- Rules Question 1-7-2023  

In stroke play, a player takes relief from a penalty area. The player stands back on the line through the point the ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, holds their arm to the side at knee height and deliberately drops the ball one foot to the side of this line. In addition to the one stroke penalty under Rule 17.1d(2) the ruling is?

A.   The player has proceeded correctly

B.   The player gets no additional penalty if they correct the incorrect drop before making a stroke otherwise the get 2 penalty strokes

C.   The player gets 2 additional penalty strokes and must play the ball as it lies

D.   The player gets 2 additional penalty strokes and must correct the incorrect drop

Link to Answer

Now that the 2023 Rules of Golf are in affect there are some rule changes from previous years that we must consider. One of these changes is the process for dropping a ball when taking back of line relief for a ball either in a penalty area, an abnormal course condition, or a ball that is unplayable.

In providing a ruling for this situation there are 3 areas in the rule book that we need to consult. First is Rule 14.3b(3) cleanly states that when taking this type of relief, the ball must be drop on the line in the location allowed by the rules. This is different than the 2019 rules which allowed us to drop within one club length of the reference point.

14.3b(3) Ball Must Be Dropped in Relief Area (or on Line). The ball must be dropped in the relief area. The player may stand either inside or outside the relief area when dropping the ball. But  when taking back-on-the-line relief (see Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b and 19.3b), the ball must be dropped on the line in a location allowed by the Rules and the spot on which the ball is dropped creates a relief area. 

Rule 17.1d(2) then provides the relief area in which the ball must remain once dropped.

17.1d(2) Back-on-the-Line Relief. The player may drop the original ball or another ball (see Rule 14.3) outside the penalty area, keeping the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area  between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped (with no limit as to how far back the ball may be dropped). The spot on the line where the ball first touches the ground when dropped creates a relief area that is one club-length in any direction from that point, but with these limits: 

• Limits on Location of Relief Area:
• Must not be nearer the hole than the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area, and
• May be in any area of the course except the same penalty area, but
• Must be in the same area of the course that the ball first touched when dropped.

Rule 14.5 is often referred to by rules officials as the “Eraser Rule” as this lets us correct a mistake before a ball has been played in conflict with a rule.

14.5 Correcting Mistake Made in Substituting, Replacing, Dropping or Placing Ball

a. Player May Correct Mistake Before Ball Is Played

When a player has substituted another ball for the original ball when not allowed under the Rules or the player’s ball in play was replaced, dropped or placed (1) in a wrong way, (2) in a wrong place  or (3) by using a procedure that did not apply:

• The player may correct the mistake without penalty.
• But this is allowed only before the ball is played.

b. When Player May Change to a Different Rule or Relief Option When Correcting Mistake in Taking Relief

When correcting a mistake in taking relief, whether the player must use the same Rule and relief option originally used or may change to a different Rule or relief option depends on the nature of the mistake:

(1) When Ball Was Put in Play Under Rule That Applied and Was Dropped or Placed in Right Place, but Rule Requires Ball to Be Dropped or Placed Again.

• In correcting this mistake, the player must go on to take relief using the same Rule and the same relief option under that Rule.
• For example, if when taking relief for an unplayable ball, the player used the lateral relief option (Rule 19.2c) and the ball was dropped in the right relief area but (1) was dropped  in a wrong way (see Rule 14.3b) or (2) came to rest outside the relief area (see Rule 14.3c), in correcting the mistake the player must go on to take relief under Rule 19.2 and must use the same relief option (lateral relief under Rule 19.2c).

(2) When Ball Was Put in Play Under Rule That Applied but Ball Was Dropped or Placed in Wrong Place.

• In correcting this mistake, the player must go on to take relief under the same Rule but may use any relief option under that Rule that applies to their situation.
• For example, if when taking relief for an unplayable ball, the player used the lateral relief option Rule (19.2c) and mistakenly dropped the ball outside the required relief area, in correcting the mistake the player must go on to take relief under Rule 19.2  and may use any of the relief options under that Rule.

(3) When Ball Was Put in Play Under Rule That Did Not Apply.

• In correcting this mistake, the player may use any Rule that applies to their situation.
• For example, if the player mistakenly took unplayable ball relief for their ball in a penalty area (which Rule 19.1 does not allow), the player must correct the mistake by either replacing the ball (if it had been lifted) under Rule 9.4, or taking penalty relief under Rule 17 and may use any relief option under that Rule that applies to their situation. 

In this week’s question when our player took Back on The Line Relief, they clearly dropped a ball in the right way but dropped it in a wrong place, one foot to the side of the line, which would result in the general penalty of 2 shot if not corrected. 

Knowing these facts, we can now choose B as this week’s answer.

Do you have a rules question that you have often wondered about? If so, please send it to dmiller@mvgolf.org for an answer and who knows it could very well be our next “Rules Question of the Week”.