What are your options for an unplayable lie?
By The Fairway Labs TeamReviewed
General play
Penalty: One stroke
What are your options for an unplayable lie?
PenaltyOne stroke· under Rule 19
What to do
- 1Confirm the ball isn’t in a penalty area (different relief rules apply there).
- 2Add one penalty stroke.
- 3Pick stroke-and-distance, lateral relief (two club-lengths), or back-on-the-line relief.
- 4Drop in the relief area you chose and continue play.
Based on the modern Rules of Golf (Rule 19), as published by the USGA and The R&A and effective from the 2019 revision. Local rules can modify some situations — check the scorecard or with the committee when in doubt.
Related rulings
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