You can declare your ball unplayable anywhere

Purpose of Rule: Rule 19 covers the player’s several relief options for an unplayable ball. This allows the player to choose which option to use – normally with one penalty stroke – to get out of a difficult situation anywhere on the course (except in a penalty area).

Player May Decide to Take Unplayable Ball Relief Anywhere Except Penalty Area

A player is the only person who may decide to treat their ball as unplayable by taking penalty relief under Rule 19.2 or 19.3 . Unplayable ball relief is allowed anywhere on the course , except in a penalty area . If a ball is unplayable in a penalty area , the player’s only relief option is to take penalty relief under Rule 17 .

Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in General Area or on Putting Green

• The player may take stroke-and-distance relief under Rule 19.2a even if the original ball has not been found and identified.
• But to take back-on-the-line relief under Rule 19.2b or lateral relief under Rule 19.2c , the player must know the spot of the original ball.

Stroke-and-Distance Relief

The player may play the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6 ).

Back-on-the-Line Relief

• Limits on Location of Relief Area :
  • Must not be nearer the hole than the spot of the original ball, and
  • May be in any area of the course , but
  • Must be in the same area of the course that the ball first touched when dropped .

  Lateral Relief

  • Reference Point : The spot of the original ball. But when the ball lies above the ground, such as in a tree, the reference point is the spot directly below the ball on the ground.
  • Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point : Two club-lengths , but with these limits:
  • Limits on Location of Relief Area :
    • Must not be nearer the hole than the reference point, and
    • May be in any area of the course , but
    • If more than one area of the course is located within two club-lengths of the reference point, the ball must come to rest in the relief area in the same area of the course that the ball first touched when dropped in the relief area .
    DIAGRAM 19.2: RELIEF OPTIONS FOR UNPLAYABLE BALL IN GENERAL AREA

    

    1. Take stroke-and-distance relief by playing a ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
    2. Take back-on-the-line relief by dropping a ball behind the spot of the original ball, keeping the spot of the original ball between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.
    3. Take lateral relief. The reference point for taking relief is the spot of the original ball and a ball must be dropped in and played from the two club-length relief area, which is no nearer the hole than the reference point.

    Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in Bunker

    Normal Relief Options (One Penalty Stroke)

    • The player may take unplayable ball relief for one penalty stroke under any of the options in Rule 19.2 , except that:
    • The ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the bunker if the player takes either back-on-the-line relief (see Rule 19.2b ) or lateral relief (see Rule 19.2c ).
    DIAGRAM 19.3: RELIEF OPTIONS FOR UNPLAYABLE BALL IN BUNKER

    

    1. For one penalty stroke, the player may take stroke-and-distance relief.
    2. For one penalty stroke, the player may take back-on-the-line relief in the bunker.
    3. For one penalty stroke, the player may take lateral relief in the bunker.
    4. For a total of two penalty strokes, the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker.

    Extra Relief Option (Two Penalty Strokes)

    As an extra relief option when a player’s ball is in a bunker , for a total of two penalty strokes , the player may take back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker under Rule 19.2b . See Rule 25.4n (for players who use a wheeled mobility device, the back-on-the-line extra relief option in Rule 19.3b is reduced to one penalty stroke). Penalty for Playing Ball from a Wrong Place in Breach of Rule 19.3: General Penalty under Rule 14.7a .

    EXPLORE MORE

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 1 introduces these central principles of the game for the player: Play the course as you find it and play the ball as it lies.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 2 introduces the basic things every player should know about the course: There are five defined areas of the course, and Th.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 3 covers the three central elements of all golf competitions: Playing either match play or stroke play, Playing either as a.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 4 covers the equipment that players may use during a round. Based on the principle that golf is a challenging game in which succ.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 5 covers how to play a round – such as where and when a player may practise on the course before or during a round, when a round.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 6 covers how to play a hole – such as the specific Rules for teeing off to start a hole, the requirement to use the same ball fo.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 7 allows the player to take reasonable actions to fairly search for their ball in play after each stroke. But the player stil.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 8 covers a central principle of the game: “play the course as you find it”. When the player’s ball comes to rest, they normally .

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 9 covers a central principle of the game: “play the ball as it lies.” If the player’s ball comes to rest and is then moved by.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 10 covers how to prepare for and make a stroke, including advice and other help the player may get from others (including caddie.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 11 covers what to do if the player’s ball in motion hits a person, animal, equipment or anything else on the course. When this h.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 12 is a specific Rule for bunkers, which are specially prepared areas intended to test the player’s ability to play a ball from .

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 13 is a specific Rule for putting greens. Putting greens are specially prepared for playing the ball along the ground and there .

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 14 covers when and how the player may mark the spot of a ball at rest and lift and clean the ball and how to put a ball back int.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 15 covers when and how the player may take free relief from loose impediments and movable obstructions. These movable natural.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 16 covers when and how the player may take free relief by playing a ball from a different place, such as when there is interfere.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 17 is a specific Rule for penalty areas, which are bodies of water or other areas defined by the Committee where a ball is often.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 18 covers taking relief under penalty of stroke and distance. When a ball is lost outside a penalty area or comes to rest out of.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 20 covers what players should do when they have questions about the Rules during a round, including the procedures (which differ.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 21 covers four other forms of individual play, including three forms of stroke play where scoring is different than in regular s.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 22 covers Foursomes (played either in match play or stroke play), where two partners compete together as a side by alternating i.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 23 covers Four-Ball (played either in match play or stroke play), where partners compete as a side with each playing a separate .

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 24 covers team competitions (played in either match play or stroke play), where multiple players or sides compete as a team with.

    Purpose of Rule: Rule 25 provides modifications to certain Rules of Golf to allow players with specific disabilities to play fairly with players who h.