NCGA CIF GOLF CLUB

Sometimes your ball ends up in a place where you don't want to play it.  Your best choice then would be to declare it unplayable.  Rule 28 is the rule that is applicable when you declare you can't, or don't want to play it.

You can declare your ball unplayable anywhere on the golf course EXCEPT if it is in a water hazard.  If the ball is in a water hazard, you must use the Water Hazard Rule (26) to get out.

Lets say that your ball went into a bush.  You get there and you realize you can't hit it.  What are your options?

Under the unplayable ball rule, you have three options.  All of them come with a one-stroke penalty.

1. Return to where you played your last shot.  If it was the tee, you can tee up your ball.  Otherwise you will drop your ball.
2. Keep the point in the bush where you ball was between you and the hole and go back as far as you want.  Drop the ball on that line.
3. Drop your ball within 2 club-lengths of where it is in the bush, but not nearer the hole.

If your ball was in a bunker, and you choose to use options 2 or 3, you have to drop in the bunker.  The only way out of the bunker is under option 1.

If you make a stroke at the ball where it is, you can't go back to somewhere else as this is where you made your last stroke from.

Before you can use options 2 or 3, you must find and identify your ball.  You don't have to get it back, but you must be able to identify it as yours.

Since option 1 is the same as for a lost ball, you don't have to find the ball.