• d. Ball Fails To Come To Rest on Spot
If a ball when placed fails to come to rest on the spot on which it was placed, there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced. If it still fails to come to rest on that spot:
(i) except in a hazard, it must be placed at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole and not in a hazard;
(ii) in a hazard, it must be placed in the hazard at the nearest spot where it can be placed at rest that is not nearer the hole.
If a ball when placed comes to rest on the spot on which it is placed, and it subsequently moves, there is no penalty and the ball must be played as it lies, unless the provisions of any other Rule apply.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 20-1, -2 or -3:
Match play — Loss of hole;
Stroke play — Two strokes.
20-4. When Ball Dropped or Placed Is in Play
If the player’s ball in play has been lifted, it is again in play when dropped or placed.
A substituted ball becomes the ball in play when it has been dropped or placed.
(Ball incorrectly substituted — see Rule 15-2.)
(Lifting ball incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed — see Rule 20-6.)
20-5. Playing Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Played
When a player elects or is required to make his next stroke from where a previous stroke was made, he must proceed as follows:
(a) On the Teeing Ground: The ball to be played must be played from within the teeing ground. It may be played from anywhere within the teeing ground and it may be teed.
(b) Through the Green and in a Hazard: The ball to be played must be dropped and when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.
(c) In a Hazard: The ball to be played must be dropped and
when dropped must first strike a part of the course in the
hazard.
(d) On the Putting Green: The ball to be played must be
placed on the putting green.
PENALTY FOR BREACH OF RULE 20-5:
Match play — Loss of hole;
Stroke play — Two strokes.
20-6. Lifting Ball Incorrectly Substituted, Dropped or Placed
A ball incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed in a wrong place or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules but not played may be lifted, without penalty, and the player must then proceed correctly.
20-7. Playing from Wrong Place
• a. General
A player has played from a wrong place if he makes a stroke with his ball in play:
(i) on a part of the course where the Rules do not permit a stroke to be played or a ball to be dropped or placed; or (ii) when the Rules require a dropped ball to be re-dropped or a moved ball to be replaced.
Note: For a ball played from outside the teeing ground or from a wrong teeing ground — see Rule 11-4.
• b. Match Play
If a player makes a stroke from a wrong place, he loses the hole.
• c. Stroke Play
If a competitor makes a stroke from a wrong place, he incurs a penalty of two strokes under the applicable Rule. He must play out the hole with the ball played from the wrong place, without correcting his error, provided he has not committed a serious breach (see Note 1).
If a competitor becomes aware that he has played from a wrong place and believes that he may have committed a serious breach, he must, before making a stroke on the next teeing ground, play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules. If the hole being played is the last hole of the round, he must declare, before leaving the putting green, that he will play out the hole with a second ball played in accordance with the Rules.
If the competitor has played a second ball, he must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card; if he fails to do so, he is disqualified. The Committee must determine whether the competitor has committed a serious breach of the applicable Rule. If he has, the score with the second ball counts and the competitor must add two penalty strokes to his score with that ball. If the competitor has committed a serious breach and has failed to correct it as outlined above, he is disqualified.
Note 1: A competitor is deemed to have committed a serious breach of the applicable Rule if the Committee considers he has gained a significant advantage as a result of playing from a wrong place.
Note 2: If a competitor plays a second ball under Rule 20-7c and it is ruled not to count, strokes made with that ball and penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball are disregarded. If the second ball is ruled to count, the stroke made from the wrong place and any strokes subsequently taken with the original ball including penalty strokes incurred solely by playing that ball are disregarded.
Note 3: If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke from a wrong place, there is no additional penalty for substituting a ball when not permitted.
©USGA, used with permission
