Relief options This week we take a look at the rules of relief... 19.2
Relief Options for Unplayable Ball in General Area or on Putting Green
A player may take unplayable ball relief using one of the three options in Rule 19.2a, b or c, in each case adding one penalty stroke.
- 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.
a)
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).
b)
Back-on-the-Line Relief
The player may drop the original ball or another ball (see Rule 14.3) in a relief area that is based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the spot of the original ball:
- Reference Point: A point on the course chosen by the player that is on the reference line and is farther from the hole than the spot of the original ball (with no limit on how far back on the line):
o In choosing this point, the player should indicate the point by using an object (such as a tee).
o If the player drops the ball without having chosen this point, the reference point is treated as being the point on the line that is the same distance from the hole as where the dropped ball first touched the ground.
- Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point: One club-length, 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 one club-length 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.
c)
Lateral Relief
The player may drop the original ball or another ball in this lateral relief area (see Rule 14.3):
- Reference Point: The spot of the original ball.
- 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.
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