Unplayable ball
The R&A / USGA · 2023The player chooses relief for an unplayable ball, with special bunker options.
Options outside a penalty area
Only the player decides that a ball is unplayable. Outside a penalty area, add 1 penalty stroke for stroke-and-distance, back-on-the-line or lateral relief. Lateral relief extends 2 club-lengths from the original spot, no nearer the hole. Back-on-the-line relief uses a 1 club-length area from the ball’s first ground contact on the line, no nearer the hole than the original spot, in that same course area. These latter options require knowing the original ball’s spot.
An unplayable ball in a bunker
Stroke-and-distance remains available. With 1 penalty stroke, lateral or back-on-the-line relief must stay in the bunker. Alternatively, back-on-the-line relief outside the bunker costs 2 penalty strokes in total. In a penalty area, use the penalty-area rules instead. The disability modifications provide different allowances for players using wheeled mobility devices; do not apply those exceptions to everyone.
Sources & approach ↗