KEY POINTS - RULE 20
RULE 20. LIFTING, DROPPING AND PLACING; PLAYING FROM WRONG PLACE
Rule 20 deserves some introduction:
It is the Rule that instructs the player how to proceed under a relief procedure or when the player
decides to or is required to lift the ball and then proceed as prescribed by the applicable Rule. It tells us
when to mark before lifting, who and how to properly drop a ball, and where a ball must be dropped or
placed. Also, that a ball is in play when dropped or placed, although perhaps not properly in play.
Rule 20-2c provides guidance on whether the dropped or placed ball is properly in play.
A ball not dropped in the correct place or by someone not authorized or dropped in an incorrect manner
is subject to correction under the eraser Rule (Rule 20-6).
The word “replace” is frequently used in the Rules. In some circumstances “replace” means placing a
ball and in some circumstances “replace” instructs us to drop a ball. Rule 20-3 assists our understanding.
Rule 20-7 explains the consequences when a player has played from the wrong place, the penalty for
doing so and in stroke play how to proceed. Rule 20-7 always refers the player to the applicable Rule
to apply a penalty.
20-1. Lifting and Marking
Ball may be lifted by player, partner or person authorized (as authorized each time).
** As noted in Rule 18-1 and Rule 18-4, if an outside agency (including a fellow-competitor)
lifts or moves a player's ball there is no penalty and the ball must be replaced.
Ball must be marked before it is lifted under a Rule requiring replacement.
 If not marked before lifting, one-stroke penalty and ball must be replaced
 If not replaced, penalty is loss of hole or two-strokes.
Should mark position behind ball or one or more club-head lengths to side if interfering (Rule 22-2).
No penalty for moving the ball or ball-marker accidentally if the movement is directly attributable to
the specific act of marking or lifting the ball. (Decision 20-1/15)
20-2. Dropping and Re-Dropping
a. By Whom and How
Dropping is by player, standing erect, at arm’s length and shoulder height.
One-stroke penalty if dropping is by any other person or in any other manner (and not
corrected).
A dropped ball striking any person or equipment is a “no drop”. "No drops" do not count under
Rule 20-2c.
When ball is to be re-dropped because it strikes any player or the equipment of any player, the
relief option may not be changed as long as the ball struck the course where required by the Rule.
b. Where to Drop
Ball must first strike course where prescribed by the Rule. Rule 20-6 and Rule 20-7 apply.
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KEY POINTS - RULE 20
c. When to Re-Drop
Rule 20-2c applies and the player must continue taking relief without changing options when the
dropped ball strikes the course where required and:
(i) rolls into and comes to rest in a hazard;
(ii) rolls out of and comes to rest outside a hazard;
(iii) rolls onto and comes to rest on a putting green;
(iv) rolls and comes to rest out of bounds;
(v) rolls to and comes to rest in a position where there is interference by the condition from
which relief was taken under:
 Rule 24-2b (immovable obstruction),
 Rule 25-1 (abnormal ground conditions),
 Rule 25-3 (wrong putting green) or a Local Rule (Rule 33-8a), or
 rolls back into the pitch-mark from which it was lifted under Rule 25-2 (embedded ball);
(vi) rolls and comes to rest more than two club-lengths from where it first struck a part of the
course; or
(vii) rolls and comes to rest nearer the hole than:
a) its original position or estimated position (see Rule 20-2b) unless otherwise permitted
by the Rules; or
b) the nearest point of relief or maximum available relief (Rule 24-2, 25-1 or 25-3); or
c) the point where the original ball last crossed the margin of the water hazard or lateral
water hazard (Rule 26-1).
(OK if ball rolls off putting green.)
If the re-drop results in any of the above, ball must be placed as near as possible to spot where
the ball struck the course on the re-drop.
20-3. Placing and Replacing
a. By Whom and Where
Ball may be placed by player or partner.
Ball may be replaced by player, partner or person who moved or lifted ball.
