Where to drop when playing a ball from inside a hazard

[averywood4]

If you are playing a ball from inside a hazard, and that shot goes OB, where do you drop?

 

- Back inside the hazard where you originally hit from? If so, does it matter if the balls rolls after you drop it? What if it is unplayable after you drop?

- Or, outside the hazard? No closer, within 2 Club lengths?

 

Thanks for your help!

[Sawgrass]

9 minutes ago, averywood4 said:

If you are playing a ball from inside a hazard, and that shot goes OB, where do you drop?

 

- Back inside the hazard where you originally hit from? If so, does it matter if the balls rolls after you drop it? What if it is unplayable after you drop?

- Or, outside the hazard? No closer, within 2 Club lengths?

 

Thanks for your help!

You have a choice to redrop in the penalty area (in which case your ball must come to rest in the Stroke and Distance relief area) at the cost of 1 stroke, or drop outside the penalty area using any R17 relief option at the cost of 2 strokes, or first drop inside the penalty area, consider your lie, then consider dropping using ant R17 option.  This route will also cost 2 strokes. 

[Sawgrass]

BTW, 17.2 provides the details. 

[antip]

@Sawgrass has provided an excellent summary of the relevant rule, 17.2.

One further issue to keep in mind: if Model Local Rule E-5 is in place on that course (alternative to stroke and distance for lost ball or ball out of bounds), that might offer an attractive option for getting out of the penalty area much closer to the hole also for two strokes penalty.

[rogolf]

35 minutes ago, antip said:

@Sawgrass has provided an excellent summary of the relevant rule, 17.2.

One further issue to keep in mind: if Model Local Rule E-5 is in place on that course (alternative to stroke and distance for lost ball or ball out of bounds), that might offer an attractive option for getting out of the penalty area much closer to the hole also for two strokes penalty.

That's a good catch and potentially an advantageous option if the ball is lost outside a penalty area or is out of bounds and the Model Local Rule E-5 is in effect for that course or competition.

Edited May 20, 2021 by rogolf

[95124hacker]

The other day, my approach shot came to rest inside a red penalty area but a drainage pipe interfered with my backswing. I took free relief by dropping 1 club length within the same penalty area no closer to the hole, under rule 17.1(b). I then hit my next shot from the penalty area. Was my free drop legal?

Edited May 23, 2021 by 95124hacker

[antip]

No, there is no relief from Immovable Obstructions for a ball at rest in a penalty area. So you played from a wrong place, which gets the general penalty. See Rule 16.1a(2).

[Halebopp]

Adding to Antip's post, you're penalised one stroke for taking relief from the Penalty Area as that was the only reason you were allowed to lift the ball within the PA and take relief and then get the additional General Penalty (two strokes) for playing from a Wrong Place.

 

Edit: Depending on where the ball entered the PA, there's the possibility of a serious breach of playing from a Wrong Place, in which case you'd need to correct the mistake before teeing off on the next hole.

Edited May 23, 2021 by Halebopp