that in disc golf casual relief is always straight back from the basket, not to the side and not along the flight path of the disc.

Why would a person need to build up their stance if they get casual relief anyway?

If they don't want to take relief. The relief isn't required, and that 5 m can make a big difference in distance and/or line of the next shot.