Taking Relief

Red Marked Penalty Areas

1. Lateral relief: Drop within 2 club lengths (not nearer the hole) from where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.
2. Stroke & distance: Replay from the original point after a drop within 1 club length.
3. Back-on-the-line relief: Use the crossing point, then choose a spot as far back as you want on that line (keeping the crossing point between you and the hole) and drop there.

Yellow Marked Penalty Areas

1. Stroke & distance: Replay from the original point after a drop within 1 club length.
2. Back-on-the-line relief: Use the crossing point and drop as far back as needed on a line with that point between you and the hole.

Unplayable Lie

1. Stroke & distance: Replay from the original point after a drop within 1 club length.
2. Drop at that point: Drop within 2 club lengths (not nearer the hole) from where the ball came to rest.
3. Back-on-the-line relief: Keep the ball position and flagstick on a straight line and move back as far as you want before dropping.

Provisional Ball

A provisional ball may be played when the original may be out of bounds or may not be found. It is played from the same spot (within 1 club length) as the original.

• Say it out loud: You must announce that you are playing a provisional ball.
• If the original is OB: Continue with the provisional.
• If the original is not found in time: It becomes a lost ball, and you continue with the provisional.
• If the original is found in play: You must play the original (or take unplayable relief). Pick up the provisional.

Penalty note: If the original is OB or lost and you continue with the provisional, a 1-stroke penalty applies.

Double Hit

If you accidentally strike the ball twice in a single stroke, the second hit does not count and there is no penalty. Play the ball as it lies.

Deliberately deflecting or stopping a moving ball is a two-stroke penalty.

Example: You stroke a putt, realize it’s off line, and tap it while it is still rolling.

Relief From a Bunker

If your ball is in a bunker and you declare it unplayable, you have four relief options:

1. Stroke & distance (1 stroke): Replay from the original point after a drop within 1 club length.
2. Back-on-the-line in bunker (1 stroke): Drop in the bunker behind the ball, keeping that point between the hole and the drop spot.
3. Drop in bunker within 2 club lengths (1 stroke): Not nearer the hole.
4. Drop outside the bunker (2 strokes): Use a straight line back from the hole through the original ball spot and drop anywhere on that line outside the bunker.