Relief - Combining conditions

Combining Relief

If a player takes relief from a Penalty Area and the relief area comprises an Abnormal Course Condition (such as a paved cart path) then the player may take free relief after taking a penalty and establishing that first relief area.

Example:

The player's ball has ended up in a Penalty Area and the player elects to take relief from that penalty area (1 penalty stroke). When the player drops the ball and the resulting ball position is on a cart path or would require the player’s normal stance to be on the cart path, then the player may take further (free) relief.

They then drop the ball at the nearest point of complete relief not nearer the hole than where the first drop occurred.

This process should be done in two phases, making clear the penalty relief followed by the free relief is being taken. There would be a total of 1 penalty stroke in this example.

Important: When taking relief from a Penalty Area, your option must allow you to find complete relief "from that area". Therefore whether you chose Back on a Line or Lateral Relief you must find a spot that complies with the rules and provides complete relief from that area. However, if you take relief for an unplayable lie (where the drop point is based on the position of the ball) you could find your drop leaves the ball in another unplayable lie. You can now take relief (again with a penalty) for that new condition. In that case you would count two penalty strokes.