No Play Zones

General Information

No Play Zones (NPZ) were introduced by the Rules of Golf 2019. They may be declared on any part of the course and define part of the course where a player is not permitted to make a stroke. So a player must take relief when their ball comes to rest in a NPZ or if their stance or swing for their next stroke would be affected by an NPZ.

When a ball comes to rest (or is believed to have come to rest) in an NPZ within a Penalty Area, as part of taking relief, the player must record a penalty stroke.

The rest of this section only addresses circumstances that may occur at Doon 18. At other courses there may be No Play Zones in the General Area, Greens etc and these do not mandate a penalty.

Also see the section on Environmentally Sensitive Areas

In addition, the Layout of the course, highlighting the Penalty Areas and No Play Zones can be found by clicking this link or viewing the diagrams for the Front Nine and Back Nine

No Play Zones for the Doon 18

The Doon 18 course has defined the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) as No Play Zones. These areas are all also Red Penalty Areas. All the red staked areas on holes 8 - 15 are No Play Zones. They will be highlighted by having green tops on the red stakes.

Although Gaffers have previously treated holes 3 and 4 as having ESA we have learned in 2019 that they do not.

Taking Relief from No Play Zones in Penalty Areas at Doon 18

Ball in NPZ

When a ball comes to rest in an NPZ in a Red Penalty Area the player has options. Firstly, it is important to realise that the ball does not need to be found. Under the rules of golf a ball is not formally "Lost" if it is in (or believed to be in) a Penalty Area, so one can make their next stroke based on where the ball is believed to have entered the Penalty Area. This can save time as the shot can be set up and played without finding the ball.

Each option requires a one stroke penalty. The italicised names can be clicked for more information.

• • Stroke and Distance Relief - play another stroke from the point where the previous stroke was made. Note that Local Rule 8e5 Alternative to Stroke and Distance cannot be applied in this case because the ball is in (or believed to be in) a Penalty Area.

  • Back on a Line Relief - The player may drop the original ball or another ball in a relief area that is based on a reference line going straight back from the hole through the estimated point where the original ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area.

  • Lateral Relief - the player may drop the original ball or another ball based on the point where the ball last crossed into the edge of the Red Penalty Area, in an area two club lengths, not nearer the hole

Stance or Swing affected by NPZ

If a ball is NOT in an NPZ, but the player's normal stance or swing for the next stroke is affected by the NPZ, the player must take free relief. This is to ensure that the player or their club does not interfere with the NPZ.

• • Free Relief - The ball is dropped in the General Area using a one club sector that is not nearer the hole based on a point where the player has complete relief from the NPZ.

Overhanging growing objects from NPZ

The definition of a No Play Zone contains the interpretation "if a no play zone has been defined as a penalty area (where the edges extend above and below the ground), any part of a growing object that extends beyond the edges of the no play zone is not part of the no play zone." (No Play Zone - Definitions). So when your ball is outside the NPZ and your stance or swing are impeded by growing things that are within the boundaries of the NPZ then you are entitled to take free relief. If however a shrub, tree or other plant is within the NPZ but extends out over the playing area, if the part extending over the playing area affects your swing or stance, there is no relief allowed.