Playing The Game

When to drop a ball in your golf game

Unplayable Lie: When a player's ball comes to rest in an unplayable lie, such as in a bush, a tree, or deep rough, the player may declare the ball unplayable and take relief. The player has several options for taking relief, including playing from the previous spot with a one-stroke penalty, dropping within two club lengths of where the ball lay, or dropping behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point between the player and the hole.

Penalty Area: If a player's ball comes to rest in a penalty area, such as a water hazard or lateral water hazard, the player may take relief by dropping a ball within two club lengths of where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, or as far back as the player chooses on a line between the hole and where the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.

Lost Ball: If a player's ball cannot be found within the allowed search time (typically three minutes) or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the player must proceed under the lost ball rule. This typically involves taking stroke-and-distance relief by replaying the shot from the original location with a one-stroke penalty.

Obstructions: If a player's ball comes to rest near an immovable obstruction, such as a cart path, a sprinkler head, or a man-made object, the player may take relief by dropping a ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.

Embedded Ball: If a player's ball becomes embedded in its own pitch mark in the ground (except in sand), the player may take relief by dropping a ball within one club length of the spot where the ball lay, no closer to the hole.

Abnormal Course Conditions: If a player's ball comes to rest in an area of abnormal course conditions, such as ground under repair or a temporary water hazard, the player may take relief by dropping a ball within one club length of the nearest point of relief, no closer to the hole.