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No play zone in general area - How to take relief when ball is outside no play zone but you have interference
If your ball is outside a no play zone and is in the general area, and a no play zone (whether in an abnormal course condition or in a penalty area) interferes with your area of intended stance or swing, you must either:
- Take relief if allowed under Rule 16.1b, or
DIAGRAM 16.1b: FREE RELIEF FROM ABNORMAL COURSE CONDITION IN GENERAL AREA
- Free relief is allowed when the ball is in the general area and there is interference by an abnormal course condition.
- The nearest point of complete relief should be identified and a ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.
- The relief area is one club-length from the reference point, is not nearer to the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.
- When taking relief, the player must take complete relief from all interference by the abnormal course condition.
- Take unplayable ball relief under Rule 19.
DIAGRAM 19.2: RELIEF OPTIONS FOR UNPLAYABLE BALL IN GENERAL AREA
A player decides that their ball in a bush is unplayable. The player has three options, in each case adding one penalty stroke. The player may:
- Take stroke-and-distance relief by playing a ball from a relief area based on where the previous stroke was made.
- Take back-on-the-line relief by dropping a ball behind the spot of the original ball, keeping the spot of the original ball between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped.
- Take lateral relief. The reference point for taking relief is the spot of the original ball and a ball must be dropped in and played from the two club-length relief area, which is no nearer the hole than the reference point.