Lost Ball, Stroke & Distance Relief and Alternate Stroke & Distance Relief

Once again, we had some confusion and a lot of conversations about Lost Balls, Stroke and Distance relief (One Stroke Penalty), and the Alternate Stroke and Distance Relief (Two Stroke Penalty and hit from Fairway).

Look, I understand. I have probably said the same thing you have said or have at least thought about, but the rules are clear.

I hope this explains it clearly for those still having trouble with these rules.

18.1  Relief Under Penalty of Stroke and Distance Allowed at Any Time

At any time, a player may take stroke-and-distance relief by adding one penalty stroke and playing the original ball or another ball from where the previous stroke was made (see Rule 14.6).

The player always has this stroke-and-distance relief option:

·      No matter where the player’s ball is on the course and

·      Even when a Rule requires the player to take relief in a certain way or to play a ball from a certain place.

Once the player puts another ball in play under penalty of stroke and distance (see Rule 14.4):

·      The original ball is no longer in play and must not be played.

·      This is true even if the original ball is then found on the course before the end of the three-minute search time (see Rule 6.3b).

But this does not apply to a ball to be played from where the previous stroke was made when the player:

·      Announces that they are playing a provisional ball (see Rule 18.3b), or

·      Is playing a second ball in stroke play under Rule 14.7b or 20.1c(3).

Out of Bounds / Lost Ball / Provisional Ball

If you hit your ball out of bounds or lose it (you have three minutes to search for your ball before it becomes lost), your only option is to go back to the spot of your previous stroke to play under stroke and distance. There are only a few exceptions to this when it is known or virtually certain what happened to your ball.  Since we NEVER GO BACKWARDS at Broken Joe Golf, see the following two paragraphs.

There is also an optional Local Rule, which provides an alternative to stroke and distance relief when it is in effect. This Local Rule is recommended for casual play and not for competitions involving highly skilled players. If it is in effect, for two penalty strokes, you can estimate the spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds and then find the nearest fairway edge that is not nearer the hole than the estimated spot. You can drop a ball in the fairway within two club lengths of that fairway edge point or anywhere between there and the estimated spot where your ball is lost or went out of bounds.

If you think your ball might be out of bounds or that you might not find it, you can play a provisional ball to save time. You must announce that you are playing a provisional ball before doing so. If you are then unable to find your original ball or you find it out of bounds, your provisional ball is your ball in play under stroke and distance, and you don’t have to take the time to walk all the way back to the spot of your previous stroke.

Stroke and Distance Relief: You receive a One–Stroke Penalty but do not get any distance, and you hit the next ball from the same spot.

Alternate Stroke and Distance Relief: For a 2-stroke penalty, you get the distance, and you can hit from the fairway.

At Broken Joe Golf, you can only hit a ball from the same place twice, and then you must hit from somewhere else. 

Once you hit a provisional ball, that ball is in play until you find or go by the last place you saw your original ball.

You cannot hit a provisional ball if your ball goes into a Penalty Area. If your ball goes into a Penalty Area, the next ball you hit is the ball in play, along with the one-stroke penalty.

Well, I hope that helps.

Respectfully,

Broken Joe,

Commissioner