Relief Finder

Below you'll find a list of relief options for common situations. In 2020 the rules changed a bits, it's good to have this resource as general reference. Have questions about a situation not listed below? Just contact the board and we'll update the list.

Relief from a Red Penalty Area
  • Relief from a Red Penalty Area

When your ball lies in a red designated penalty area (letteral hazard), you can play it as it lies without penalty or you may take relief outside the penalty area for one penalty stroke. Red penalty areas generally tend to run along the sides of the fairway or green. There are essentially 5 options you can take when in a red penalty area.

When playing a shot from a penalty area, you can remove any detached natural or artificial object (known as loose impediments and movable obstructions), ground your club behind the ball, or take practice swings that touch the ground. However, there are a few restrictions. You can’t deem your ball unplayable or take relief from abnormal course conditions (such as a bridge or sprinkler control box). If you need relief, you can play under the penalty area relief options discussed above.

For more details visit the USGA website here.

  1. Play it as it lies (no penalty)
  2. Take a drop as close to the point where you took the original shot. You may tee it up if the original shot was taken from the teeing ground.
  3. Take a drop within 2 club lengths from the point where the ball last crossed the hazard.
  4. Take a drop anywhere along the direct line of sight from the hole location through the point at which your ball last entered the hazard no closer to the hole. The ball must come to rest within 1 club length of this line.
  5. You may also take a drop on the opposite side of the hazard withing 2 club lengths of that point.

* There may be an area marked as a designated drop zone. You may drop from there with a 1 stoke penalty.

Relief from a Yellow Penalty Area
  • Relief from a Yellow Penalty Area
  • Relief from a Yellow Penalty Area Example 2

When your ball lies in a yellow designated penalty area (water hazard), you can play it as it lies without penalty or you may take relief outside the penalty area for one penalty stroke. Yellow penalty areas generally tend to accross fairway. There are essentially 3 options you can take when in a yellow penalty area.

When playing a shot from a penalty area, you can remove any detached natural or artificial object (known as loose impediments and movable obstructions), ground your club behind the ball, or take practice swings that touch the ground. However, there are a few restrictions. You can’t deem your ball unplayable or take relief from abnormal course conditions (such as a bridge or sprinkler control box). If you need relief, you can play under the penalty area relief options discussed above.

For more details visit the USGA website here.

  1. Play it as it lies (no penalty)
  2. Take a drop as close to the point where you took the original shot. You may tee it up if the original shot was taken from the teeing ground.
  3. Take a drop anywhere along the direct line of sight from the hole location through the point at which your ball last entered the hazard no closer to the hole. The ball must come to rest within 1 club length of this line.

* There may be an area marked as a designated drop zone. You may drop from there with a 1 stoke penalty.

Relief from Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds
  • Relief from Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds 1
  • Relief from Lost Ball or Ball Out of Bounds 2

If you hit your ball out of bounds or lose it (you have three minutes to search for your ball before it becomes lost), your only option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke to play under stroke and distance. The only exceptions to this are if your ball is lost in a penalty area (when you can use any of the penalty area relief options) or lost in an abnormal ground condition or in an obstruction.

A final exception is when a new Local Rule which provides an alternative to stroke and distance relief is in effect. For two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds and then find the nearest fairway edge that is not nearer the hole than the estimated spot. You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club-lengths of that fairway edge point, or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds. To see this visually and learn more about how this optional Local Rule works, click here.

  1. Stroke and distance: At the cost of 1 penalty stroke you may drop the ball as close to the point where you took the original shot. If you were on the tee box, you may tee it up again.
  2. A new addition to the rules is you are now able to take relief anywhere from the point at which your ball entered the hazard or as close to the spot that you believe you ball was lost to 2 club links in from the edge of the nearest fairway edge... no closer to the hole.

* Alternately, If you think that your ball might be out bounds or that you might not find it, you can play a provisional ball to save time. You must announce that you are playing a provisional ball before doing so. If you are then unable to find your original ball, or you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.

Relief from Cart Path
  • Relief from Cart Path 1
  • Relief from Cart Path 2

You are entitled to free relief from a cart path if the ball comes to rest upon the path or your swing or stance is inhibited by the path. A golfer's stance is deemed to be inhibited if any part of your foot comes in contact with the path. When taking relief from the path, you must take complete relief from the path. 

When determining the closest point of relief, you must take a stance free from the path using the club you intend to use to play the shot. When taking 1 club length from the closest point of relief, a longer club such as a driver may be used.

As you can see from the two diagrams off to the side, the closest point of relief is very different for the right handed player than the left handed one. The play first determines the closest point of relief on both sides of the path and measures the distance to the point at which the ball lies. Whichever point is closest is the closest point of relief. The player may then take one club length from that spot.

For the left handed player, option 2 is the closest point of relief and for the right handed play option 1 is.

* Alternately, you do not need to take relief from the path and may play it as it lies.

Relief from an Unplayable Lie
  • Unplayable Lie
  • Unplayable Lie Bunker

If you are in a situation where you don’t want to or don’t think you can play your ball, you always have the option of taking relief under the unplayable ball Rule. The player is the only person who can decide that their ball is unplayable, and this can be done anywhere on the golf course except when your ball lies in a penalty area. If your ball is in a penalty area, your only relief option is to take relief under the penalty area Rule.

When you decide that your ball is unplayable, you have three relief options, all for 1 penalty stroke.

If your ball lies in a bunker, you must remain inside the bunker under options two and three. You also have a fourth option for an extra penalty stroke (two penalty strokes total) which allows you to go back on the line and drop your ball outside the bunker. Click here to learn more about these options in our video on bunkers.

 

  1. Take a drop as close to the point where you took the original shot. You may tee it up if the original shot was taken from the teeing ground.
  2. Take a drop within 2 club lengths from the point where the ball came to rest.
  3. Take a drop anywhere along the direct line of sight from the hole location through the point at which your ball lies, no closer to the hole. The ball must come to rest within 1 club length of this line.
  4. Option 4 is only available when taking relief from a bunker. You may drop the ball outside the bunker along the direct line of sight from the hole location through the point at which your lies, no closer to the hole. This option incurs a 2 penalty stroke.
Relief from an Immovable Obstruction
  • Relief from an Immovable obstruction

Immovable obstructions are artificial objects that are on the course for a good reason but aren’t meant to interfere with the playing of our game. These include things like pump houses, electrical boxes, bathrooms, etc. If an immovable obstruction interferes with your lie, stance and/or swing then you’re eligible for free relief.

This video explains it fairly well click here.

1. You are entitled to free relief of 1 club length from the closest point of relief if, and only if you ball is lying in or on the obstruction, or if the obstruction interferes in any way with you swing or stance.