Rule 19: Unplayable Ball

The player is the only person who may decide to treat their ball as unplayable.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1 · recall

The player may treat the ball as unplayable anywhere except a penalty area, whatever the lie.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1 · applied

Unplayable relief is not available in a penalty area; the player's relief is under Rule 17.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1 · applied

The caddie may advise, but deciding to take unplayable relief belongs to the player.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1; Rule 10.3b(3) · applied

Rule 19 covers the general area and the putting green, and bunkers under Rule 19.3.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1; Rule 19.2 · applied

Each of the normal unplayable options costs one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2 · recall

There is no requirement that the ball be impossible to play.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1 · applied

The decision and the choice of option are the player's.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1; Rule 19.2 · applied

Rule 19.2a, b and c in turn.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2 · recall

B is inside a red penalty area. Unplayable relief is allowed in the general area (A), in a bunker (C) and on the green (D).

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.1 · applied

Stroke and distance may be used even if the ball has not been found.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2 · applied

Both options are measured from the spot of the original ball, so that spot must be known.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2 · recall

Stroke and distance returns the player to the teeing area, where the ball may be teed.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2a; Rule 14.6a · applied

From the general area, the ball is dropped within one club-length of the previous spot.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2a; Rule 14.6b · applied

The tee shot and one penalty stroke make the next tee shot the third.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2a · applied

From the putting green, the ball is placed on the spot of the previous stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2a; Rule 14.6c · applied

Both play again from where the previous stroke was made, with one penalty stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2a; Rule 18.1 · recall

With no spot to measure from, stroke and distance is the only option.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2a · applied

The replayed tee shot is the third stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2a · applied

Only stroke and distance (A) works without knowing the ball's spot. B, C and D are measured from a spot nobody knows.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2 · applied

The spot of the original ball is kept between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · recall

There is no limit on how far back on the line the ball may be dropped.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · applied

It must stop within one club-length, in the same area of the course it first touched.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · applied

The relief area must not be nearer the hole than the spot of the original ball.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · applied

The relief area may be in any area of the course, as long as it is the area first touched.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · applied

Back-on-the-line relief requires the drop on the line itself.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b; Rule 14.3b(3) · applied

Back on the line is one of the standard options, so the price is the same single stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2 · recall

The line runs from the hole through the ball's spot.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · applied

Any point on the line behind the original spot may be used, with no limit on how far back; the nearer drop spot simply comes before the farther one.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · recall

A is on the line behind the ball. B is in front, nearer the hole, C is off the line and D is beside the ball.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2b · applied

The lateral relief area is two club-lengths from the reference point.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · recall

The reference point is the spot of the original ball.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · recall

When the ball lies above the ground, the reference point is the spot directly below it.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · applied

The relief area must not be nearer the hole than the reference point.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · applied

With more than one area in range, the ball must stop in the area it first touched when dropped.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · applied

Lateral relief works from a putting green as it does from the general area.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2 · applied

A club-length is the length of the longest club the player has, other than a putter.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Definition of Club-Length · recall

From below the ball, two club-lengths, not nearer the hole.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · applied

Lateral relief is measured from the ball's own spot.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · applied

A fits both limits. B moves towards the hole, and C and D are beyond the circle.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.2c · applied

For a ball in a bunker, back-on-the-line and lateral relief must be taken in the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a · applied

Staying in the bunker keeps the cost at a single stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a · applied

The extra option outside the bunker costs two penalty strokes in all.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3b · applied

Going back to the previous spot is open from a bunker as from anywhere.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a · applied

Rule 25.4n reduces the extra option to one stroke for players using a wheeled mobility device.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3b; Rule 25.4n · recall

Lateral relief for a ball in a bunker must be dropped in and come to rest in the bunker.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a · applied

Tee shot plus two penalty strokes: the next stroke is the fourth.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3b · applied

Leaving the bunker on the line is the two-stroke option.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3b · applied

Lateral relief in the bunker adds one stroke.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3a · applied

C is back on the line outside the bunker, the two-stroke option. A (lateral in the bunker), B (on the line in it) and D (stroke and distance) cost one.

Source: Rules of Golf (2023), Rule 19.3 · applied