What Does Unplayable Lie Mean in Golf?
By The Fairway Labs TeamReviewed
Play & formats
Golf term
Unplayable lie
Unplayable lie in practice
Unlike most rulings, declaring a lie unplayable is entirely the player’s own judgment call — no official is needed — and the golfer then picks between stroke-and-distance relief, back-on-the-line relief, or lateral relief.
Related terms
Lost in the lingo? Browse the full golf glossary.
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