PENALTY STROKE PLANS

The reference below and the following sections are used to summarize relief options for when a golfer’s ball comes to rest within a penalty area.

1. GENERAL PENALTY AREA
2. STROKE AND DISTANCE RELIEF
3. BACK ON THE LINE RELIEF
4. LATERAL RELIEF
5. CONCLUSION

GENERAL PENALTY AREAS

The reference “Rule 17 addresses relief options for the golfer when his golf ball comes to rest within a general penalty area such as bodies of water or other areas defined by the Committee where a ball is often lost or unplayable.  General penalty area relief can be used when it is virtually certain that one’s golf ball is in a penalty area even though not found.”

STROKE AND DISTANCE RELIEF

Golfers may use the following relief option for one penalty stroke to move his golf ball outside of the lost or out of bound penalty area.

• “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

Golfers may use the following relief option for one penalty stroke to move his golf ball outside of a forward hazard penalty area.

• Back-On-the-Line Relief. The player may drop the original ball or another ball (see Rule 14.3) in a relief area based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.

LATERAL HAZARD RELIEF

Golfers may use the following relief option for one penalty stroke to move his golf ball outside of a lateral hazard penalty area.

(3) Lateral Relief (Only for Red Penalty Area). When the ball last crossed the edge of a red penalty area, the player may drop the original ball or another ball in this lateral relief area (see Rule 14.3):

• Reference Point: The estimated point where the ball last crossed the red penalty area boundary.
• Size of Relief Area: Two club-lengths from the reference point.
• Limits: Not nearer the hole than the reference point.