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My ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area. May I lift, clean

{"status":"advice","headline":"NO PENALTY | Embedded ball relief may be allowed","action":"You may lift, clean, and drop the original ball or another ball without penalty if your ball is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area and relief is not excluded by a Local Rule.","rule":"Rule 16.3","rule_code":"Rule 16.3","rule_title":"Embedded Ball","rule_summary":"A ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area may be lifted, cleaned, and dropped without penalty. Relief is normally taken by dropping within one club-length of the spot right behind where the ball was embedded, no nearer the hole, in the general area.","penalty_strokes":0,"situation":"Ball embedded in its own pitch-mark in the general area.","options":[{"id":"free_relief","text":"Take free relief for an embedded ball.","penalty":0,"procedure":"Mark the spot if needed, lift and clean the ball, then drop the original ball or another ball within one club-length of the spot right behind where the ball was embedded. The relief area must be in the general area and not nearer the hole."},{"id":"play_as_lies","text":"Play the ball as it lies.","penalty":0,"procedure":"You may choose not to take relief and play the embedded ball as it lies."}],"suggestion":"Before lifting, confirm it is in the general area and embedded in its own pitch-mark, not in sand in an area cut to fairway height or less unless the embedded-ball rule applies under the current Rules and any Local Rule has not restricted relief.","procedure":"If taking relief: identify the spot right behind where the ball is embedded, drop within one club-length, no nearer the hole, and ensure the ball comes to rest in the general area.","branches":[],"clarifying_question":null,"answer_options":[],"clarifying_questions":[],"disclaimer":"This is golf-rules guidance, not an official ruling — the final decision belongs to the Committee or event authority."}