One-stroke penalty for breach if not corrected.
General penalty if not replaced at spot from which lifted or moved.
The player is penalized for any breach.
b. Lie of Ball to be Placed or Replaced Altered
When the lie is known:
Except in hazard, ball is placed at nearest most similar lie within one club-length not nearer the
hole.
In a water hazard, as above except ball is placed in the water hazard.
In a bunker, recreate lie and place ball in lie.
The Note clarifies – if the lie is altered and the original lie is not known, the ball is dropped as
near as possible to the original location (except the ball is placed on the putting green);
if the lie is known, through the green or in a water hazard, the ball is placed at the nearest most
similar lie within one club-length not nearer the hole, in a bunker the ball is placed in the
recreated lie.
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KEY POINTS - RULE 20
c. Spot Not Determinable
If it is not possible to determine the spot to place or replace ball:
[“The spot” is to be taken literally – the exact spot.]
Through the green – drop as near as possible to spot, not in a hazard or on green.
In a hazard – drop as near as possible to spot in hazard.
On putting green – place as near as possible to spot, not in a hazard.
When resuming play, Rule 6-8d applies; the spot is estimated and the ball is placed.
d. Ball Fails to Come to Rest on Spot
After two attempts at placing ball on a spot results in ball not at rest:
 except in a hazard, place the ball at nearest spot not nearer hole and not in hazard
where it will be at rest;
 in a hazard, the ball must be placed in hazard.
For Rules 20-1, 20-2 and 20-3; if a substituted ball is played when not permitted, the player incurs
the general penalty under the Rule but no additional penalty under that Rule.
See Note 3 to Rule 20-7.
20-4. When Ball Dropped or Placed is in Play
A ball in play, if lifted, is in play when placed or dropped.
Clarification for 2016 that a ball that has been replaced is in play whether or not the ball-marker has
been removed.
During play of a hole, a substituted ball is in play when dropped or placed.
20-5. Making Next Stroke from Where Previous Stroke Made
When a ball is played from where previous stroke was made:
 From teeing ground, ball may be teed.
 From through the green, drop through the green; from hazard, drop in hazard.
 From putting green, place on putting green.
20-6. Lifting Ball Incorrectly Substituted, Dropped or Placed
Player may lift a ball that was incorrectly substituted, dropped or placed in a wrong place or in a
wrong manner or otherwise not in accordance with the Rules and then proceed correctly, without
penalty (“eraser Rule”).
Rule 20-6 returns the player to the point in time where the error/mistake was made.
Rule 20-6 does not apply when:
 The dropped ball touches any person;
 The dropped ball strikes any player’s equipment.
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KEY POINTS - RULE 20
20-7. Playing from Wrong Place
a. General
A player has played from a wrong place if he plays a stroke on a part of the course where play
is prohibited or when the ball is required to be re-dropped or replaced.
b. Match Play
Loss of hole if ball played from wrong place.
c. Stroke Play
Two-stroke penalty under applicable Rule for play from a wrong place, continue play of hole;
may correct a possible serious breach by play of a second ball – see Note 1.



Must report to Committee if second ball played.
If serious breach, score with second ball counts with a two-stroke penalty.
If serious breach is not corrected, DQ.
Note 1.
Serious breach if player gains a significant advantage from playing from a wrong
place.
Note 2.
If the second ball played is Ruled not to count, strokes and penalty stroke incurred solely
by play of second ball do not count in the score. If the second ball counts, stroke played
and penalties incurred by play of original ball do not count.
Note 3.
If a player incurs a penalty for making a stroke from a wrong place, there is no additional
penalty for:
(a) substituting a ball when not permitted;
(b) dropping a ball when the Rules require it to be placed, or placing a ball when the
Rules require it to be dropped;
(c) dropping a ball in an improper manner; or
(d) a ball being put into play by a person not permitted to do so under the Rules.
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