Taking a penalty drop

fred344

If you choose to take a penalty drop but the two clubs lengths you take land you in to even more trouble (i.e still no clear swing due to trees etc), what do you do?

I have been taking 'nearest point of relief' which to me is a place where I can have a clear swing at the ball unimpeded no nearer the hole but it's way more than the two club lengths you are supposed to take.

Thanks.

stockdam

Go read the rules.

When you take a penalty drop you have three options:

1. Drop within two club-lengths not closer to the hole (if in a hazard/bunker you cannot drop out of the hazard).

2. Drop along a line that extends back from the pin through your ball (ie drop away from the pin but as far back as you want but only on the line from your ball to the pin).

3. Go back to where you last played your shot.

For all three options you add one shot onto what you have already played. If your first shot lands in trouble and you take a penalty drop then your next shot is your third shot.

Note that once you take a penalty drop (correctly) then your ball is in play even if it is now unplayabe; you cannot retake the drop if it has been done correctly - so think before you drop. Note that correctly means that the ball comes to rest within two clublengths from where the ball originally was (if the ball rolls out three times then you may place it).

There is no such thing as "nearest point of relief" when taking a penalty drop.

aster99

Well explained there, thanks

fred344

Thanks a lot. I've seen a lot of people do this wrong.

I would read all the rules of golf but it's up there with reading the dictionary.

Cheers.

stockdam

fred344 wrote: »

Thanks a lot. I've seen a lot of people do this wrong.

I would read all the rules of golf but it's up there with reading the dictionary.

Cheers.

If you want to just play with your friends then fine but if you want to play in competitions then you really should take the time to read them......or at least play with somebody who knows the rules.

Benicetomonty

stockdam wrote: »

1. Drop within two club-lengths not closer to the hole (if in a hazard/bunker you cannot drop out of the hazard).

? Might be reading this wrong but Im fairly sure you can drop out of a hazard/bunker once its determined the ball is unplayable. Under penalty of course. Also worth noting the difference between red and yellow staked hazards-reds give a few more options and can allow for a more favourable drop.

Sandwlch

fred344 wrote: »

If you choose to take a penalty drop but the two clubs lengths you take land you in to even more trouble (i.e still no clear swing due to trees etc), what do you do?

I have been taking 'nearest point of relief' which to me is a place where I can have a clear swing at the ball unimpeded no nearer the hole but it's way more than the two club lengths you are supposed to take.

Thanks.

Do you need to return any prizes now that you know you should have been disqualified each time you did so ?

thewobbler

Benicetomonty wrote: »

stockdam wrote: »

1. Drop within two club-lengths not closer to the hole (if in a hazard/bunker you cannot drop out of the hazard).

? Might be reading this wrong but Im fairly sure you can drop out of a hazard/bunker once its determined the ball is unplayable. Under penalty of course. Also worth noting the difference between red and yellow staked hazards-reds give a few more options and can allow for a more favourable drop.

It's called a hazard for a reason. You can choose a penalty drop from an unplayable lie in a hazard, but you can't leave the hazard.

stockdam

Benicetomonty wrote: »

? Might be reading this wrong but Im fairly sure you can drop out of a hazard/bunker once its determined the ball is unplayable. Under penalty of course. Also worth noting the difference between red and yellow staked hazards-reds give a few more options and can allow for a more favourable drop.

No you cannot drop outside of a bunker - you have to drop within the bunker (2 clublengths or on a line extending back from pin to ball. Otherwise go back to where you last played from.

Yes water hazards are different - you don't drop back into the water. I was trying to simplify things and the rules and the decisions are well worth reading for all golfers.

Benicetomonty

[Quote

It's called a hazard for a reason. You can choose a penalty drop from an unplayable lie in a hazard, but you can't leave the hazard.[/Quote]
Any drop under penalty taken from a hazard gives you the option of leaving it via point of entry and 2 club lengths. I know that a free drop (within 1 clublength) does not give you that option but otherwise, youre free to go! I think..

ernieprice

28 - Ball Unplayable
The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.
If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:
a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be dropped in the bunker.
When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.

Benicetomonty

ernieprice wrote: »

28 - Ball Unplayable
The player may deem his ball unplayable at any place on the course, except when the ball is in a water hazard. The player is the sole judge as to whether his ball is unplayable.
If the player deems his ball to be unplayable, he must, under penalty of one stroke:
a. Proceed under the stroke and distance provision of Rule 27-1 by playing a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played (see Rule 20-5); or
b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or
c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.
If the unplayable ball is in a bunker, the player may proceed under Clause a, b or c. If he elects to proceed under Clause b or c, a ball must be drodpped in the bunker.
When proceeding under this Rule, the player may lift and clean his ball or substitute a ball.

Sorry, my explanation only relevant to lateral water hazards. Just mixed up the 2 clublength clause, thanks for clarifying. As I said though, because of the line of sight option, you always have the option of dropping out of a hazard once you remain in bounds. Edit: I stand corrected on that, the bunker exception was unknown to me so thanks to both stockdam and ernieprice for pointing that out. Bizzare that the exception exists imo but you learn something new everyday and thems the rules!

GreeBo

ARGH!

Back9bandit

If your ball is in a water hazard (yellow stakes and/or lines) you may play the ball as it lies or, under penalty of one stroke:

• play a ball from where you hit the ball into the hazard, or
• drop any distance behind the water hazard keeping a straight line between the hole, the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard and the spot on which the ball is dropped.

If your ball is in a lateral water hazard (red stakes and/or lines), in addition to the options for a ball in a water hazard (see above), under penalty of one stroke, you may drop within two club-lengths of, and not nearer the hole than:

• the point where the ball last crossed the margin of the hazard, or
• a point on the opposite side of the hazard equidistant to the hole from the point where the ball last crossed the margin.

BigChap1759

I'm pretty shocked but not surprised - so many times I have found myself in a fourball and the other 3 don't know the rules :rolleyes:......even basic stuff like above.

Almaviva

BigChap1759 wrote: »

I'm pretty shocked but not surprised - so many times I have found myself in a fourball and the other 3 don't know the rules :rolleyes:......even basic stuff like above.

No wonder some of the mad winning scores some people bring in.

Warning : knowing the rules of golf can seriously injure your score !

dnjoyce

Almaviva wrote: »

No wonder some of the mad winning scores some people bring in.

Warning : knowing the rules of golf can seriously injure your score !

Often times knowing the rules can assist your score as well - staked trees, animal droppings, the pro's use the line of sight ruling all the time when in the sh*t, etc - the rules aren't all "bad".