What to do?
This page shows the various types of Relief that a player may take depending on the circumstances.
In this table, a player can look at the various areas and conditions in which they might be, then see the options (if any) they might have if they decide (or are required) to take relief.
Alongside the Area name, is a description of the reference point from which relief is measured such as the Position of the Ball or Point of Entry into the area.
Clicking on the Style of Relief will take you to a page on this site.
Clicking the Rule number, takes you to a description on the Rules of Golf site of the R&A. Any penalty that must be taken is shown in the Penalty Column.
In some situations shown, the player has options about the Relief that may be taken. However if you cannot drop the ball and play it legally using a particular option, then that option cannot be used. The most commonly used option is shown first.
In all conditions, the relief area must not be closer to the hole. Provided the ball was found, the player can always "play it where it lies" without penalty except in a No Play Zone. Red stakes withe green tops define all the Environmentally Sensitive Areas at Doon18 which are declared as No Play Zones.
If after taking relief, your ball or stance are in an Abnormal Course Condition (such as a paved cart path) you can take further relief (See here)
Notes:
It is not necessary to find a ball in a Penalty Area or Out of Bounds in order to take relief. Relief is taken from the point where the ball last crossed into the Area.
If your ball enters a Penalty Area, but then goes across it and you can see it is Out of Bounds, by definition it is unplayable, so you must take relief from the point it last crossed into the Penalty Area. The standard 1 stroke penalty must be applied. If a ball goes directly out of bounds (not via a Penalty Area) you must use the Lost Ball options from the point where it crossed the boundary.
Also see Relief - Cart Path example
There are no Yellow Penalty Areas at Doon. Should you come across them elsewhere the options are the same as Red Penalty Areas except Lateral Relief is not an option.