My son was playing in a junior match. His opponent’s ball was by a tree root and that player’s mother said that you can take free relief from roots. Is this correct?

Les' Answer 

No. The only “free” relief from natural objects is relief provided for loose impediments. A root is not loose. A root is not an obstruction. Therefore, the only “relief” provided by the rules is an unplayable lie.

Per Rule 28:
The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.

If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:

a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or

b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or

c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.

The following definitions are provided for additional clarity:

Obstructions
An "obstruction" is anything artificial, including the artificial surfaces and sides of roads and paths and manufactured ice,…

Loose Impediments
"Loose impediments" are natural objects including:

• stones, leaves, twigs, branches and the like,
• dung, and
• worms, insects and the like, and the casts and heaps made by them, provided they are not:
  • fixed or growing,
  • solidly embedded, or
  • adhering to the ball.

Sand and loose soil are loose impediments on the putting green, but not elsewhere. Snow and natural ice, other than frost, are either casual water or loose impediments, at the option of the player. Dew and frost are not loose impediments

Rule 13…Play it as it lies.