Back on a Line Relief - Dropping the Ball

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

New Local Rule Model Local Rule E-12: Effective

 

Dropping Back on a Line. (Rules 16.1c(2), 17.1d(2), 19.2b, 19.3a, 19.3b) There are several situations when you will be dropping a ball using back on a line relief (i.e. penalty area relief or unplayable ball relief). The principle of this Rule remains the same, but the procedure will now be slightly different. You will still establish a line back from the flagstick to the reference point, depending on what type of relief is being taken.

 

For example, lets say that you hit your ball into a red penalty area and decide to use this back on a line relief option. You would establish the point where your ball last crossed the edge of the penalty area and use a straight line back in line with the flagstick, going backwards as far back as you wanted. You SHOULD establish a reference point on that line with a tee or marker of some kind. From that established reference point, you now has a one club length area (your relief area) to drop a ball in. The ball must land in and come to rest either in the relief area or, if it rolls outside of the relief area, it must stay within one club length of where it first struck the ground. This is true even if it rolls closer to the hole or outside of the originally established relief area. This is a new Local Rule that was established 4/2019 to prevent a penalty from occuring because the ball rolls just outside this relief area. It is important to note that this local Rule only applies for back on the line relief (Model Local Rule E-12). This local Rule will be in effect for all CGA Championships and qualifers and any USGA Championships and qualifiers.

 

 

 

Why Establish a Physical Reference Point. (Rule 17.1d(2)) The reason you should always use a tee or marker to establish the reference point on the line back is that if it is not established by a physical object, the reference point will be automatically established by the point where a ball has been dropped on the ground.

 

Using a physical object is always the safest thing to do, but a player could also use a mental marker or spot on the ground. For instance, a divot, a tuft or grass, a physical feature or just even an imaginary spot. However, if none of this is done, the player is putting themselves at risk of getting a penalty.

 

Click HERE to see a video explanation on this dropping procedure.