Rules Quick Guide

Immovable Obstruction (free relief) 

• Ex. Cart paths, power boxes, drains, etc. 

• One club length- after determining nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole 

• Nearest point of relief, NOT best point of relief 

Yellow Penalty Area (1 stroke) 

• Play ball as it lies (no penalty) 

• Straight line back- in line with the flagstick from where the ball last crossed the hazard line

• Stroke and Distance- play ball from previous spot  

Red Stake Penalty Area (1 stroke)  

• Play it as it lies (no penalty) 

• Straight line back- in line with the flagstick from where the ball last crossed the hazard line 

• Stroke and Distance- play ball from previous spot  

• Two club lengths- from point of entry where ball last crossed the margin, no closer to the hole 

Out of Bounds and Lost Ball (1 stroke) 

• Stroke and Distance- play ball from previous spot played 

Unplayable (1 stroke)  

• Player must first identify their golf ball 

• Two club lengths: no closer to the hole from where the ball lies 

• Stroke and Distance- play ball from previous spot  

• Straight line back: in line with the flagstick from where the ball lies 

Rule 14-3: Dropping and re-dropping-  

The Ball must be dropped straight down from   

Knee height (the height of the player’s knee when 

A standing position)  

The Ball, when dropped, must come to rest in the relief area  

Where it was dropped. If the ball comes to rest outside of the relief area, the player will drop a second time in the relief area. If the ball again comes to rest outside the relief area, the player will place it where the ball first touched the ground on the second drop.  

Loose Impediments: are natural objects including: 

• Stones, leaves, twigs, branches, pine cones, pine straw